Wael Elhenawy

The Elhenawy Lab at the University of Alberta is seeking postdoctoral fellows to join their research team through the Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards program. The lab, led by Assistant Professor Wael Elhenawy, focuses on the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli strains associated with inflammatory bowel diseases, with a particular interest in how these bacteria utilize type IV secretion systems to form biofilms in the gut. Research in the lab employs advanced techniques such as transposon insertion-sequencing, RNA-sequencing, and microscopy to elucidate the mechanisms by which these pathogens drive inflammation. The University of Alberta has recently acquired a Krios G4 cryo-transmission electron microscope, enabling cutting-edge single-particle cryo electron microscopy studies. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in structural biology and will use this technology to investigate biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria, as demonstrated in the lab's recent publication (Wong et al., Nat Commun., 2025). The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards are a targeted initiative to recruit international or returning Canadian postdoctoral researchers. The program provides 400 postdoctoral research awards across Canada, each valued at $70,000 CAD per year for up to two years. Applicants must not currently be affiliated with a Canadian institution and must be studying or working abroad. The research must align with one of the program's priority areas, including health and biotechnology. Candidates must be ready to activate the award in Canada by March 31, 2027, and must not hold or be on leave from a tenure-track or tenured faculty position. To apply, interested candidates should email their CV and a short statement of interest to Dr. Wael Elhenawy. Further details about the program and eligibility can be found on the University of Alberta's website and the lab's homepage. The internal deadline for the Expression of Interest (EOI) form is February 9, 2026. Selected candidates will be invited to submit a full application for the March 4, 2026, institutional deadline. This is an excellent opportunity for researchers with expertise in microbiome, structural biology, and advanced microscopy to contribute to impactful research in a leading Canadian institution.