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 Postdoctoral Research Associate will work in a collaborative research environment conducting public health research under the mentorship of Dr. Leah Frerichs. This position offers the opportunity to lead and contribute to two distinct but complementary research initiatives: a youth-engaged project focused on mental health interventions and a clinic-based study addressing colorectal cancer screening disparities in underserved populations.

The successful candidate will play a key role in all phases of research implementation, from study design and data collection to analysis and dissemination. Responsibilities include coordinating community partnerships, managing research protocols, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and leading manuscript preparation for peer-reviewed publication. The position also involves substantial grant writing activities, including preparing proposals for federal and foundation funding opportunities.

This role is ideal for an early-career researcher passionate about community-engaged research. The postdoc will gain valuable experience in mixed-methods research, community partnership development, and translational science while building a strong publication record and grant writing portfolio. The position provides mentorship in career development and opportunities to present findings at national conferences.

PhD in a related field

Community-based participatory research ( CBPR) or community-engaged research experience
Youth engagement or adolescent health research background
Culturally sensitivity and awareness of health disparities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Experience with clinic-based research or healthcare settings
Background in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

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.