Shape the Future of Healthcare
Now Accepting Applications:
PhD Opportunity: Implementation Science & Drone‑Based Health Care Delivery
The Implementation Science & Isolated Communities (ISIC) Lab at UBC is seeking a PhD student for the Drone Transport Initiative, supervised by Dr. Femke Hoekstra (primary) and Dr. Anurag Singh (co‑supervisor), within the Experimental Medicine program.
This funded PhD project ($40,000/year for 4 years) will study the impact of implementing virtual pharmacist care integrated with drone‑based medication delivery to improve access to medications in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The research is conducted in partnership with communities, interdisciplinary researchers, and various health system partners.
📍 Location: UBC Okanagan Campus
👩🏫 Supervisors: Dr. Femke Hoekstra & Dr. Anurag Singh
📅 Start Date: September 2026 or January 2027
📌 Applications: Open until the position is filled
Join us!
At the ISIC-Lab, we provide a unique environment for gradudate students and postdoctoral researchers to work on transformative projects with real-world impact.
Whether you’re developing cutting-edge technology or analyzing data to solve healthcare challenges, your contributions will make a difference.
Why Join ISIC?
- Collaborate with a diverse team of experts.
- Gain hands-on experience in impactful research projects.
- Build your career while addressing global challenges.
Testimonials
“For me, the ISIC-Lab has been an invaluable space for learning and research. Under Dr. Hoekstra’s mentorship, I have since gained hands-on experience in qualitative research, research partnerships, and implementation science. I am truly grateful to be on this learning journey with the lab and to continue growing both personally and professionally.” — Undergraduate student
How to Apply
Submit the following to Dr. Femke Hoekstra;
- A cover letter
- Up-to-date resume
- Transcripts
Masters Program
Application Deadline: October 1, 2025
Articles
-
ISIC Branding
Where it all began Dr. Femke Hoekstra sought to create a vibrant and cohesive brand identity for the Implementation Science in Isolated Communities (ISIC) Lab at UBCO. The primary focus was to establish a logo that encapsulated the essence of collaboration between medical students, occupational therapy students, researchers, and volunteers involved in the lab’s groundbreaking
-
Dr. Femke Hoekstra
Assistant Professor, Division of Social Medicine Dr. Femke Hoekstra, PhD is an Assistant Professor at UBC’s Department of Medicine, Division of Social Medicine in the area of Implementation Science. She is also Investigator within the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM) at the UBC Okanagan and Associate Member of International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries
-
When I grow up
When I Grow Up, I Want to Help… Imagine this is you. When I grow up, I want to help create a world where healthcare is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. This dream led me to the ISIC Lab, a place where ideas, innovation, and collaboration come together to make real change.
Curious Aren’t You?
The ISIC Lab respectfully acknowledges that the land in which we gather and conduct our work is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples.