Post Doctoral Fellow

Posting Details

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Posting Summary


Logo

Posting Number
RTF00197PO26


USC Market Title
Post Doctoral Fellow


Link to USC Market Title




Business Title (Internal Title)
Post Doctoral Fellow


Campus
Columbia


Work County
Richland


College/Division
School of Medicine Columbia


Department
SOMC Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience


Anticipated Hiring Range
Salary commensurate with qualifications


Location of Vacancy

Part/Full Time
Full Time


Hours per Week
37.5


Work Schedule

• Monday-Friday, 37.5 hrs per week; normal business hours. Some weekend or evening work required.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Type of Staff Position
Staff Research Grant (SRGP)


Basis
12 months


Job Search Category
Post-doctoral

About USC


About University of South Carolina


From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service - helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Benefits for Research Grant or Time-Limited Positions Are Indicated Below
The University of South Carolina (UofSC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about UofSC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

South Carolina Retirement
Yes


State Insurance Programs
Yes


Annual Leave
Yes


Sick Leave
Yes

Position Description


Advertised Job Summary


An NIH-funded postdoctoral position to work under limited supervision on research examining the effects of dietary patterns on salivary proteome and taste processing. Position is in the laboratory of Dr. Kimberly Smith at the University of South Carolina Floyd School of Medicine in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience. Postdoctoral fellow will help design and conduct original research related to understanding the factors contributing to adaptive and maladaptive eating behavior in non-clinical and clinical populations. The fellow will be primarily responsible for conducting the studies outlined in the NIH-funded grant, including participant recruitment and assessment, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. The postdoctoral fellow will receive training in taste psychophysics, molecular approaches, and human research and will be expected to apply for independent funding. Position requires a Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of neuroscience, computer science, psychology, or related field by the start date of employment and training in ingestive behavior, chemosensation, and/or human research is preferred. Demonstrates commitment to conducting business lawfully and ethically by consistently adhering to compliance policies, procedures and regulations. This position is established in support of expanded research activities.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

1. Requires a Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of research specialty by the start date of employment.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of neuroscience, computer science, psychology, or related field
• Training in ingestive behavior, chemosensation, and/or human research.
• Experience in fMRI data collection and analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to write research manuscripts and grants.
• Demonstrated ability to train undergraduate students in lab protocols.
• Related experience in data collection, data management, and/or data analysis.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• The individual must be highly motivated and able to work independently as well as part of a dynamic team.
• Experience with administration of structured and semi-structured interviews (e.g., SCID).
• Knowledge/proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, STATA, MatLab, Python), and database management (e.g., developing databases in REDCap, Microsoft Excel, or SPSS).
• Excellent English speaking/writing skills required.
• Experience in writing and securing local and federal grants, and experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Required to conduct business lawfully and ethically by consistently adhering to compliance policies procedures and regulations.

Job Duties


Job Duty

Design and conduct research experiments: Conducts NIH-funded research as well as designs and conducts original research related to understanding the factors contributing to adaptive and maladaptive eating behavior in non-clinical and clinical populations. This will involve work with individuals with and without mental and behavioral health conditions, molecular biology, behavioral analyses, and physiological measurements. Specific duties will include creating recruitment materials, initiating and coordinating subject recruitment strategies, monitoring recruitment goals, completing telephone screening procedures, independently administering and scoring interviews, assessments and assays, responding to phone and email inquiries in a timely fashion, maintaining records and databases of enrolled and declined participants.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
40


Job Duty

Data analysis: Responsible for documenting and recording research findings, performing quality control of data to ensure completeness and accuracy and obtain clarification or corrections if needed, conducting complex data and statistical analyses, generating summary graphs and tables, and drawing conclusions based on findings.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
20


Job Duty

Scientific writing: Synthesizes data findings and writes scientific manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals. This will include original research manuscripts, abstracts, reviews, and editorial commentaries. Will also write and submit scientific grants in the form of individual fellowships and will assist with the writing of collaborative research proposals.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
20


Job Duty

Scientific communication: Develops oral and poster presentations for submission to, and presentation at, local, regional, and national meetings and conferences.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
5


Job Duty

Mentoring: Actively mentors junior members of the laboratory to conduct scientific research.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
10


Job Duty

Regulatory compliance: Compiles and maintains all appropriate regulatory training and certificates and will assist with the writing of regulatory IRB protocols to support the ongoing laboratory research.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
5

Position Attributes


Hazardous weather category
Non-Essential


Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
No

Posting Detail Information


Number of Vacancies
1


Desired Start Date
10/01/2026


Position End Date
09/30/2028


Job Open Date
08/27/2026


Job Close Date
10/11/2026


Open Until Filled
No


Special Instructions to Applicant


Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.


We are only accepting applications submitted by October 11, 2026.

Quicklink for Posting




EEO Statement


The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.