Post-Doc Research Associate

Post-Doc Research Associate Please see Special Instructions for more details. For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here Posting Information Posting Details Department Biology - 318200 Posting Open Date 05/15/2026 Application Deadline 05/26/2026 Open Until Filled No Position Type Postdoctoral Scholar Position Title Post-Doc Research Associate Vacancy ID PDS004862 Full-time/Part-time Full-Time Temporary Hours per week 40 FTE 1 Work Location Chapel Hill Position Location North Carolina, US Hiring Range $64,000/year Proposed Start Date 07/01/2026 Estimated Duration of Appointment 12 Months Position Information Be a Tar Heel! 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. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit 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 3,450 majors and we enroll undergraduate students in over 7,870 seats in our classes each semester. Each fall or spring semester, we offer 52 classes (70 sections) and 13 lab courses (93 sections). Our average total annual expenditure exceeds $24 million, with nearly half of that coming from grant sponsored research. Our department has nearly $70 million in active grants to support our twin missions of research and teaching. Our large research base spans many areas of biology and supports several outstanding graduate programs. We consist of 48 tenure-track faculty, 11 teaching faculty, 5 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 50 graduate students and 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 20, with an additional 20 staff directly supporting research. The Petrullo Lab in the Department of Biology studies the evolutionary ecology, physiology, and life history of wild mammals. Position Summary The Petrullo Lab is hiring 2 postdoctoral researchers to join our NIH-funded study of the relationship between stress physiology and the gut microbiome in wild rodents. The overarching goal of this project are to use field-based experimental manipulations in wild animals to elucidate connections between ecological stimuli of the host HPA axis (e.g., population density, food availability) and downstream changes in gut microbiome communities.

Other goals include:

1) identify precise microbial traits that respond to activation of the host HPA axis, including changes in microbe-microbe interactions 2) investigate immune mechanisms mediating host-microbe responses 3) begin linking these mechanisms to host health and fitness outcomes The postdocs will be involved in field work, wet lab work, bioinformatics, and other project management roles related to this work. The postdocs will also have the opportunity to develop their own independent research questions and projects using these and other data related to host-microbe interactions within an ecological and evolutionary context. Minimum Education and Experience Requirements PhD in Ecology, Biology, or related field. Enthusiasm for joining a fast-growing and multi-disciplinary lab - Excellent leadership, communication, and collaborative skills. Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience Research/professional experience with bioinformatic approaches relevant to microbiome analyses Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience Prior fieldwork experience, especially working with small mammals, a plus Special Physical/Mental Requirements N/A Special Instructions For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here (Open Ended Question)