What are the responsibilities and job description for the GFRP Post-Doc Research Associate position at Inside Higher Ed?
Department
Carolina Population Center - 631100
Posting Open Date
11/19/2025
Application Deadline
11/23/2025
Open Until Filled
No
Position Type
Postdoctoral Scholar
Position Title
GFRP Post-Doc Research Associate
Vacancy ID
PDS004721
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
dependent on qualifications
Estimated Duration Of Appointment
12 Months
Be a Tar Heel!:
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.
Primary Purpose Of Organizational Unit
Since 1966, researchers at the Carolina Population Center have pioneered data collection and research techniques that move population science forward by emphasizing life course approaches, longitudinal surveys, the integration of biological measurement into social surveys, and attention to context and environment. We are also at the forefront of creating interdisciplinary training programs that integrate approaches from the social and biological sciences, building research capacity and training the next generation of scholars. Our faculty fellows address pressing research questions about population dynamics, fertility, health, mortality, migration, and the environment. Faculty come from multiple disciplines, benefitting from the cross-pollination of ideas. Our dedicated research and programming staff support fellows at every stage of project development, from conception through data collection or acquisition, analysis and dissemination, and project administration. https://www.cpc.unc.edu/about/
Position Summary
We are searching for one Postdoctoral Research Associate (Postdoc) to join our team, working primarily with Nutrition Professor Lindsey Smith Taille. The research project aims to inform and evaluate population-level interventions to promote healthy diets. The Postdoc will be responsible for a) scraping, preparing, organizing, and analyzing data on food, nutrition, and environmental impact, and/or; b) developing artificial intelligence methods to categorize these data; and/or c) leading studies on consumer behavior as it relates to making healthy food choices in an online grocery store setting; and/or d) developing integration with Food as Medicine Programs. The Postdoc will interact closely with data scientists to create, test, and refine an app that promotes personalized healthy food choices as well as the underlying algorithm that can be used to categorize large datasets on food and nutrition.
As a second part of this role, the Postdoc will contribute to curriculum advancement, including developing and teaching a nutrition-related course and contributing to curriculum development activities under the supervision of Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie.
Additional Responsibilities Will Include
We are seeking a productive, self-driven, interdisciplinary, and collaborative scientist. Ideally, the candidate will have experience in nutrition, nutrition interventions, human behavior, behavioral economics, and data science.
The work uses highly innovative research designs and will inform policies addressing climate change and NCDs. Additionally, there will be ample opportunities for connecting with a wider network of scientists and for career development, including collaboration with other scientists in the Global Food Research Program (Drs. Barry Popkin, Shu Wen Ng, and Marissa Hall) and other faculty at the Carolina Population Center.
The initial term of appointment is one year, with reappointment for a second year likely, contingent on contributions and funding.
Minimum Education And Experience Requirements
A PhD or equivalent in nutrition, public health and/or population sciences, social-behavioral sciences, or a related behavioral science field.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience
Must have training in nutrition, human behavior, and quantitative statistical methods. Must have prior first author publications which include statistical analysis of large epidemiological datasets, randomized experiments, or interventions. Must have prior experience evaluating curricula and serving as a teaching assistant or co-instructor.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience
Experience in data science, food policy, non-communicable diseases, obesity prevention, nutrition, health communication, behavioral economics, or environmental sciences is helpful but not required. Demonstrated experience working on interdisciplinary teams.
Special Instructions
Applicants must attach their curriculum vitae, a relevant publication, cover letter summarizing qualifications, and a list of 3 references.
For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here
Carolina Population Center - 631100
Posting Open Date
11/19/2025
Application Deadline
11/23/2025
Open Until Filled
No
Position Type
Postdoctoral Scholar
Position Title
GFRP Post-Doc Research Associate
Vacancy ID
PDS004721
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
dependent on qualifications
Estimated Duration Of Appointment
12 Months
Be a Tar Heel!:
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.
Primary Purpose Of Organizational Unit
Since 1966, researchers at the Carolina Population Center have pioneered data collection and research techniques that move population science forward by emphasizing life course approaches, longitudinal surveys, the integration of biological measurement into social surveys, and attention to context and environment. We are also at the forefront of creating interdisciplinary training programs that integrate approaches from the social and biological sciences, building research capacity and training the next generation of scholars. Our faculty fellows address pressing research questions about population dynamics, fertility, health, mortality, migration, and the environment. Faculty come from multiple disciplines, benefitting from the cross-pollination of ideas. Our dedicated research and programming staff support fellows at every stage of project development, from conception through data collection or acquisition, analysis and dissemination, and project administration. https://www.cpc.unc.edu/about/
Position Summary
We are searching for one Postdoctoral Research Associate (Postdoc) to join our team, working primarily with Nutrition Professor Lindsey Smith Taille. The research project aims to inform and evaluate population-level interventions to promote healthy diets. The Postdoc will be responsible for a) scraping, preparing, organizing, and analyzing data on food, nutrition, and environmental impact, and/or; b) developing artificial intelligence methods to categorize these data; and/or c) leading studies on consumer behavior as it relates to making healthy food choices in an online grocery store setting; and/or d) developing integration with Food as Medicine Programs. The Postdoc will interact closely with data scientists to create, test, and refine an app that promotes personalized healthy food choices as well as the underlying algorithm that can be used to categorize large datasets on food and nutrition.
As a second part of this role, the Postdoc will contribute to curriculum advancement, including developing and teaching a nutrition-related course and contributing to curriculum development activities under the supervision of Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie.
Additional Responsibilities Will Include
- Preparing manuscripts in collaboration with our team, including leading first author publications;
- Developing new study ideas and incorporating them into planned or new research ;
- Assisting with grant writing and leading own grant applications
- Interact with collaborators on research design, implementation, and dissemination;
- Presenting research at international conferences and meetings, or as guest lecturers, attending virtual research seminars at the Global Food Research Program, and mentoring students.
We are seeking a productive, self-driven, interdisciplinary, and collaborative scientist. Ideally, the candidate will have experience in nutrition, nutrition interventions, human behavior, behavioral economics, and data science.
The work uses highly innovative research designs and will inform policies addressing climate change and NCDs. Additionally, there will be ample opportunities for connecting with a wider network of scientists and for career development, including collaboration with other scientists in the Global Food Research Program (Drs. Barry Popkin, Shu Wen Ng, and Marissa Hall) and other faculty at the Carolina Population Center.
The initial term of appointment is one year, with reappointment for a second year likely, contingent on contributions and funding.
Minimum Education And Experience Requirements
A PhD or equivalent in nutrition, public health and/or population sciences, social-behavioral sciences, or a related behavioral science field.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience
Must have training in nutrition, human behavior, and quantitative statistical methods. Must have prior first author publications which include statistical analysis of large epidemiological datasets, randomized experiments, or interventions. Must have prior experience evaluating curricula and serving as a teaching assistant or co-instructor.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience
Experience in data science, food policy, non-communicable diseases, obesity prevention, nutrition, health communication, behavioral economics, or environmental sciences is helpful but not required. Demonstrated experience working on interdisciplinary teams.
Special Instructions
Applicants must attach their curriculum vitae, a relevant publication, cover letter summarizing qualifications, and a list of 3 references.
For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here