Careers
Faculty and Staff
We value our faculty and staff members and are always looking for talented people to join our thriving team. Excellent benefits, diverse career opportunities, and a true community spirit are just some of the reasons you should consider joining our team of talented, dynamic faculty and staff. For a full list of current openings, visit UBC’s Staff & Faculty Careers page.
SESSIONAL LECTURER POSTINGS
We also hire faculty into term appointments for a specified period of time for courses taught in the Department of Biology. Sessional lecturers teach and/or perform related duties, including course coordination or lab supervision, for a period of less than 12 months.
CURRENT POSTINGS
The Department of Biology of the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at UBC, Okanagan campus, requires an instructor to teach the following course during the Winter Session, 2026W, Term 1 and Term 2. The course is scheduled to be taught in person, on campus at UBC Okanagan, Kelowna
BIOL 380 (3) Food and Industrial Microbiology (Lecture)
2026W – TERM 1 (September 8 to December 22, 2026)
Wednesday / Friday 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
A detailed examination of the microbes that play a role in the manufacturing of beverages (e.g., beer and wine), solid foods (e.g., cheese), and industrial processes (e.g., waste water treatment). [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: BIOL 228.
Applicants with a PhD in the discipline or a related discipline, and relevant research and post-secondary teaching experience are preferred. This course is scheduled to be offered in person, in Kelowna BC.
Interested applicants should submit:
- a Curriculum Vitae (including but not limited to previous teaching experience),
- recent teaching evaluations (if available), and
- the name of three referees who have agreed to submit letters of reference
Please send application documents in electronic format using WORD or PDF files to:
Janet Heisler, Department Manager at janet.heisler@ubc.ca
For more information regarding the positions, please contact Dr. Perry Howard, Department Head at biology.head@ubc.ca
Deadline for receipt of applications for Term 1 is 9:00 AM on Friday, August 4th, 2026.
The minimum compensation per 3 credit course is $9,559.11.
Note: All positions are subject to funding and enrolment. Dates and times of courses subject to change
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
BIOC 304 (3) Biochemistry 1 | (Lecture)
2026W – TERM 1 (September 8 to December 22, 2026)
Monday / Wednesday 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Principles of thermodynamics and reaction kinetics in biochemistry. Acid/base biochemistry. Structure and function of lipids, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides, and nucleic acids. Enzyme kinetics. Credit will only be granted for one of BIOC 304 or BIOL 311. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of CHEM 204, CHEM 214.
Applicants with a PhD in the discipline or a related discipline, and relevant research and post-secondary teaching experience are preferred. This course is scheduled to be offered in person, in Kelowna BC.
Interested applicants should submit:
- a Curriculum Vitae (including but not limited to previous teaching experience),
- recent teaching evaluations (if available), and
- the name of three referees who have agreed to submit letters of reference
Please send application documents in electronic format using WORD or PDF files to:
Janet Heisler, Department Manager at janet.heisler@ubc.ca
For more information regarding the positions, please contact Dr. Perry Howard, Department Head at biology.head@ubc.ca.
Deadline for receipt of applications for Term 1 is 9:00 AM on Friday, August 4th, 2026.
The minimum compensation per 3 credit course is $9,559.11.
Note: All positions are subject to funding and enrolment. Dates and times of courses subject to change
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
BIOL 228 (3) Introductory Microbiology | (Lecture)
2026W – TERM 1 (September 8 to December 22, 2026)
Monday / Wednesday 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
An introductory course providing a broad background in microbiology. Topics include structure, metabolism, diversity of micro-organisms, microbial genetics, virology, and immunology. Laboratory work will include techniques and experiments relevant to lectures. [3-3-0]
Prerequisite: BIOL 125. Corequisite: One of CHEM 203, CHEM 213.
Applicants with a PhD in the discipline or a related discipline, and relevant research and post-secondary teaching experience are preferred. This course is scheduled to be offered in person, in Kelowna BC.
Interested applicants should submit:
- a Curriculum Vitae (including but not limited to previous teaching experience),
- recent teaching evaluations (if available), and
- the name of three referees who have agreed to submit letters of reference
Please send application documents in electronic format using WORD or PDF files to:
Janet Heisler, Department Manager at janet.heisler@ubc.ca
For more information regarding the positions, please contact Dr. Perry Howard, Department Head at biology.head@ubc.ca.
Deadline for receipt of applications for Term 1 is 9:00 AM on Friday, August 4th, 2026.
The minimum compensation per 3 credit course is $9,559.11.
Note: All positions are subject to funding and enrolment. Dates and times of courses subject to change
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
BIOL 468 (3) Molecular Approaches in Ecology and Evolution (Lecture)
2026W – TERM 2 (January 5 to April 23, 2027)
Monday / Wednesday 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Techniques for collecting molecular and population genetic data. Applications in ecology, evolution, and conservation. Characteristics of molecular markers, associated analytical approaches, emerging genomic technologies, and case studies. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOL 468 or BIOL 568. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: BIOL 201.
Applicants with a PhD in the discipline or a related discipline, and relevant research and post-secondary teaching experience are preferred. This course is scheduled to be offered in person, in Kelowna BC.
Interested applicants should submit:
- a Curriculum Vitae (including but not limited to previous teaching experience),
- recent teaching evaluations (if available), and
- the name of three referees who have agreed to submit letters of reference
Please send application documents in electronic format using WORD or PDF files to:
Janet Heisler, Department Manager at janet.heisler@ubc.ca
For more information regarding the positions, please contact Dr. Perry Howard, Department Head at biology.head@ubc.ca.
Deadline for receipt of applications for Term 1 is 9:00 AM on Friday, August 4th, 2026.
The minimum compensation per 3 credit course is $9,559.11.
Note: All positions are subject to funding and enrolment. Dates and times of courses subject to change
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
Student positions
Teaching Assistants
Each academic year, the Department of Biology has openings for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), and possibly Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs) for courses in the September, and January. There may also be a need for the summer term, which will be posted separately.
Teaching Assistant advertisements will be posted annually by March 31st and applications will be due April 30th. Specific details regarding each year’s advertisement will be updated below.
Offers will be sent out in July for Term 1 and November for Term 2. Please note that only successful candidates will be notified.
The Teaching Assistant duties may include:
- Instruction in labs
- Marking assignments, labs, and exams
- Discussion periods
- Tutorials and lectures
- Invigilation duties
- Academic assistance to students in office hours
The Marker duties may include:
- Marking assignments, tests, and exams which require only objective marking
2026W Teaching Assistant Postings
TO APPLY for 2026W, please complete the online application survey. You are required to submit the following documents to complete your application:
- A copy of your resume
- An unofficial transcript
- Timetables for 2026W Term 1 and/or Term 2
- Any other relevant commitments
DEADLINE TO APPLY for 2026W positions: April 30, 2026.
Subject to funding, the Department of Biology has part-time and full-time TA positions available in 2026W Terms. Qualifications preferred include an understanding of the discipline and good grades. UTAs must be a major in the discipline, have fourth-year standing, and must maintain a minimum of 18 credits in the Winter session (2026W). Part-time students can also be considered.
Based on an average of 12 hours per week, full time, for a total of 192 hours per term. GTAs are hired on a salary basis. UTAs are hired on a salary OR hourly basis depending on job duties. Wages, as stated in the current BCGEU Collective Agreement, are as follows:
- Graduate TA (PhD program): $1,943.07 monthly ($15,544.56 annual rate September – April)
- Graduate TA (Master’s program): $1,872.35 monthly ($14,978.80 annual rate September – April)
- Undergraduate TA (Bachelors program): $22.26 per hour/$1068.40 monthly ($8,547.20 annual rate September – April)
Please contact the Department Operations Administrator for inquiries:
Department of Biology
Office: SCI 155
Phone: 250.807.8935
Email: biology.okanagan@ubc.ca
UBC Okanagan hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from women, visible minority group members, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. However, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.