Research Associate

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a Research Associate to support ShepsGME programs with management, coordination, and evaluation across funded projects. The role collaborates with investigators, sponsors, and partners to ensure timely progress and rigorous reporting.

Work arrangements are hybrid, and the position requires strong data collection, analysis, and communication skills to inform stakeholders and drive program improvements in graduate medical education.

Qualifications

• Post-baccalaureate degree or foreign degree equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience acceptable in substitution.
• Experience with program evaluation and data collection to support monitoring and outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple projects and ensure timely delivery across concurrent TA and research programs.
• Coordinate tasks, timelines, and deliverables; track expenditures and maintain documentation.
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data; prepare reports and dashboards for funders and leadership.
• Contribute to literature reviews, manuscript preparation, and dissemination of findings.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Grant reporting

Education

Post-Baccalaureate degree or foreign degree equivalent

Bachelor’s degree + 3+ years relevant experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Project management systems

Research databases

Job description

Posting Information

Department Family Medicine-411601

Career Area Research Professionals

Posting Open Date 09/01/2026

Application Deadline 09/22/2026

Open Until Filled No

Position Type Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title Research Associate

Appointment Type EHRA Non-Faculty Research

Position Number 20039426

Vacancy ID NF0009987

Full Time/Part Time Full-Time Permanent

FTE 1

Hours per week 40

Position Location North Carolina, US

Qualifications

Hiring Range Dependent Upon Qualifications

Proposed Start Date 10/01/2026

Position Information

Be a Tar Heel! 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 . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC -Chapel Hill 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.

Primary Purpose Of Organizational Unit Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research. Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond. Education: We prepare tomorrow’s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce. Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

Position Summary Flexible work arrangements, including virtual/hybrid work locations, are an integral part of the School of Medicine’s Working Forward initiative. As such, this position’s work location is designated as hybrid. Please note that the designated work location is subject to change based on the unit’s business needs. ShepsGME (Sheps Graduate Medical Education) Technical Assistance Centers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a portfolio of federal, state, and organization funded projects which develop, implement, and evaluate technical assistance infrastructure for supporting the development, expansion, and sustainability of graduate medical education ( GME ) training opportunities. The mission of ShepsGME is to reduce the maldistribution of physicians and dentists in rural and underserved areas by supporting the development of rural and health center residency programs. The Research Associate provides program management, project coordination, and outcomes evaluation support across a portfolio of externally-funded technical assistance and research programs at ShepsGME. The ShepsGME leadership team will rely on this position for the successful day-to-day management, monitoring, and evaluation of program activities.

This position leads program and project management activities across multiple concurrent technical assistance projects, including coordinating tasks and timelines, monitoring deliverables against scope and budget, tracking grant and contract expenditures, and maintaining detailed project documentation such as work plans, reports, and meeting minutes. The Research Associate works independently to manage relationships with investigators, sponsors, partners, and program stakeholders, and coordinates and collaborates with complex, multi-institutional consortiums, multi-disciplinary units, and national organizations. Technical assistance process and outcomes tracking and evaluation are central components of program management and project coordination. As such, this position is responsible for developing and maintaining systems to track program performance and grant deliverables, collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to assess program effectiveness, and preparing reports, dashboards, and presentations that communicate outcomes to funders, partners, and university leadership. The position also contributes to research activities that support this evaluation work, including literature reviews, survey and qualitative data collection, and assistance with manuscript and report preparation. This position must ensure adherence to federal, state, and university regulations.

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience

• Qualified candidates must have excellent organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Candidates must be familiar with quantitative and qualitative data analysis to support program monitoring and outcomes evaluation.
• Additionally, candidates must have the ability to handle changes in work volume and intensity; strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders; and strong problem-solving capabilities.
• Familiarity with grant-funded programs and federal reporting requirements is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), project management/data tracking systems, and research databases is required.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience

• Ideal candidate will have experience in graduate medical education, knowledge of best practices in program evaluation and performance monitoring, and demonstrated experience with evaluation and translational research principles, study design, and methods of data collection and analysis.
• Grant administration and proposal development experience and background in rural health is desired.
• Experience with project management platforms (e.g., Monday.com or similar) is highly preferred.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Quick Link

https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/324601

Posting Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title Jaime Adams, HR Consultant

Department Contact Telephone or Email [e-mail]

Office of Human Resources 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] Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

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.