Post Doctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow

An NIH-funded postdoctoral position to work under limited supervision on research examining the effects of dietary patterns on salivary proteome and taste processing. Position is in the laboratory of Dr. Kimberly Smith at the University of South Carolina Floyd School of Medicine in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience. Postdoctoral fellow will help design and conduct original research related to understanding the factors contributing to adaptive and maladaptive eating behavior in non-clinical and clinical populations.

The fellow will be primarily responsible for conducting the studies outlined in the NIH-funded grant, including participant recruitment and assessment, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. The postdoctoral fellow will receive training in taste psychophysics, molecular approaches, and human research and will be expected to apply for independent funding. Position requires a Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of neuroscience, computer science, psychology, or related field by the start date of employment and training in ingestive behavior, chemo sensation, and/or human research is preferred.

Demonstrates commitment to conducting business lawfully and ethically by consistently adhering to compliance policies, procedures and regulations. This position is established in support of expanded research activities.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- The individual must be highly motivated and able to work independently as well as part of a dynamic team.

- Experience with administration of structured and semi-structured interviews (e.g., SCID).

- Knowledge/proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, STATA, Mat Lab, Python), and database management (e.g., developing databases in REDCap, Microsoft Excel, or SPSS).

- Excellent English speaking/writing skills required.

- Experience in writing and securing local and federal grants, and experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.

- Required to conduct business lawfully and ethically by consistently adhering to compliance policies procedures and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications
- Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of neuroscience, computer science, psychology, or related field
- Training in ingestive behavior, chemo sensation, and/or human research.

- Experience in fMRI data collection and analysis.

- Demonstrated ability to write research manuscripts and grants.

- Demonstrated ability to train undergraduate students in lab protocols.

- Related experience in data collection, data management, and/or data analysis.

Job Close Date 10/11/2026. Special Instructions to Applicant Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors.

Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by October 11, 2026.

Benefits for State Employees The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies. Insurance Benefits Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits.

Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses. Retirement Benefits State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note:

The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.