Research Assistant

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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 that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

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 Overview:
We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Research Assistant to support clinical and translational research studies focused on breast cancer prevention, detection, and epigenetic biomarkers. This role is ideal for a candidate with experience in epidemiological study design, molecular data analysis, and biospecimen management. The research assistant will contribute to multi-disciplinary projects exploring genetic and environmental risk factors associated with breast cancer development, particularly among high-risk populations.

Key Responsibilities:

Data Management & Analysis:
* Maintain, clean, and analyze datasets using R, Stata, SAS, and SQL.
* Conduct epigenetic and epidemiological analyses (e.g., EWAS, DNA methylation) using tools such as PLINK, NGS platforms, and data visualization (Manhattan plots, Q-Q plots).
* Create and modify analytic variables, perform quality checks, and generate reports for research dissemination.

Clinical Research Coordination:
* Assist data collection, including CDW patient enrollment and eligibility verification, in compliance with IRB and CITI-certified human subjects protocols.
* Input and corroborate clinical and biospecimen data in RedCap and EPIC.

Biospecimen Handling & Lab Work:
* Assist with assembling and ship kits for blood, saliva, and cfDNA collection, as needed; ensure proper labeling, handling, and storage at -20 C to preserve sample integrity.
* Assist with conducting molecular biology techniques such as pipetting, PCR, and gel electrophoresis to support biomarker research as needed.

Team Support & Collaboration:
* Provide assistance to senior staff in orienting and guiding new research assistants or students on data entry procedures and study protocols.
* Support collaboration efforts with external research institutions (e.g., Mayo Clinic, NIH, BCRF, Komen, ARPA-H) by helping maintain consistent procedures and documentation across study sites.

Scientific Communication Support:
* Assist in compiling data, figures, and literature for the preparation of abstracts, posters, and manuscripts under the guidance of senior researchers.
* Support the development of presentation materials for scientific meetings and internal lab discussions.
* Contribute background research or preliminary data summaries for grant applications as directed.

Bachelor's degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

* Background or experience in the field of Epidemiology, Public Health, Molecular Biology, or related field
* Proficiency in R, SQL, RedCap, and EPIC
* Experience with biospecimen handling and molecular lab techniques
* Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present scientific findings

* Experience in cancer research or biomedical research preferred
* CITI Certification in Human Subjects Research (or willingness to obtain)

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

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

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.