"Postdoctoral Research Associate"

Job Details

Department: Marsico Lung Inst - CF Center - 426401

Posting Open Date: 09/17/2025

Application Deadline: 09/21/2025

Open Until Filled: No

Position Type: Postdoctoral Scholar

Position Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate

Vacancy ID: PDS004645

Full-time/Part-time: Full-Time Temporary

Hours per week: 40

FTE: 1

Work Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Position Location: North Carolina, US

Hiring Range: Dependent upon qualifications and experience

Proposed Start Date: 12/18/2025

Estimated Duration of Appointment: 12 Months

Be a Tar Heel!

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities and is among the top ten research universities in the nation for federal research expenditures as well as for federally funded social and behavioral sciences research and development.

Here at Carolina, our highly skilled postdocs play a vital role in our research enterprise and towards our overall commitment to research excellence. Across many disciplines, postdocs contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. They provide innovative ideas and perspectives, foster a stimulating research environment and advance knowledge within their fields. Postdocs are crucial members of our scientific research workforce, contributors to our research outputs and an important reason why Carolina is one of the leading public research institutions in the country.

UNC-Chapel Hill offers postdocs comprehensive medical and vision coverage, paid leave, and benefits and services that support professional development and a healthy work/life balance. Chapel Hill regularly ranks as one of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, a reputation guided by the diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of excellence and care. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians, and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research. We strive to promote faculty, staff, and learner development in a diverse, respectful environment where our colleagues demonstrate professionalism, enhance learning, and create personal and professional sustainability. We optimize our partnership with the UNC Health System through close collaboration and commitment to service.

The Marsico Lung Institute (MLI)/UNC Cystic Fibrosis Center (CF Center) has a rich tradition of collaboration. Our goal is to provide the mechanism for generating world-class research into the pathogenesis and treatment of disease that impact on the airways of the human lung. Basic research activities focus on the elucidation of the pathogenesis of human airways diseases at the molecular, biologic, cell biologic, and physiologic levels. Clinical and therapeutic studies focus on specific disease categories, exploring pathophysiologic concepts in patients with these diseases, and, with the collaboration of basic and clinical investigators, developing rational, novel ways for treatment airways diseases. Research into cystic fibrosis is a major focal point of the Center, but other major human airways diseases also are studied. This includes asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Position Summary:

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will perform advanced independent biomedical research. This will include project development, experimental design and performance, data analysis, written progress and manuscript generation, management of lab resources, and training of other personnel.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, Genetics or Molecular Biology

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience: Our ideal candidate will have experience in respiratory microbiome research, including lab processing and data analysis based on both Illumina and Oxford nanopore technologies. Experience in bacterial genetics and in vitro phenotyping is required. Individuals must possess excellent communication skills with the ability to work in a highly collaborative team environment.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience: Graduate-level coursework in biological sciences; quantitative biological; scientific method and experimental design/interpretation. Experience in biostatistical modelling, and RNA-sequencing data analysis is preferred.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements: N/A

Special Instructions: For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here.