UNC-ARC Postdoctoral Fellow

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 Office of Postdoctoral Services (OPA), established in 2001, is one of the oldest in the nation and offers robust training and support to our postdoctoral scholar and mentor communities. OPA is supported by the Office of the Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Research, and the School of Medicine. Our mission is to enhance, support, and promote postdoctoral training at UNC and help prepare postdoctoral scholars for successful research careers. We serve about 900 postdoctoral scholars across UNC during an academic year and are the 21st in the nation for total postdoctoral scholars. The OPA offers a comprehensive range of research, career, and professional development opportunities for our postdocs at all stages of their career trajectory. Programming includes New Postdoc Orientation sessions which happen 5 times a year and is a pan-campus collaborative effort; IDP workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions; responsible conduct of research ( RCR) sessions; career exploration in academia, industry, and government in collaboration with OGE, Office of Faculty Affairs, and our research triangle partners; and research skills (i.e., grant writing, data skills, communication, networking), leadership, and management skills workshops. We also have community building activities such as coffee hours, wellness/mindfulness workshops, peer networking, and our yearly postdoc appreciation week. Our office has a strong Postdoctoral Association ( PDA), BIPOC Postdoc Alliance, and International Postdoc Alliance, which are all peer-led volunteer organizations dedicated to addressing the needs and concerns of all UNC postdocs. PDA and our alliances work closely with the OPA to provide resources for professional development, generate awareness about resources, create safe spaces to discuss concerns, and foster a sense of community among postdocs.

In 2007, UNC School of Medicine established the Office of Graduate Education (OGE), which provides cohesive oversight and support for biomedical graduate training at UNC. The OGE is led by Dr. Donita Robinson, Associate Dean for Graduate Education. The OGE houses the umbrella Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program ( BBSP) that feeds into 15 PhD programs across the School of Medicine and other UNC colleges and professional schools. OGE also houses diversity initiatives that support students at the K-12, undergraduate, post-bac, and PhD student levels (NC DNA Day, summer undergraduate research program support, UNC Post-baccalaureate Research Education Programs [ PREP], and UNC Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity [ IMSD], respectively). The OGE provides extensive professional and career development for graduate students via the Training Initiatives in Biological and Biomedical Science ( TIBBS). OGE includes 12 full-time staff, six with science PhD degrees and postdoctoral experiences that enable them to connect with current graduate students.

The postdoctoral scholar who will join the UNC- ARC Administrative Team will focus on higher education administration a career path that appeals to a specific group of PhD graduates. While these graduates excel in their scientific disciplines, they often lack experience in program administration and evaluation. Our postdoctoral position aims to bridge this gap by providing targeted skill development and exposure to education research methodologies.

Key Objectives:
1. Skill Development: The scholar will enhance their expertise in education research methodologies, gaining practical skills that complement their graduate scientific training.
2. Program-Director Level Experiences: Through hands-on involvement, the scholar will gain insights into program administration and evaluation at a leadership level.
3. Networking Opportunities: Engaging with professionals in higher education administration will expand the scholar's network and foster valuable connections.

Program Components and Mentored Areas:
1. Program Administration: The postdoctoral fellow will be fully integrated into UNC- ARC programming, working closely with the OPA. Their involvement spans multiple aspects, including participation in the Summer Institute an opportunity to learn about major event planning. Beyond UNC- ARC team meetings, they will attend OPA and OGE meetings. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from postdoctoral and graduate programs to inclusion efforts and scholar support. Discussions include strategy, data analysis, national program updates, conference reports, and journal clubs focused on recent higher education publications. The fellow will also lead meetings, receiving valuable feedback from the leadership team. Additionally, an IDP will be created to identify goals and growth areas, with annual written feedback on their professional progress.
2. Program Evaluation and Quantitative Skills Development: The postdoctoral fellow will actively engage in program evaluation, collaborating closely with the PIs and the evaluation team. Their responsibilities will encompass program data collection, coding, rigorous statistical analysis, and interpretation. The scholar will receive guidance in designing and conducting educational research studies, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation. At UNC and within the OGE, we offer abundant resources for enhancing quantitative skills (see Facilities and Resources; letter from Dr. R. Layton). Based on the fellow's IDP, we will tailor instruction to ensure their professional growth in this critical area.
3. Scientific Writing, Communication, and Networking: The postdoctoral fellow will actively engage in scientific writing, contributing to manuscripts for publication and dissemination. Additionally, they will participate in major higher education administration conferences, such as the National Postdoctoral Alliance and the AAMC Group on Research, Education, and Training ( GREAT) meetings. These conferences provide a platform to present study findings to the broader community. To further amplify the impact of UNC- ARC and enhance their skillset, the fellow will also have opportunities to contribute essays, blogs, and other written pieces for publication.
4. Leadership Exposure: Opportunities to shadow program directors and engage in strategic discussions will provide firsthand experience in higher education leadership.

PhD in Biomedical sciences or closely related field; or PhD in Education, Higher Education Administration, or Social Sciences (education, psychology, sociology).

Professional Knowledge: Knowledge of evaluation research methods, including research design, data collection, analysis techniques (quantitative and qualitative), and interpretation of results. Ability to collect, manage and analyze data from multiple projects and contexts. Ability to disseminate program progress and findings to multiple stakeholders and make recommendations for implementing improvements or changes. Experience with mentoring and/or participated in mentor training.

Collaboration: Ability to work with a pan-campus team to develop and implement program, implement novel strategies to meet program goals, and to interact with diverse stakeholders including faculty, administrators, staff, and UNC ARC scholars both at UNC-CH and across the country.

Communication: Ability to communicate scholarly ideas and findings effectively in various venues, including conferences, committees, publications, and group meetings. Ability to build, maintain and enhance professional relationships.

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For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

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 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.