Post-Doc Research Associate - Arthur Lab

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.

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

The Arthur lab is looking for an enthusiastic and highly-motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate interactions between the microbiota and intestinal disease, specifically inflammation, fibrosis and colorectal cancer. We utilize a unique and powerful in vivo system - germ-free and gnotobiotic mice - to causally link specific microbes, microbial genes, and microbial metabolites with health and disease in the gut. Our lab employs a wide range of microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology approaches that are frequently integrated with multiomics technologies, including RNAseq and spatial profiling.

Several projects are available. One project seeks to define microbial mechanisms driving inflammation-associated intestinal fibrosis (see PMC12488000). Another will define novel regulators driving production of the microbial-derived carcinogen colibactin and resulting tumorigenesis (PMC3645302).

As a postdoctoral research associate in our lab, you will join a collaborative, supportive, and hardworking research team within an outstanding scientific community at UNC-CH. You will participate in independent biomedical research, including project development, experimental design, data analysis/interpretation, and communicate results both independently and in a team setting. Additional responsibilities may include managing lab resources, mentoring graduate students and other trainees, and contributing to grant writing. You will have ample opportunity to present your work at conferences/symposia and publish manuscripts.

The Arthur lab is located in Marsico Hall in the Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology and is also affiliated with two NIH centers: Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease ( CGIBD) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center ( LCCC). This is a dynamic working environment ideal for postdoctoral research associates to contribute to cutting-edge basic and translational science, and for those with PI aspirations, develop their own independent research program.
The purpose of this position is to perform experiments, analyze and interpret data, and communicate results both independently and in a team setting. The postdoctoral research associates will work on a project supported by the PI's current funding under minimal supervision. The postdoctoral research associates may also train graduate students and other trainees, help manage the lab, and assist the PI in grant writing. The postdoctoral research associates will present the results of their project at conferences/symposia and by publishing manuscripts.

PhD in immunology, microbiology or a related area with experience performing in vitro and/or in vivo biological experiments.

PhD in immunology, microbiology, or a related area of biomedical sciences with experience performing in vitro and/or in vivo biological experiments.

Applicants should have a strong record of research productivity and an interest in host:microbiome interactions relevant to digestive diseases.

Our projects relate to immunology and microbiology of the GI tract, so applicants must be willing to work with commensal bacteria, intestine and stool samples. Applicants must also be willing to work with mice and become proficient in our mouse models of intestinal inflammation and cancer, including necropsy procedures.

Demonstrated knowledge and experimental expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Mouse models of infection, intestinal inflammation and/or cancer
- Molecular microbiology
- Tissue culture

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.