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. 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.

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 UNC-Chapel Hill Metabolomics and Proteomics ( MAP) Core Facility, housed within the School of Medicine's Department of Pharmacology, is a University-operated recharge facility that provides state-of-the-art, mass spectrometry- based proteomics and metabolomics services to researchers at UNC and to academic and industry partners across the United States. The facility houses seven Thermo Fisher Scientific instruments dedicated to metabolomics and proteomics applications.

The Research Associate will collaborate closely with members of the MAP Core and external research partners to advance proteomics-based investigations. This role independently leads research initiatives, including protocol development, experimental design, and data interpretation. As a subject matter expert, the Research Associate provides scientific guidance to collaborators, contributes to the planning and execution of complex projects, and ensures the delivery of high-quality, reproducible data. The position requires strong analytical skills, expertise in proteomics methods, and the ability to communicate findings effectively to multidisciplinary teams.

The Research Associate independently leads proteomics research initiatives, including protocol development, experimental design, and data interpretation. The position serves as a subject matter expert, advising collaborators and contributing to strategic decisions in research planning and execution.

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.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong multitasking and time management skills.
Proven capacity to work independently and efficiently in a fast-paced research environment.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across diverse teams and laboratories.

Demonstrated experience in wet lab sample preparation, instrumentation, and/or analysis of -omics datasets.
Familiarity with a range of -omics software platforms, such as Proteome Discoverer, MaxQuant, Spectronaut, and Skyline, is strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of cell biology and standard biochemical sample preparation techniques.
Hands-on experience with LC-MS instrumentation and workflows.
Proficiency in statistical analysis using R or Python, along with bioinformatics expertise, is highly desirable.

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.