Lead Research Assistant - Tate Lab

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill; Elkins Hills (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, through the Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis, NC, seeks a Lead Research Assistant for the Tate Lab. The role focuses on participant recruitment, specimen handling, data collection, and coordinating with multiple study activities.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, with potential for phlebotomy support and bilingual Spanish applicants encouraged.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Willingness to implement study protocols and procedures according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with study participants for recruitment, retention, and scheduling.
• Process and ship biological specimens (blood, urine, saliva, and other samples).
• Collect data including informed consent, biospecimen collection, measurements, and participant instructions.
• Assist with other study activities to ensure study aims are met.
• Assist with participant meal pick-up for the controlled feeding study.
• Attend community events for recruiting and outreach.
• Manage study device software and hardware.
• Troubleshoot software systems and provide support.
• Identify protocol adherence challenges and help run bi-monthly reviews.
• Provide quality assurance support for scheduling and documentation.
• Manage participant educational materials and external communications.
• Coordinate external services for biospecimens.
• Support Chapel Hill site emergency on-site as needed.
• Provide phlebotomy support as needed.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Posting Information

Department: Nutrition Research Institute-633300

Career Area: Research Professionals

Is this an internal only recruitment?: No

Posting Open Date: 09/03/2026

Application Deadline: 09/11/2026

Position Type: Permanent Staff (SHRA)

Position Title: Soc/Clin Research Assistant - Journey

Salary Grade Equivalent: NC09 / GN08

Working Title: Lead Research Assistant - Tate Lab

Position Number: 20068263

Vacancy ID: P021351

Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited: Full-Time Time-Limited

If time-limited, estimated duration of appointment: One year

Hours per week: 40

Work Schedule: Must be able to work a flexible work schedule as needed, including early morning/evening occasionally, and some Saturday hours (weekends occasionally).

Work Location: KANNAPOLIS, NC

Position Location: North Carolina, US

Hiring Range: $55,000 - $60,000

Pay Band Information: To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

Notice to Applicants: This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

Position Summary Information

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is a world‑renowned center and a global leader in precision nutrition research. Our on‑site facilities include multiple wet labs and clinical facilities as well as a vivarium and a metabolic chamber. Approximately two hours from UNC‑Chapel Hill, the NRI is located on the beautiful North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, NC, a mid‑size city with a small‑town feel. The institute is within walking distance of the city center which includes shops, restaurants, a minor‑league ballpark, theater, and music hall of fame. We are also a short drive to Charlotte and Winston‑Smith/Greensboro. The NRI offers full‑time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life, and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance. We also offer professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development, and lifelong learning.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

Learning how people can eat uniquely!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is an internationally recognized center conducting innovative basic and translational science to establish how individual differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet affect our nutritional needs. Our research contributes to the prevention and mitigation of chronic disease across the lifespan from periconception through aging.

Our Mission is to lead precision nutrition research through understanding how genetics and environment affect an individual's requirements for and responses to nutrients.

NRI principal investigators hold faculty appointments in the departments of Nutrition and Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. Their research interrogates nutrient roles in disease prevention, disease risk factors, and the impact of gene‑environment and gene‑nutrient interactions.

The NRI promotes excellence in nutrition knowledge, teaching, and research. We seek and encourage a diversity of experiences and ideas and provide the tools and flexibility for all employees to achieve success and excellence within their chosen occupations and aspirations.

We are committed to open dialogue, careful listening, becoming educated about the systems that hinder or prevent success, and taking action to ensure that all are equally acknowledged for their contributions and equally reap the benefits of being part of our community.

Our Vision is to use scientific discovery to ensure optimal health through individualized nutrition.

Everyone who works at the NRI supports this hopeful vision. Working at the NRI means doing good for the world. Join us!

The NRI and this position are in Kannapolis, NC, in the Charlotte, NC region.

Position Summary

NOTE: This position is located in Kannapolis, NC, approximately 2 hours from UNC's main campus.

Chapel Hill received funding to establish both a targeted Health Care Provider Organization (HPO) for the All of Us Research Program and a Clinical Center (UNC‑CC) site for the first ancillary study, Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH). All of Us is a unique research program funded by NIH to build one of the most diverse health databases in history. Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program is a new initiative to develop algorithms that predict individual responses to food and dietary patterns. The NPH Consortium consists of 12 awardees across the US with whom UNC is partnering to implement data collection and analysis. The UNC‑CC includes two recruitment/clinical data collection locations, one in Chapel Hill, NC (UNC‑CH), and one in Kannapolis, NC, located at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI).

Primary

• Communication with study participants for purposes of recruitment, retention, and scheduling
• Processing and shipping of biological specimens (blood, urine, saliva, and other specimens)
• Data collection including obtaining informed consent, biospecimen collection, study measurements and providing instructions to study participants
• Assist with other study activities to ensure the successful completion of the study aims
• Assist with participant meal pick‑up for the controlled feeding study
• Attendance at community events for recruiting and outreach

Secondary

• Study device software and hardware management
• Software system troubleshooting and support
• Identification of staff protocol adherence challenge; development and implementation of bi‑monthly protocol review sessions
• Quality assurance support for scheduling and documentation
• Participant and prospective participant educational and promotional material management
• Coordination and communication with external services for biological specimens
• Chapel Hill site emergency in person support
• Phlebotomy support as needed

Our goal is to work together as a cohesive team to ensure successful implementation of the study protocols.

Additional benefits associated with this position include the opportunity to join a research team that highly values professional development. We will work with the selected candidate to help build the skills and experiences desired to further their individual career goals.

Due to the requirements of this position, we anticipate work will be completed on site. The primary location for this position is at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis, NC with the possibility of providing some support to our other data collection site in Chapel Hill.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Management Preferences

• Prior research experience not required, but must be willing to implement study protocols and procedures according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) training/experience or willing to learn a plus
• Food service training beneficial
• Bilingual (Spanish) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Quick Link

https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/324929

Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]

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.