Postdoctoral Research Associate (Gumpper Lab)

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill; Elkins Hills (NC); On-site; USD 54,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance GPCR signaling studies and contribute to therapeutic discovery. The role focuses on 5-HT receptor systems, integrating molecular pharmacology, structural biology, and computational biophysics to reveal atomistic mechanisms behind ligand efficacy.

The successful candidate will perform protein expression, purification, cryo-EM analyses, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team to translate

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with strong publication record.
• Experience in protein expression and purification.
• Hands-on cryo-EM and structural biology experience.
• Familiarity with mammalian cell culture is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Carry out GPCR-focused molecular pharmacology and structural biology experiments.
• Apply cryo-EM to define receptor–ligand interactions.
• Develop computational workflows (MD, docking) for mechanistic insights.
• Collaborate across disciplines to advance therapeutic discovery.

Skills

Protein expression

Cryo-EM

Molecular cloning

PCR

Mammalian cell culture

Education

PhD

Tools

Cryo-EM software

Job description

Posting Details

• Department: SOP-CBMC - 452100
• Posting Open Date: 08/24/2026
• Open Until Filled: Yes
• Position Type: Postdoctoral Scholar
• Position Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Gumpper Lab)
• Vacancy ID: PDS004952
• 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: $64,099
• Estimated Duration of Appointment: 12 Months

Position Information

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

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (www.pharmacy.unc.edu) is one of six health science schools (Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Social Work, Public Health, Medicine) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is one of the oldest health science academic programs at Chapel Hill. The School teaches approximately 600 PharmD students and 145 graduate students. The School has built a reputation for its continued pursuit of excellence, rigorous education and training programs, cutting edge multidisciplinary research, progressive pharmacy practices, efficient business operations, and its outstanding faculty, staff, and students. The School was named the number one School of Pharmacy in the U.S. by the U.S. News and World Report. The School has experienced unprecedented growth and success and continues to strategically position itself for sustained impact, as articulated in the School's Strategic Plan (https://pharmacy.unc.edu/about/oe/strategic-plan/).

Our Vision is to be the global leader in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. Our Mission is to prepare leaders and innovators to solve the world's most pressing health care challenges. We are Advancing Medicine for Life through innovation and collaboration in pharmacy practice, education, research, and public service.

Position Summary

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play an important role across many important physiological systems (i.e. taste, vision, cardiac function, and neurotransmission). We are interested in the molecular mechanisms responsible for the nuanced signaling paradigms of GPCRs and how they lead to vastly different biological outcomes. Gaining atomistic insights into receptor-ligand interactions will allow us to design novel therapeutic compounds and molecular probes (rationally or through computational approaches).

As a model system, we study psychedelics. These compounds exhibit a complex polypharmacology impacting the serotonin, dopamine, and adrenergic receptor systems. While we are interested in investigating all receptor systems that psychedelics impact, we primarily study the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. We want to develop novel therapeutic approaches exploiting these systems to create safer and more effective compounds for pain relief and neuropsychiatric disorders.

To interrogate these systems, we utilize state-of-the-art technologies and techniques in molecular pharmacology, structural biology, and computational biophysics.

Molecular Pharmacology and Chemical Biology: We use various biochemical/pharmacological techniques to quantify the downstream signaling pathways and interaction partners related to GPCR activation. Additionally, we are interested in fully characterizing psychedelic polypharmacology (both structurally and mechanistically) and utilizing those pathways to develop novel compounds that can be used to treat chronic pain, neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as substance use disorders.

Structural Biology: We use cryo-electron microscopy to reveal the molecular interactions between a drug and its receptor. This provides useful information for probing specific atomistic mechanisms that drive downstream signaling patterns and yield important interactions for structure-based drug design.

In Silico Approaches: We use the latest computational approaches (MD simulations, docking, pipeline development) to reveal mechanistic insights into the dynamics of ligands and their receptors. Additionally, we use the latest developments in AI and ML and apply them with our expertise in structural biology and biochemical characterization.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

PhD

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Proficient in protein expression and cryo-EM. Molecular cloning and PCR. Working with mammalian cell culture is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, independent, and creative scientist with demonstrated experience in protein purification and structure determination by cryo-electron microscopy. The ideal applicant will have a strong track record of solving challenging structural biology problems, along with the ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments with minimal supervision. They will be intellectually curious, collaborative, and eager to contribute to an interdisciplinary research environment spanning molecular pharmacology, structural biology, and computational biophysics. A driven candidate will bring strong problem-solving skills, scientific rigor, and enthusiasm for using mechanistic insights to advance the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds and molecular probes.

Special Instructions

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services

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.