Postdoctoral Research Associate

Posting Information Posting Details Department School of Data Sci and Society - 397100 Posting Open Date 04/13/2026 Application Deadline 06/30/2026 Open Until Filled No Position Type Postdoctoral Scholar Position Title Postdoctoral Research Associate Vacancy ID PDS004832 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 $62,000 - $65,000, dependent on experience Proposed Start Date 08/03/2026 Estimated Duration of Appointment 12 Months Position Information 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 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 The School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS) was founded in 2026 by joining the School of Information and Library Science (1931) and the School of Data Science and Society (2022). SDIS brings together longstanding excellence in information and library science with leadership in data science, including computational and statistical methods, and societal applications. SDIS conducts research and scholarship across the data and information life cycle, with an emphasis on human-centric, ethical and applied approaches. Committed to data, information and AI literacy for all Tar Heels, SDIS faculty are tackling our communities’ most pressing needs and our world’s most intractable challenges. Position Summary The Zikry Lab at UNC-Chapel Hill is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our group at the intersection of statistical methodology, machine learning, and biomedical data science. Our research develops rigorous and interpretable methods for high-dimensional biomedical data, with applications spanning cancer genomics, neuroscience, and precision medicine. The postdoctoral fellow will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment within the School of Data and Information Sciences, with opportunities to work with researchers across the UNC scientific community in units such as the Computational Medicine Program and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Role The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in advancing new statistical and machine learning methodology. Areas of focus include (but are not limited to): Clustering and unsupervised learning Dimension reduction and manifold learning High-dimensional inference and feature selection Generative modeling and digital twins Reliability and interpretability of ML methods The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for teaching at most one class per semester (an existing 100-level data science course with lecture and evaluation material provided). Based on teaching needs, this may be changed to one class per academic year. Minimum Education And Experience Requirements Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in statistics, mathematics, biostatistics, bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field of study. Required Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience N/A Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience Experience in statistical modeling and biomedical data analysis is a plus. Evidence of research productivity (publications, presentations, software) is preferred. Special Physical/Mental Requirements N/A Special Instructions For information on being a postdoc at UNC, please click here – Quick Link Posting Contact Information Department Contact Name and Title Beth Mayo, HR Director Department Contact Telephone or Email View email address on click.appcast.io Postdoctoral Affairs Contact Information 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io or send an email to View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill