Opportunities for Trainees
The Drone Transport Initiative is actively recruiting motivated Master’s and PhD trainees to support the next phase of our research. We are looking for emerging scholars with a strong interest in:
- Implementation science
- Rural and Indigenous health
- Health research partnerships
- Health innovation
Trainees will work under the supervision of Dr. Femke Hoekstra, Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Medicine and an Investigator at the Centre of Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in the area of Implementation Science.
How to Apply
Please submit the following to Dr. Femke Hoekstra (femke.hoekstra@ubc.ca)
- Your resume/CV
- A short cover letter describing your research interests and motivation
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Opportunity for a Postdoctoral Fellow
There is a funded PDF position available in the Algorithms Optimization and Control Lab (AOCL) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
This position is part of the Drone Transport Initiative, a partnership project working to deliver medicine and blood products to and from remote communities using autonomous drones. This position involves developing autonomy algorithms for these drones. This is a 2-3 year position and part of a 3 year proof-of-concept technology development program working to demonstrate drone-based delivery of medicine in Northern BC.
Scope of Work
The successful applicant will:
- Develop and implement automated flight planning algorithms for long-range medical drones
- Work with industrial collaborators to deploy these algorithms on hardware
- Support regulatory filings to obtain flight approvals
- Support flight test campaigns (includes occasional travel to the Prince George area)
Work Environment
The successful candidate will be part of the Drone Transport Initiative and the Algorithms, Optimization, and Control Lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. We are located on UBC’s Point Grey campus on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy ̓ əm (Musqueam) people, surrounded by forest, ocean and mountains. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world.
Qualifications
- A PhD degree in engineering
- Background in Robotics, Mechanical, Electrical and/or Aerospace engineering
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Technical skills in path planning, optimization, control systems, C++, and ROS (or embedded systems)
The successful candidate will need to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities and stakeholders in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner.
Key Dates
2026/07/17 | First review date for applications
2026/08/07 | Last review date for applications (no applications will be considered after this date)
2026/09/14 | Nominal start date (or a mutually agreed upon time shortly thereafter)
Salary Ranges
$70,000 – $80,000 per year + benefits
Those holding major external awards (e.g., NSERC PDF Fellowships) are eligible for a top up.
Download the Posting
How to Apply
Please submit the following to Dr. Dominic Liao-McPherson (dliaomcp@mech.ubc.ca)
- Your resume/CV
- A cover letter/statement of intent (including relevant experience, your research interests)
Please submit all documents as a single .pdf file and use the following format for the email subject line: [DTI Postdoc application]: LastName, FirstName.
Please indicate in your submission if you are eligible to apply for an NSERC PDF Fellowship.
Those shortlisted for further consideration will be contacted for an online interview and given instructions about submitting a formal application. Due to the volume of emails received, only those shortlisted will be contacted.
We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Applications are due August 7, 2026.