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.

The Department of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of new and existing knowledge in the broad discipline of Biology by maintaining a high-quality faculty who integrate cutting-edge research and student-focused teaching.

We are one of the largest academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. We have over 3,000 majors and intendent majors, and we enroll over 5,000 undergraduate students in our classes each year. Our average total annual expenditure exceeds $24 million, with nearly half of that coming from grant sponsored research. Our large research base spans many areas of biology and supports several outstanding graduate programs. We consist of 54 tenure-track faculty, 16 teaching faculty, 10 research faculty, and numerous active adjunct and emeritus faculty who are engaged in basic and interdisciplinary research and teaching, both within the department and between other departments and schools at UNC.

We currently have 52 graduate students, 30 post-docs and employ approximately 85 additional graduate and undergraduate students from across the university to assist in our teaching and research missions. Further, we are supported by an administrative staff of 19, with an additional 45 staff directly supporting research.

Applicants can read about the Ben Parker lab and research at https://parkerlab.net.

The researcher will be primarily responsible for carrying out investigations related to our lab's research, using an insect model system (aphids) to address mechanistic and evolutionary genetic questions about animal-microbe interactions. The researcher will use molecular, genomic, and experimental techniques in their research.
The research associate will collect data, communicate with other investigators, write reports and manuscripts, and assist in advising and training of graduate and undergraduate research students.

A PhD in ecology and evolution, microbiology, entomology, or a related field must be completed by the starting date of the position.

The candidate is expected to have experience with molecular biology and/or genomics.

Experience publishing peer-reviewed scientific papers focused on host-microbe interactions and evolution would be seen as a strong attribute.

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Please include a cover letter, CV, and the names of two references with online application. Questions should be addressed to Benjamin Parker, Assistant Professor of Biology (bpar@unc.edu).

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.