Post-Doc Research Associate - Vaziri-Bowser labs

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

13h

About The Position

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a collaborative, co-mentored research program between the laboratories of Dr. Cyrus Vaziri and Dr. Jessica Bowser. The successful candidate will investigate fundamental mechanisms of the DNA damage response ( DDR ), cell cycle regulation, and their implications for genome stability, cancer biology, and therapeutic response. This position offers the unique benefit of dual academic mentorship, along with industry-relevant experience through collaborations with the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery ( UNC ) and the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory ( UNC ). These collaborations will provide the candidate with access to complementary expertise, resources, and scientific perspectives across multiple disciplines.

Requirements

• Experience in DNA damage and cell cycle fields.
• Independence and expertise in designing experiments, collecting data, and performing necessary techniques.
• Familiarity with ethical guidelines, regulations, and policies governing research.
• Understanding the processes for securing grants and publishing findings in scientific journals.
• Ability to communicate effectively through writing (manuscripts) and speaking (seminars, presentations) to both specialized and broad audiences.
• Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., GraphPad Prism) and strong analytical skills.
• Ability to generate high-resolution publication-quality figures (e.g. using Adobe Illustrator).
• Demonstrated expertise in state-of-the-art molecular biology, cell biology, genetic, and biochemical approaches required to study mechanisms of genome maintenance.
• Cell culture, DNA cloning, mutagenesis, expressing proteins in mammalian and bacterial cells, gene editing, protein biochemistry, imaging, flow cytometry.
• Ability to learn new techniques quickly and efficiently.
• Ability to troubleshoot.
• Ability to multi-task, manage time, projects, and resources effectively.
• Ability to write manuscripts and generate high-quality figures.
• The capacity to adapt to new research directions, technologies, and work environments.
• The ability to work independently, formulate and test hypotheses, and drive your own research.
• Analytical ability to identify problems and find effective solutions.
• Working effectively in interdisciplinary and collaborative teams.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to manage a project, collaborate with others, and facilitate teamwork.
• Reliable, accountable, considerate, honest.
• Understanding that this position strictly requires achieving research milestones and deliverables (manuscripts) that benefit the entire lab while facilitating your own professional goals.

Nice To Haves

• A strong base of knowledge in signal transduction, genome maintenance, DNA replication, cell cycle, and how these processes impact carcinogenesis and cancer therapy.
• Dual academic mentorship.
• Industry-relevant experience through collaborations with the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (UNC) and the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory (UNC).

Responsibilities

• Investigate fundamental mechanisms of the DNA damage response (DDR), cell cycle regulation, and their implications for genome stability, cancer biology, and therapeutic response.
• Design experiments, collect data, and perform necessary techniques.
• Secure grants and publish findings in scientific journals.
• Communicate effectively through writing (manuscripts) and speaking (seminars, presentations) to both specialized and broad audiences.
• Generate high-resolution publication-quality figures.
• Multi-task, manage time, projects, and resources effectively.
• Write manuscripts and generate high-quality figures.
• Adapt to new research directions, technologies, and work environments.
• Work independently, formulate and test hypotheses, and drive your own research.
• Identify problems and find effective solutions.
• Work effectively in interdisciplinary and collaborative teams.
• Manage a project, collaborate with others, and facilitate teamwork.
• Achieve research milestones and deliverables (manuscripts) that benefit the entire lab while facilitating your own professional goals.
• Develop and follow an individual training plan (IDP) tailored to specific needs to attain scientific and career goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree