Post-Doc Trainee (Raffield Lab)
- 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
Genetics - 423501
Posting Open Date:11/04/2026
Open Until Filled:Yes
Position Type:Postdoctoral Scholar
Position Title:Post-Doc Trainee (Raffield Lab)
Vacancy ID:PDS005015
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:$63,480 - $69,180 dependent on experience
Proposed Start Date:11/30/2026
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.
The Raffield lab in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Department of Genetics is seeking a candidate for Postdoctoral Research Trainee with a background in Human Genetics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or a related field. The individual will be responsible for large-scale genomic and multi-omic analyses of traits related to cardiometabolic disease and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across populations.
Our lab has expertise in analysis of large-scale genomic and multi-omic data, including genome-wide association studies and analysis of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data. The successful candidate will join strong existing collaborative projects of scientists at multiple institutions across the US and globally. The UNC Department of Genetics ranked first in NIH funding among Genetics departments in 2025 and provides a collegial, supportive mentoring environment. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and will be equal to or exceed NIH postdoctoral stipends. Medical insurance and benefits will be in accordance with UNC standard postdoctoral benefits (https://research.unc.edu/postdocs/). In addition to outstanding research training, postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to participate in professional development opportunities offered through BioSTAR and the UNC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. These programs support leadership development, scientific communication, grant writing, networking, and career exploration.
Postdoctoral trainees will have the opportunity to lead multiple projects and would work with Dr. Raffield to create a multi-year plan to maximize scientific productivity, pursue independent grant funding, and progress towards an independent career. Potential projects include:
Leadership in cross-cohort ‘omics analyses in NHLBI’s Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Initiative.
Analysis of bulk and single cell gene expression QTLs, metabolomics QTLs, and protein QTLs (across multiple platforms) in blood/plasma across populations, including local ancestry differentiated QTLs and variance QTLs, and subsequent colocalization with known cardiometabolic, blood, and dementia related loci
Genetic and epidemiological analysis of inflammation and thrombosis related biomarkers for cardiometabolic disease and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
PhD in Genetics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics/Statistics, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:Individual with strong scientific communication skills who is highly motivated by team science and is enthusiastic about pursuing multicenter collaborative projects.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:The candidate should have experience analyzing large genomic datasets and/or experience with epidemiological analysis in cohort and biobank studies, particularly for high throughput ’omics datasets (metabolomics, proteomics, etc). Experience working with large datasets on high performance computing clusters or cloud computing environments is a plus.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements :This position is funded by a sponsored postdoctoral training program, and all applicants must be either a US citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident with evidence of superior academic performance, previous research or clinical experience and publications.
Special Instructions:Please see Special Instructions for more details.
This position is funded by a sponsored postdoctoral training program, and all applicants must be either a US citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident with evidence of superior academic performance, previous research or clinical experience and publications.
Please attach a CV and cover letter including a brief statement of research interests.
For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here
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
Get job alerts
Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.
Create alert