Postdoctoral 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.

The Department of Epidemiology is one of the seven departments located in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. The department's primary focus is to the development and application of research methods to understand the patterns and causes of health and disease, and the application of that knowledge to improving the health of populations. We provide strong training in research methods and opportunities for the application of epidemiology to a wide range of health problems through our research. The achievements of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni have enabled us to become one of the leading academic departments of epidemiology in the world. The department has 30 Tenured-Tenure Track / 7 Joint Tenure-Track Faculty, 25 Fixed Term / 3 Joint Fixed Term Faculty, 120 Adjuncts, 19 EHRA Non-Faculty, 15 Postdocs, 34 SHRA (Staff), 44 SHRA Temporary and 202 Students. The department's operating budget is 27 million a year.

Randomized controlled trials have shown a substantial reduction in lung cancer mortality with annual lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography, yet differences in the delivery of lung cancer screening in routine clinical practice calls into question whether the same benefits and harms can extend beyond the trial setting. Our NCI-funded project (R01CA277756) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of lung cancer screening in more generalizable clinical practice settings by integrating data from randomized controlled trials and multiple real-world data sources, with a focus on optimizing internal and external validity by applying novel causal inference methodologies.

Under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Lund (Associate Professor of Epidemiology;
jennifer.lund@unc.edu) and Dr. Louise Henderson (Professor of Radiology), the selected applicant will support the generation and communication of scientific findings from the project. The duties of the Postdoctoral Research Associate will include attending team meetings, performing literature reviews, conducting statistical analyses, and preparing scientific abstracts and writing manuscripts. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will also help with supervising graduate students. Mentorship and career development opportunities will be emphasized; first authorship is expected, and the incumbent will be encouraged and supported to pursue their own grant funded research ideas.

Doctoral degree in Epidemiology or related field (e.g., biostatistics, health policy), with a preference for focused work in pharmacoepidemiology and causal inference.

* Prior experience analyzing administrative health care data (EHRs, health insurance claims, or cancer registry data).
* Previous experience or a demonstrated interest in causal inference, cancer outcomes research, or health services research.
* Strong programming skills in SAS or R.
* Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills.
* Self-motivated, attention to detail, and excellent organization skills.

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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 Equal Employment Opportunity office at (919) 966-3576 or send an email to equalopportunity@unc.edu.

Please note: The Equal Employment Opportunity office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.