Careers

StressMarq Biosciences, founded in 2007, is a research bioreagents company producing high-quality, cutting-edge research products for the life sciences and discovery research markets. Our diverse portfolio of antibodies, proteins, immunoassay kits, and small molecules are utilized across a range of biomedical research fields including neuroscience, cancer research, and cell signaling.

In recent years, StressMarq has become the market leader in the development and commercialization of a range of fibrillized and oligomeric protein preparations for use in neurodegenerative disease research including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Within the company, we have three divisions – Operations, Sales & Marketing, and Laboratory. Within the Laboratory division, we have 3 departments – Antibodies & Kits, Proteins, and R&D.

While we greatly appreciate your interest in StressMarq Biosciences, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an on-site interview.

Associate Scientist – R&D (On-Site)

Posted: 04-07-2026

Location: 1537 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, V8T 2C1, Canada.
Position Type: Full-time, annual contract (with potential for extension)
Reports To: Lab Manager

About the role:

We are seeking an Associate Scientist to join our growing R&D team. This mid-level position offers an opportunity to contribute to product development while gaining expertise in our established processes and protocols. This is a hands-on laboratory position focused on translating R&D efforts into commercially viable new products for StressMarq’s portfolio. The role includes iterative experimental design and validation through to the production of a launch batch for sale, along with development of clear, well documented procedures that enable manufacturing to reliably reproduce the product. The successful candidate will receive training on existing SOPs with the expectation they will quickly build a foundation for working on current R&D projects.

The day-to-day work for this position includes preparing buffers, casting and running SDS-PAGE gels and/or transfers, data visualization such as labelled gel images, line & bar graphs, etc., data entry into shared databases, drafting/ revising SOPs, general lab & equipment maintenance activities such as reagent/ consumable inventory, autoclaving materials & supplies, and assisting with technical support related to customer inquiries (note: no direct customer interaction).

On a weekly to biweekly basis, the scientist will be assigned to work on specific projects by a lab manager, which can include assay development, protein expression, purification and/or fibrillization or antibody purification and/or screening, followed by QC activities such as western blotting, sterility testing, assays (ThT, sedimentation, endotoxin detection, BCA, malachite green, etc) and atomic force microscopy. All data & results associated with a project must be compiled into a project summary. Additional responsibilities may include contributing to the development of custom-made products.

Key expectations: 

  • Attendance in regularly scheduled meetings.
    • Must review transcript if meeting missed or follow up with a lab manager
  • Adhere to and remain up to date on ISO 9001:2015 documentation expectations.
  • Role model for lab safety
    • Safe handling of chemicals and raw materials.
    • Safe handling and use of equipment.
    • Review SDS sheets when necessary
    • Wear appropriate PPE and abide by safety protocols.
    • Label reagents/buffers appropriately (WHMIS)
  • Demonstrate perseverance in projects and scientific understanding when reviewing literature to aid in troubleshooting, data interpretation, and experimental design.
  • Collaborate with manufacturing as needed during high volume periods or on difficult troubleshoots.
  • Maintain completed, accurate, & detailed R&D summaries and notebooks.
  • Communicate regularly with lab manager.
  • May travel to conferences as needed.

Qualifications: 

  • PhD in a highly relevant field or MSc with 2 to 4 years of equivalent years of relevant experience in protein purification.
  • High level of attention to detail
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills
  • Analytical skills to perform complex tests and procedures
  • Technical proficiency to operate and maintain laboratory equipment such as PH meters, spectrophotometers, autoclaves, AKTAs, columns, etc.
  • Problem solving to troubleshoot issues with equipment and investigate any abnormal test results.

What we offer: 

  • Salary range of $50,000 – $60,000 – Based on knowledge, skills, abilities, and years of experience.
  • Full-time, annual contract (with potential for extension).
  • Opportunities to take part in job-related training and development.
  • Paid Vacation Time
  • Additional time off: 5 Paid sick days/annum; 2 Personal Days/annum
  • Medical, Dental and Vision (Personal Health Savings Account)
  • Multiple Bonus programs
  • Bi-monthly staff appreciation lunches
  • Retirement Savings matching contribution programs (year 2 onward)
  • Be part of a diverse, collaborative team driving product development in life sciences, and discovery research.
  • Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8-hour shift.

Apply: 

To apply, please send your current resume and cover letter to stressmarqhr@stressmarq.com. In your application, indicate:

  • Subject line: Associate Scientist
  • Whether you are currently located in Victoria, BC.
  • If not, please indicate how your commute would work or if you would be willing to relocate for this position.
  • Your highest level of education completed and corresponding field.
  • How many years of experience you have with protein purification.

 

Recent company-related peer-reviewed publications include:

1: Kasen A, Lövestam S, Breton L, Meyerdirk L, McPhail JA, Piche K, Louwrier A, Capan CD, Lee H, Scheres SHW, Henderson MX. Seed structure and phosphorylation in the fuzzy coat impact tau seeding competency. Nat Commun. 2025 Oct 17;16(1):9240. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-64312-2. PMID: 41107248; PMCID: PMC12534512.

2: Bąk KM, Edwards DC, George D, Singh B, Ferguson R, Zhao T, Piché K, Louwrier A, Cockroft SL, Horrocks MH. A single-molecule liposome assay for membrane permeabilization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2025 Jun 24;64(26):e202503678. doi: 10.1002/anie.202503678. Epub 2025 Jun 5. PMID: 40192344; PMCID: PMC12184303.

3: Hanson GSM, Batsaki F, Myerscough TL, Piché K, Louwrier A, Coxon CR. 19F NMR-tags for peptidyl prolyl conformation analysis. RSC Chem Biol. 2025 Sep 4;6(11):1740-1748. doi: 10.1039/d5cb00118h. PMID: 40958938; PMCID: PMC12435502.

4: Princz-Lebel O, Attaran A, Sandoval Contreras R, Novikov V, Panjwani S, Chu A, Tan C, Lemieux CA, Skirzewski M, Machado MMF, Watts JC, McPhail JA, Louwrier A, Prado VF, Saksida LM, Prado MAM, Bussey TJ. Impairment in stimulus-response learning as a cognitive biomarker in a model of synucleinopathy. Transl Psychiatry. 2026 Jan 9;16(1):18. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03795-5. PMID: 41513608; PMCID: PMC12804908.

5: Zhan X, Li W, Hatterer E, Courade JP, Piché K, Klementieva O, Li JY. Strain-distinct α-synuclein and tau cross-seeding uncovered by correlative approach with optical photothermal infrared sub-micron imaging. J Am Chem Soc. 2025 Aug 6;147(31):27323-27340. doi:10.1021/jacs.5c02811. Epub 2025 Jul 28. PMID: 40726080; PMCID: PMC12333023.