Post-Doc Research Associate (Liu Lab)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 62,232 - 67,824; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Vision coverage

Paid leave

Professional development

Work‑life balance

Job summary

The Liu Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the evolution of pathogenicity and drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

The role involves integrating multi-omics data and collaborating with clinicians and computational biologists to understand host adaptation and treatment outcomes.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in microbiology, genetics, computational biology, or a related field.
• Ph.D. or all but dissertation (ABD) status acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Investigate evolutionary mechanisms shaping pathogenicity and drug resistance in Mtb and NTMs.
• Develop population-genomic and statistical frameworks to detect natural selection and convergence.
• Integrate genomic, transcriptomic, phenotypic, and clinical data to study disease progression and treatment outcomes.
• Collaborate with computational biologists, microbiologists, and clinicians; contribute to follow‑up validation experiments.

Skills

Population genomics

Statistical analysis

Education

Ph.D. in microbiology, genetics, computational biology, or related field

Job description

Position Overview

Department: Genetics - 423501

Posting Open Date: 10/16/2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Position Type: Postdoctoral Scholar

Position Title: Post-Doc Research Associate (Liu Lab)

Vacancy ID: PDS004680

Employment: Full-Time Temporary

Hours per week: 40

FTE: 1

Work Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Position Location: North Carolina, US

Hiring Range: $62,232 - $67,824 dependent on experience

Proposed Start Date: 12/01/2025

Estimated Duration of Appointment: 12 Months

Position Summary

The Liu Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms that shape the pathogenicity and drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). This position will focus on identifying the genetic determinants that drive bacterial adaptation to the host environment and contribute to antimicrobial resistance and persistence during infection.

The successful candidate will leverage large‑scale longitudinal clinical cohorts and bacterial isolate collections obtained through collaborations. The research will involve developing and applying novel population‑genomic and statistical frameworks to detect non‑canonical forms of natural selection, adaptive convergence, and bacterial traits associated with transmission, virulence, and treatment outcomes.

This position will require integration of multi‑dimensional datasets including genomic, transcriptomic, phenotypic, and clinical metadata to elucidate how bacterial evolution influences disease progression and therapeutic response. The postdoc will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with computational biologists, microbiologists, and clinicians, and to contribute to the design of follow‑up functional validation experiments.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Ph.D. in microbiology, genetics, computational biology, or a related field.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Ph.D. or all but dissertation for Ph.D.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in microbial genomics, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, or computational biology, with an interest in translational applications that connect bacterial evolution to clinical impact. Experience in bacterial genomics or evolution is preferred.

Benefits

The laboratory offers medical and vision coverage, paid leave, and benefits and services that support professional development and a healthy work/life balance.