Post-Doc Research Associate-Starbird Lab

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.

The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of excellence and care. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing 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
Our vision is to be the nation's leading public school of medicine. We are ranked 2nd in primary care education among all US schools of medicine and 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.
OUR MISSION
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 will 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 will prepare tomorrow's health care professionals and biomedical researchers by facilitating learning within innovative curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education. We will cultivate outstanding teaching and research faculty, and we will recruit outstanding students and trainees from highly diverse backgrounds to create a socially responsible, highly skilled workforce.
Research: We will develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers, and resources. We will provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our University to support outstanding research. We will foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic, and population research.

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the laboratory of Chrystal Starbird in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UNC Chapel Hill. The Starbird lab is broadly focused on understanding the molecular basis of disease, utilizing structural, biochemical and biophysical studies to investigate transmembrane proteins that are involved in phagocytic pathways, including ABC transporters and TAM receptors, which is our current major focus. TAM receptors are a clinically important and mechanistically under-studied RTK subfamily that play a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis through the clearance of apoptotic cells and control of inflammatory and immune responses. While it has been shown that viruses can hijack this TAM receptor clearance function to enter host cells though a form of 'apoptotic mimicry,' the mechanisms that drive this process have not been well studied. This position will focus initially on investigating the role of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases in viral spread. In collaborative work with another UNC-based lab, this project will aim to utilize a very wide variety of techniques from single-cell assays to protein structure determination.

The ideal candidate will minimally have a PhD in biochemistry, chemical and physical biology, virology, immunology, or a related field (to be obtained before the desired start date of June 2025).

As this project requires the ability to learn and quickly master new techniques in virology, cellular and structural biology, the ideal candidate will have a combination of a background in one or several of these areas in addition to a demonstrated ability to transfer their skills to learn new techniques. Preferably, this candidate would have either experience in biochemistry/structural biology techniques, including insect cell or mammalian cell culture for protein expression, and/or extensive experience in molecular cell biology/virology. Perhaps more importantly, the ideal candidate will have a strong interest and ability to learn new techniques and be independently driven to learn and adapt new skills. In addition, as this project will require bridging work between two labs, the best candidate will be both highly collaborative and able to plan and execute independently an experimental plan. Lastly, as our lab culture includes one of team-based science, a successful candidate would also have a desire to work with and train other members of the lab. This commitment to training goes both ways and as your PI, Dr. Starbird also strongly commits to working with you to identify opportunities that support your professional growth and training towards your future goals, be it outside of or within the growing lab. Most important is a candidate that is excited to learn new laboratory techniques and that has a demonstrated track-record of the ability to productively master new skills.

Experience in basic biochemical and biophysical techniques, including structural biology and/or imaging, is preferred, but not required, as is experience in molecular studies of virus entry.

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If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at (919) 962-9982 or send an email to opahr@unc.edu.

Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.