Senior Research Scholar

Extension, Genetics, Agriculture and Resource Economics, and NCARS. The PHHI mission is to discover and deliver innovative plant-based solutions to advance human health.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Propositionand learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

A Senior Research Scholar position is available in the Lila’s Lab at Plants for Human Health Institute (NCSU, Research Campus, Kannapolis) for a highly motivated candidate to investigate the the miRNomes of commonly consumed dairy products in the United States, including milk, yogurt, and cheese, and to evaluate their effects on cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive functions relevant to postmenopausal-associated conditions using an established mouse model of menopause to elucidate the role of dairy microRNAs as novel bioactive components contributing to the health benefits of dairy consumption.

Dr. Lila leads a lab aiming to study food bioactives and their impact on immune system response and fate of bioactives in biological fluids. As part of the Plants for Human Health Institute and North Carolina Research Campus, the Lila Lab interfaces with scientists from all related disciplines, dedicated to improving human health and welfare against communicable and chronic disease.

The candidate must excel in areas of dairy products, molecular biology, particularly miRNAs, bioinformatic analysis of miRNAs for prediction of food miRNAs’ health effects, data analysis, and scientific manuscript preparation. The candidate’s tasks include, but are not limited to, designing, coordinating, and executing experiments, analyzing and interpreting data on research projects, training and monitoring students and Postdocs, coordinating the lab supplies and supervising the orders, writing project papers and applying for extra funds, presenting at national and international conferences, to find new and productive collaborations.

List of Primary Responsibilities:

Research Leadership and Scientific Excellence

• Lead and oversee independent and collaborative research projects
• Design, develop, and optimize experimental protocols and research methodologies for the grant, and perform the experiments
• Analyze, interpret, and integrate complex experimental data using appropriate statistical methods

Scholarly Dissemination

• Perform bioinformatic analysis and interpretation of the genomic data
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Present research findings at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to the preparation of grant proposals and other research funding applications

Mentorship, Project Management, and Laboratory Operations

• Supervise, mentor, and train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
• Oversee laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, reagent procurement, and implementation of safety procedures.
• Coordinate research activities, establish project timelines, and ensure project milestones are achieved.

This position is located in Kannapolis, NC.

Other Responsibilities

• Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Relevant Ph.D. degree with at least 5 years of professional work experience in the area.

Other Required Qualifications

• Management of laboratory staff, including assisting in the mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students with the PI.
• The Candidate must excel in areas of dairy products and molecular biology, particularly miRNAs. The candidate must have experience in bioinformatic analysis of miRNAs for prediction of food miRNAs’ effects, data analysis, and scientific manuscript preparation.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to develop manuscripts, grant proposals, and presentations. First and last authorship is a good indicator of writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of metabolic pathways and database development and management. This includes knowledge of advanced programming and other computational skills as appropriate for advanced plant genomic studies.
• 5 years of relevant experience in dairy research, particularly miRNAs
• Expertise with RNA-seq, microarray, and bioinformatic analysis of genomic data.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required: No

Commercial Driver's License required: No

Job Open Date: 08/07/2026

Anticipated Close Date: Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please attach a Cover Letter, resume/CV, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

Position Number: 00112249

Position Type: EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.0

Appointment: 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather: Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events: Mandatory - Medical Emergencies

Department ID: 110308 - Kannapolis Research

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

• No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
• No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
• Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
• Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city

With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.