Research Assistant Professor
- Employer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Microbiology and Immunology - 422501
Posting Open Date:11/02/2026
Application Deadline:11/16/2026
Open Until Filled:Yes
Position Type:Permanent Faculty
Working Title:Research Assistant Professor
Appointment Type:Fixed Term Faculty
Vacancy ID:FAC0006193
Full-time/Part-time:Full-Time Permanent
Hours per week:40
FTE:1
Position Location:North Carolina, US
Proposed Start Date:11/30/2026
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. 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.
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.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the UNC School of Medicine is recruiting a Research Assistant Professor to provide scientific leadership and participate in research and training activities in the laboratory of Drs. Craig E. Cameron and Jamie J. Arnold. The laboratory uses molecular, cellular, and biochemical approaches to understand positive-strand RNA virus replication, assembly, and spread, with the long-term goal of identifying strategies to prevent and treat viral infections.
The successful candidate will independently develop, lead, and conduct research on enteroviruses and alphaviruses, with emphasis on virus-host interactions that coordinate viral RNA synthesis, host lipid metabolism, replication-organelle formation, autophagy-associated membrane trafficking, and non-lytic spread. The position integrates molecular virology with reporter-based assays, quantitative live-cell and single-cell imaging, lipidomics, and ultrastructural analysis.
Responsibilities include experimental design, execution, and interpretation; development of research directions and analytical workflows; coordination of complementary projects and internal and external collaborations; leadership in manuscript preparation and contributions to grant proposals; and mentoring and day-to-day scientific supervision of trainees and research staff. The individual will remain actively engaged in laboratory research while guiding study design, troubleshooting, project milestones, and trainee development. Additional responsibilities include supporting rigorous data management, shared laboratory practices, and research training and compliance activities.
This position will require Demonstrated ability to formulate original research questions and independently design, conduct, and interpret mechanistic studies in positive-strand RNA virology. Research experience with enteroviruses and alphaviruses, supported by a strong record of peer-reviewed publications in molecular virology or virus-host cell biology.
Proficiency in molecular and cellular research methods, mammalian cell culture, reporter-based assays, fluorescence microscopy, and quantitative analysis of experimental data. Ability to develop reproducible workflows, evaluate appropriate controls, and synthesize findings across complementary experimental approaches.
Demonstrated experience mentoring or training students and research personnel, coordinating research projects, and collaborating effectively with investigators from different disciplines. Strong written and oral communication skills, including substantive contributions to scientific manuscripts and presentations.
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in microbiology, virology, immunology, biochemistry, cell biology, or a closely related biomedical discipline. Relevant post-Ph.D. research experience in molecular virology or virus-host interactions.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:Expertise in enterovirus-induced membrane remodeling, lipid and phosphoinositide metabolism, replication-organelle biology, autophagy-associated trafficking, or non-lytic spread, together with experience studying alphavirus RNA replication and replication-protein precursor function.
Experience with poliovirus and chikungunya-virus research systems, including the development or application of RNA replicons, bicistronic-expression constructs, and dual-reporter assays. Experience with quantitative live-cell imaging, single-cell tracking, and analysis of replication or spread phenotypes.
Experience integrating lipidomics with cell-based functional studies, fluorescence microscopy, and interpretation of electron-microscopy datasets. Familiarity with reproducible imaging and lipidomics analysis workflows and collaborative work involving microfluidic, structural, or biochemical approaches.
Evidence of intellectual ownership of research projects and sustained trainee mentorship. Experience contributing to research proposals or competitive fellowship applications, coordinating collaborations and research-core activities, and developing standard operating procedures or reusable training and analytical resources.
Not Applicable.
Organization
The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.
Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894
Total Student Enrollment: 30,011
Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States
Type of Institution: Public, four-year
Undergraduate Admission: 15,961
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000
Faculty: 3,000
Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent
Faculty/student ratio: 1/14
Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.
Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries.
Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400
Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors.
Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America!
Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu
Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu
Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research.
Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career
Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects.
Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus.
Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci
The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad
The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors
Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service.
UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina.
UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service.
Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students.
Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre- professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm
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