Postdoctoral Research Fellow for NIH R01 SKyRoCKeT Study

The University of North Carolina; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support the NIH SKyRoCKeT study. The role focuses on data processing, management, checking, and analysis using R and Excel, with involvement in grants management and manuscript development.

The position requires a doctoral degree and strong analytical coding skills, with flexibility for potential after-hours data collection and weekend activities. collaboration with multiple departments is expected.

Qualifications

• Completed doctoral degree in Statistics, Data Science, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, or closely related areas.
• Analytic coding skills for data management and analyses in R statistical software.
• Attention to detail.
• Interest in learning about and applying quantitative methods in exercise science to inform public health physical activity guidelines.
• Collegiality within an interdisciplinary team; work well collaboratively & independently.
• Work flexibility with some availability in later afternoons/evenings and weekends for data collection if needed, adjusting your time off accordingly

Responsibilities

• Perform data processing, management, checking, and analysis in Excel and R (primarily).
• Contribute to grants management throughout the project lifecycle, including participant recruitment and data collection.
• Lead and/or collaborate on manuscripts, presentations, and reports; coordinate with university offices as needed.
• Attend weekly study team meetings and data management meetings to discuss progress and address data issues.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to the research study, including downloading wearable device data and forms post-testing.
• Other duties as needed/assigned

Skills

R programming

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Work flexibility

Education

Doctoral degree in Statistics or related field

Tools

Qualtrics

Wearable devices

Excel

R

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow for NIH R01 SKyRoCKeT Study

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Position Information

General Information

Position Number

Position Number POST40

Working Title

Working Title Postdoctoral Research Fellow for NIH R01 SKyRoCKeT Study

Division

Division Academic Affairs

Department

Department College of Health & Human Svc (Col)

Work Unit

Work Unit Public Hlth & Hlth Admin

Work Location

Work Location CHHS & Belk Gym

Vacancy Open To

Vacancy Open To All Candidates

Position Designation

Position Designation Post Doc

Employment Type

Employment Type Temporary - Full-time

Hours per week 40 hours/week

Work Schedule

The postdoc will contribute 40 hours per week to the responsibilities as directed by their primary supervisor, Dr. Laura Gunn (PI), as well as their broader supervisory team including Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson (PI), and Dr. Trudy Moore-Harrison (Co-I). SKyRoCKeT involves interdisciplinary team-based public health science research. Responsibilities and scheduling may vary from week to week depending on data management and analysis needs, as well as possible data collection needs and involvement throughout this position. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the postdoc to communicate and confirm their schedule and expectations regularly among the team. Because the study is focused on walking behavior in 6-17 year-olds who are in school during weekdays, then the postdoc may also be expected to participate in study recruitment events on-campus or in the community, as well as work later afternoons/early evenings and/or weekends when data collection with study participants is needed, adjusting their time off during the week accordingly when/if involved in data collection and/or recruitment.

Pay Rate

Pay Rate $58,215

Required Qualifications

• Completed doctoral degree in Statistics, Data Science, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, or closely related areas
• Analytic coding skills for data management and analyses in R statistical software
• Attention to detail
• Interest in learning about and applying quantitative methods in exercise science to inform public health physical activity guidelines
• Collegiality within an interdisciplinary team; work well collaboratively & independently
• Work flexibility with some availability in later afternoons/evenings and weekends for data collection if needed, adjusting your time off accordingly

Departmental Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior primary data collection experience, particularly in the area of physical activity
• Familiarity with Qualtrics and wearable devices for accessing data
• Ability to successfully multitask and work in fast-paced environments

Duties and Responsibilities

The NIH -funded R01 SKyRoCKeT Study is an innovative critical step to provide a coherent, interpretable, objectively monitored step-based intensity metric to inform (inter)national physical activity (PA) guidelines by transforming currently vague guidelines of PA intensity into quantifiable PA recommendations that can be of widespread use. The SKyRoCKeT Study will allow for a user-friendly, interpretable metric to more accurately inform public health/behavioral interventions, assessments, analyses, school-based health and physical education curricula and programs, and public health messages for young people and their caregivers. To learn more about the study, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05770817. The NIH -funded R01 SKyRoCKeT study is seeking an additional postdoctoral research fellow to primarily support data processing, management, checking, and analysis. The postdoc will also contribute to grants management throughout the project lifecycle in areas such as participant recruitment; data collection in the lab as needed; leading and/or collaborating on manuscripts, presentations, and/or reports; and additional responsibilities as needed. Note: This position will not be able to sponsor a visa, including for any possible renewal term.

The position is housed within the Department of Public Health & Health Administration, and the postdoctoral researcher will collaborate with team members from the Department of Applied Physiology, Health, & Clinical Sciences. Both departments are housed within the College of Health & Human Services.

Specific Responsibilities

• Complete trainings required for the study team, including (but not limited to): CITI Research Trainings (Data or Specimens Only Research, Good Clinical Practice, Social & Behavioral Research/ IRB , Biomedical Research/ IRB , Health Information Privacy & Security); Minors on Campus Training; First Aid, CPR , & AED Training
• Primary responsibilities will be to perform data processing, management, checking, and analysis in Excel and R (primarily), thus familiarity with R is required
• Familiarity with Qualtrics for accessing data is preferred
• Participate in other grant-related activities, which may include (though not limited to):
  • Active recruitment of youth participants at events on and off campus, and throughout the local community
  • Lead and/or collaborate on manuscripts, conference presentations, and/or reports, etc.
  • Liaise, as needed, with representatives/staff in offices across campus such as with post-award, HR, etc.
  • If needed, conduct participant study orientations and obtain participant consent
• Assist in training junior staff to ensure consistency in results during testing and to achieve high-quality data acquisition
• Attend weekly full study team meetings and any additional sub-team meetings specifically regarding issues related to data collection, data management, etc.
• Attend weekly data management meetings among study postdocs and Dr. Gunn to discuss and address data management and statistical analysis
• Contribute to collaborative team discussions regarding issues that may arise throughout the study, study progress, etc.
• Participate in additional projects related to research dissemination, including (but not limited to) literature reviews or validating video recordings
• If needed, perform data collection. This may involve the following: assisting with setting up equipment, ensuring it is calibrated and functioning correctly, preparing the testing environment according to procedural standards, performing anthropometric measurements, administering tests to determine metabolic rates, recording test results, using GoPro camera to record testing protocol, and manually tallying steps
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to the research study, including downloading wearable device data and forms post-testing, etc.
• Other duties as needed/assigned

Proposed Hire Date

Proposed Hire Date 12/01/2026

Contact Information

Dr. Laura Gunn, Professor & NIH -Funded SKyRoCKeT Study PI
[e-mail]

Expected Length of Assignment

Expected Length of Assignment 1 year (with the possibility of a short-term renewal) contingent on funding

Posting Open Date

Posting Open Date 10/23/2026

9201 University City Blvd Charlotte, NC 28223