Postdoctoral Research Associate

About this position

Department:

Alcohol Studies Center - 428801

Posting Open Date:

09/21/2026

Application Deadline:

09/25/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

Position Type:

Postdoctoral Scholar

Position Title:

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Vacancy ID:

PDS004973

Full-time/Part-time:

Full-Time Temporary

Hours per week:

40

FTE:

1

Work Location:

Chapel Hill, NC

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

Dependent upon experience and skillset

Proposed Start Date:

01/04/2027

Estimated Duration of Appointment:

12 Months

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:

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.

Position Summary:

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Laura Rupprecht at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

The Postdoc will be responsible for the following:

• The independent planning, performance and analysis of research experiments. Writing and developing scientific protocols.
• Coordinating research projects.
• Training and supervision of student assistants.
• Managing and maintaining the research lab in accordance with environmental health and safety, institutional animal care and use committee, division of laboratory animal medicine and university requirements and policies. Maintaining complete and detailed lab records.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience or a related field at the time of appointment.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Research projects in the Rupprecht lab use an integrative approach that combines behavioral testing, pharmacology, circuit-based approaches, nerve electrophysiology, and anatomical techniques. Experience in one or more of the following techniques will be critical: mouse behavior, microscopy, transfection, design of transgenic animals, electrophysiology. Our ideal candidate will also have strong letters of support.

Previous laboratory experience and general laboratory skills are required. Excellent computer and communication skills are essential.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Previous experience with creation and maintenance of transgenic mouse lines, mouse behavior testing, stereotaxic surgery, electrophysiology, operant conditioning, mouse colony management, health and safety compliance, animal protocol compliance is preferred

Special Physical/Mental Requirements :

N/A

Special Instructions:

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here