Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Position Information
Posting Number
PG191745PD

Position Number
00112236

Position Type
Post Doc

FLSA
Exempt

Departmental Information
Department ID
170601 - Physics and Astronomy

Department
170601 - Physics and Astronomy

Job City & State
Raleigh, NC

Position Overview
Essential Job Duties
The Physics Department provides: (1) High quality Physics instruction to the University community through courses in introductory physics; (2) educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in physics through high quality curricula, faculty, and research facilities; (3) outreach programs that advance scientific knowledge. Our research programs cover a wide spectrum including astrophysics, general relativity, condensed matter theory and experiment, computational physics, biophysics, nanoscale science, physics education, experimental nuclear physics, particle and nuclear theory, experimental optics, and experimental atomic and molecular physics. The department enrolls approximately 120 graduate students and 140 undergrad physics majors. The department size is approximately 56 faculty members. While working in this department, you will be expected to foster a supportive and welcoming environment.

NC State promotes an integrated approach to problem solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic, and technological development across North Carolina and around the world. NC State's land grant mission of teaching, research and service is dedicated to the service of North Carolina and its people. Applicants are encouraged to review the institution's mission, vision and strategic plan, and consider how their background, interest and experience would enable them to support the university.


Duties and Responsibilities:

• Predictive modeling and design of protein-nucleic acid interactions, including protein-DNA recognition, protein-RNA interactions, and protein- or small-molecule binding to oligonucleotide aptamers, in close collaboration with experimental groups
• Physics-based and AI-enabled modeling of chromatin organization, RNA conformational dynamics, and RNA-protein phase separation.
• Depending on the scholar's background, the research may emphasize bimolecular simulation, AI for bimolecular science, or an integrated combination of both.
• Responsibilities will include computational method development, rigorous validation against experimental data, development of reproducible software and workflows, manuscript preparation, and dissemination of research findings.
• Conduct independent and collaborative computational research on bimolecular structure, dynamics, interactions, and functions.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate molecular simulation and/or deep-learning methods; construct and analyze atomistic or coarse-grained models; integrate structural, sequence, thermodynamic, and experimental data; and perform rigorous statistical and mechanistic analyses.
• Research may address protein-DNA and protein-RNA recognition, aptamer binding and design, RNA conformational ensembles and dynamics, RNA-protein phase separation, and chromatin organization.
• Maintain reproducible, well-documented software and workflows, communicate findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and research software, and collaborate closely with experimental and computational research partners.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at NC State University seeks to fill the position for a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Lin Research Group. The scholar will advance computational studies of bimolecular structure, dynamics, interactions, and functions.

The initial appointment is for one year, with possible renewal for a second year contingent upon satisfactory performance. In the cover letter, candidates should briefly describe the project that best demonstrates their relevant expertise, their independent contributions to method, algorithm, or software development, and the connection of this work to one or more of the position's research directions.

Other Work/Responsibilities
Participate in group meetings and cross-laboratory collaborations; mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers; contribute to manuscripts, conference presentations, grant proposals, outreach activities, and research software and documentation; and help develop new research directions.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits
As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement and Leave
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
• Enhance your career with LEAD courses
  
• Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership , and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Requirements and Preferences
Work Schedule
40 hours/week, Monday-Friday

Department Required Skills
Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in physics, chemistry, biophysics, computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a closely related field, conferred before the employment start date. Demonstrated research expertise in at least one of two tracks: (1) biomolecular simulation, including advanced modeling and analysis, force-field or coarse-grained model development, and/or enhanced-sampling methods; or (2) AI4Science, particularly the development or rigorous adaptation of deep-learning methods for biomolecular prediction or design. Applicants in the AI track should have a strong foundation in algorithms and quantitative methods and be able to analyze, adapt, and evaluate machine-learning approaches rather than use them solely as black-box tools. Strong scientific programming, communication, and collaborative skills are required.

Knowledge of molecular simulation and/or machine learning; biomolecular structure and dynamics; statistical mechanics or data-driven modeling; scientific programming; HPC/GPU workflows; data analysis and visualization; reproducible research; and scientific communication. Ability to formulate research questions, develop and benchmark methods, diagnose model or simulation failures, interpret results mechanistically, manage projects independently, and collaborate across disciplines. Ability to write papers and mentor students. Grant writing experience is a plus.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education
Candidates whose research integrates AI with physics, chemistry, or biology are particularly encouraged to apply. Preferred qualifications include experience with proteins, nucleic acids, protein-DNA or protein-RNA interactions, aptamers, RNA structure and dynamics, biomolecular phase separation, chromatin, or epigenetics; molecular-dynamics packages such as OpenMM, GROMACS, NAMD, or LAMMPS; Python and/or C/C++; GPU/HPC computing; and deep-learning frameworks such as PyTorch. A strong record of peer-reviewed publications, evidence of independent method or algorithm development, and well-documented research software are desirable. Particular preference will be given to applicants who have developed deep-learning approaches for DNA/RNA prediction or design, or advanced simulation methods for complex biomolecular systems

Required License or Certification
N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required?
No

Commercial Driver's License Required?
No

Recruitment Details
Anticipated Hiring Range
$58,656-$70,000

If you anticipate multiple hires from this search, please indicate how many

Recruitment Dates
Job Open Date
07/31/2026

Applicant Information
Quick Link

EEO
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact View phone number on click.appcast.io to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io .

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.