Postdoctoral Fellow

University of North Carolina; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Endothelial Metabolism Lab. The successful candidate will investigate how metabolism and metabolic enzymes in endothelial cells influence health and disease, using genetic mouse models, in vitro assays, isotope tracing, metabolomics, and CRISPR screening.

The lab is a 3-year-old unit funded by NIH, expanding with new personnel; strong emphasis on mentorship and high-impact publications.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD/PhD (or near completion) required.
• Interest in vascular biology; diverse research backgrounds welcome.
• Experience in designing and executing experiments and data interpretation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead 1-2 independent projects in endothelial metabolism.
• Design, execute experiments, analyze data, and publish manuscripts under supervision.
• Publish in peer‐reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Mentor junior trainees and contribute to a collaborative lab culture.

Skills

Strong motivation in research

Excellent written and oral沟munication

Education

PhD or MD/PhD (or near completion)

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Endothelial Metabolism Lab

The laboratory of Dr. Boa Kim at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow. We study how metabolism and metabolic enzymes in endothelial cells contribute to health and disease by leveraging genetically engineered mouse models, in vitro cell culture with physiological and pathophysiological stimuli, isotope metabolite tracing, metabolomics, and genome-wide crispr screening.

We are a 3-year-old lab, currently consisting of one Postdoc, three Postbac technician, and several undergrad students. With the recent award of 5 years of NIH funding, we plan to recruit an additional Postdoc and a graduate student over the next couple of years.

More information about the Kim lab can be found here: http://www.boakimlab.com

Qualification:

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with an interest in Vascular Biology! We welcome candidates from diverse research backgrounds. Prior experience in Vascular Biology is highly desirable, but not required.

Potential research topics include

• Lipid droplet metabolism in vascular cells (eg. Endothelial or Smooth Muscle Cells)
• Metabolism in vascular diseases (eg. Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, Aortic Dissection, Lymphatic Dysfunction, etc).

Representative publications

1. Endothelial lipid droplets suppress eNOS to link high fat consumption to blood pressure elevation (Kim et al. JCI, 2023): https://www.jci.org/articles/view/173160
2. Glutamine fuels proliferation but not migration of endothelial cells (Kim et al. EMBO, 2017): https://link.springer.com/article/10.15252/embj.201796436
3. Endothelial pyruvate kinase M2 maintains vascular integrity (Kim et al. JCI, 2018): https://www.jci.org/articles/view/120912
4. HIF2α inhibits glutaminase clustering in mitochondria to sustain growth of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (Zhao et al. JCI Insight, 2025): https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/182711

What You’ll Do

• Lead 1-2 independent project.
• Design and execute rigorous experiments; analyze, interpret, and present findings; and prepare manuscripts under supervision.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences
• Contribute to a supportive lab culture and mentor junior trainees

What You Bring

• PhD or MD/PhD (or near completion).
• Strong motivation in research
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Why Join Us

• Direct mentorship from Dr. Kim to help you achieve your career goal.
• Access to state-of-the-art core facilities at UNC.
• A collaborative environment that values innovation and scientific rigor.