Post-Doc Research Associate

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 is 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.

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being 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.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

The Stalnecker Group in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Research Associate. This position is part of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and will focus on cancer biology within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

The Stalnecker Group uses both computational and experimental approaches to study the signaling pathways that drive cancer cell growth and resistance to therapy. Our research primarily focuses on gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic and colorectal cancer, with a special emphasis on cancers driven by activated KRAS or MAPK signaling. We employ a variety of translational model systems, such as patient-derived organoids (PDOs), patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), patient samples, and mouse models. Our computational methods integrate multi-omics data (transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, phosphoproteomics, metabolomics) with genetic screens ( CRISPR/Cas9) and drug screens to understand disease states and identify novel therapeutic strategies.

The successful candidate will be a key member of our collaborative team, investigating therapeutic vulnerabilities and resistance mechanisms in colorectal and pancreatic cancer. This will involve designing and executing both computational and experimental research projects.

Key responsibilities include:
* Leading and contributing to projects focused on KRAS and MAPK signaling and resistance mechanisms.
* Utilizing computational approaches to integrate and analyze multi-omics data.
* Designing and conducting experiments using translational cancer models.
* Collaborating with other researchers within the Stalnecker Group, the wider UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and external academic and industry collaborators.
* Preparing manuscripts for publication and presenting research findings at scientific conferences.
* Mentoring junior lab members.

A recent Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Computational Biology, or a related field.

* Strong experience with both computational and experimental approaches in cancer biology.
* Expertise in KRAS biology, MAPK signaling, and resistance mechanisms in colorectal or pancreatic cancer.
* Proficiency in R or Python with a proven track record in biostatistics or computational biology.
* Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

* Computational experience applying transcriptomic or proteomic signatures to patient datasets is preferred.
* Experience with patient-derived colorectal organoid and PDX mouse models is highly desirable.

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For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at (919) 962-9982 or send an email to opahr@unc.edu.

Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.