Research Associate, Research Scientist, Clinical Research

Nutrition-466001

Research Professionals

08/01/2025

08/18/2025

No

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Research Associate

EHRA Non-Faculty

NF0009222

Full-Time Permanent

1

40

North Carolina, US

Dependent on qualifications

08/25/2025

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. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

The Gillings School’s Department of Nutrition is a global leader in research and training. We are the only nutrition department in the United States situated in both a school of public health and a school of medicine. We engage in innovative work that capitalizes on both these schools’ approaches to health, and thus our department has an unusual breadth of scientific and policy approaches.

Our faculty expertise spans from cell to society and moves from discovery to delivery. Our faculty and students work throughout North Carolina and reach populations in China, India, Malawi, Spain and the Philippines, to name a few.

The Research Associate will work in the Hursting laboratory to design and execute studies to delineate mechanisms by which obesity promotes cancer and to develop interventions to intercept this association. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience conducting cell culture assays, using preclinical mouse models of energy balance, and performing multi-omics bioinformatic analyses.

The Research Associate will be expected to work independently and as part of a dynamic scientific team comprised of students, technicians, postdoctoral research associates, and faculty. The candidate should be enthusiastic about and have prior experience training junior researchers. The candidate will help maintain and strengthen established collaborations with external investigators by coordinating meetings, sharing data, and liaising with members across laboratories to accelerate progress.

The candidate will proactively develop and implement emerging technologies to address questions relevant to priority projects as identified by the principal investigator.

The candidate must have strong organizational skills to establish standard operating procedures for laboratory implementation. It is also expected that the Research Associate will disseminate research through writing peer- reviewed publications and presenting at scientific conferences.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Experience in laboratory-based cancer research

Not Applicable.