Open Rank

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The UNC Department of Psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine is seeking an exceptional scientist for a full-time, tenure-track faculty researcher focused on the neural and molecular mechanisms of geriatric mental health disorders, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk. The Department of Psychiatry provides an outstanding environment for translational neuroscience, basic and clinical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and career development. Under the new Chair, Dr. Warren Taylor, the Department of Psychiatry is growing its clinical and research expertise in geriatric mental health and strengthening ties between the Department and the UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. This new faculty member will lead an innovative research program investigating mechanisms underlying geriatric mental health disorders, cognitive aging and AD vulnerability, with a particular emphasis on longitudinal course, depression and anxiety, neural circuitry, and molecular biomarkers. The successful candidate will develop an independent program of externally funded research; contribute to collaborative initiatives within Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience, and the broader UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center; and leverage multimodal methodologies such as neuroimaging, molecular assays, and ecological data. Ideally, the candidate will serve as a resource for other investigators in the Department on computational psychiatry approaches. In addition to developing a robust independent research program, the faculty member will also provide high-quality research mentorship to trainees in the Department of Psychiatry, including medical students, residents, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career faculty. Primary responsibilities include designing and executing research studies; building team science collaborations; conducting data analysis; disseminating results; publishing in high-impact scientific journals; and securing extramural grant funding. This position represents a critical investment in UNC’s strategic vision to transform research and care for older adults, improve mental health outcomes in later life, and reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s disease through precision neuroscience. The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of research excellence partnered with expert clinical care. 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. We strive to promote faculty, staff, and learner development in a diverse, respectful environment where our colleagues demonstrate professionalism, enhance learning, and create personal and professional sustainability. We optimize our partnership with the UNC Health System through close collaboration and commitment to service. OUR VISION The vision of UNC is to be the nation’s leading public school of medicine. We are ranked 5th among public peers in NIH research funding. Our Allied Health Department is home to five top-ranked divisions, and we are home to 18 top-ranked clinical and basic science departments in NIH research funding.

Requirements

• Full-time, tenure-track faculty researcher
• Focus on neural and molecular mechanisms of geriatric mental health disorders, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk
• Develop an independent program of externally funded research
• Contribute to collaborative initiatives within Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience, and the broader UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
• Leverage multimodal methodologies such as neuroimaging, molecular assays, and ecological data
• Serve as a resource for other investigators in the Department on computational psychiatry approaches

Nice To Haves

• Postdoctoral training in geriatric mental health, neuroimaging, cognitive aging, or Alzheimer’s disease research
• Expertise in computational neuroscience
• Demonstrated success with independent or collaborative grant funding (e.g., NIH K/R mechanisms, foundation funding)
• Experience conducting research on aging, clinical neuroscience, or biomarkers relevant to geriatric mental health or Alzheimer’s risk
• Experience mentoring students, fellows, or junior investigators
• Ability to contribute to the department’s growing precision-medicine, computational psychiatry, and neuroscience initiatives

Responsibilities

• Designing and executing research studies
• Building team science collaborations
• Conducting data analysis
• Disseminating results
• Publishing in high-impact scientific journals
• Securing extramural grant funding
• Provide high-quality research mentorship to trainees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed