Postdoctoral Research Scholar - PHHI
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Please attach a Cover Letter, CV, and contact information for three (3)
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Posting Details
Position Information
Posting Number PG191722PD
Position Number 00109897
Position Type Post Doc
FLSA Exempt
Departmental Information
Department ID 110308 - Kannapolis Research
Department 110308 - Kannapolis Research
Job City & State Kannapolis, NC
Position Information
Position Overview
Essential Job Duties The Postdoctoral Scholar will assist the Principal Investigator (Dr. Andrew Neilson) in the Plants for Human Health Institute by leading and conducting independent research (80%), along with some general laboratory management (10%), and some mentoring of graduate students as appropriate (10%).
Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary duties of this position will include conducting advanced
independent and/or directed research with a focus on the interaction
between plant-derived phytochemicals, the human gut microbiome and
nutrition/health outcomes. Major research thrusts in the Neilson lab
currently involve 1) utilizing phytochemicals to modulate production of
gut microbiome-derived uremic toxins such as trimethylamine N-oxide
(TMAO), phenylacetic acid, phenylacetylglutamine, and imidazole
propionate, and 2) understanding individual genetic differences predict
phytochemical bioavailability, metabolism, and efficacy for disease
prevention, among others.
The majority of the work will be performed using 4 key research tools: 1)
anaerobic fecal fermentations, 2) rodent models of nutrition/disease
(including models of genetic variety), 3) mammalian and/or bacterial
cell culture, and 4) instrumental analysis (particularly LC-MS/MS).
This will include study design, collection and analysis of data, ensuring
quality of data, basic statistics analysis, generating tables and figures
for presentation (in manuscripts and conference presentations) as it
relates to impacts on human health, participation in preparation and
submission manuscripts, reports and grant proposals.
Other general duties will include general lab and instrument maintenance
and management as well as other duties as assigned. In addition to
performing assigned experiments, the successful candidate will contribute
to the intellectual direction of the lab by identifying important research
questions, formulating hypotheses and designing experiments (including
adoption of new techniques) to test those hypotheses.
The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to work independently and
creatively. She/He will provide support to peers, collaborative partners,
and students, have good communication skills, and be able to articulate
clearly the scientific and technical needs in the field, set clear goals,
and work within an interdisciplinary setting.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop and submit (with
guidance from the Principal Investigator) postdoctoral fellowship
applications and other grant applications to sponsors such as USDA, NIH,
etc. The successful candidate is expected to routinely publish their
research in relevant peer-reviewed academic journals.
This position is located in Kannapolis, NC.
Other Work/Responsibilities
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review ourEmployee Value Propositionand learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement and Leave
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
Enhance your career with LEAD courses
Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free.
Attain Work-life balance with our Childcarebenefits, Wellness &
Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a
thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time
Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found
within each of the links offered.
Requirements and Preferences
Work Schedule Mon-Fri, approx 8am-5pm; work may sometimes be required outside of these hours due to the inherent nature of animal and bacterial experiments required for this position.
Department Required Skills
Doctoral Degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Nutrition Science,
Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Toxicology, or a related field.
Experience in one or more of the following fields: anaerobic
microbiology/fermentations, molecular biology (PCR), analytical
chemistry (particularly LC-MS/MS), in vitro work, or rodent work
(gavage, injection, blood collection, etc.).
Demonstrated record of publishing primary research findings in peer-
reviewed scientific journals
Strong written and oral English communication skills
Ability to lead complex research projects with knowledge of advanced
microbiological, molecular, and/or analytical chemistry techniques as
appropriate for plant-derived phytochemicals
Ability to train and supervise graduate students and visiting scholars.
Responsible for data acquisition, statistical processing, and
interpretation as well as development and maintenance of datasets, and use
of basic statistical and other software packages.
Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education
Experience in one or more of the following areas: anaerobic microbiology
or fermentation; molecular biology; rodent research methods;
gnotobiotic/germ-free animal research; biology and physiology of
diabetes/obesity/cardiovascular disease; genetics/GWAS/QTL; polyphenol
chemistry; ELISAs/RIAs; xenobiotic bioavailability/pharmacokinetics and
metabolism; mammalian cell culture; fractionation or preparative
chromatography; enzymology; molecular biology; in vitro fecal
fermentations; in vitro digestions or dissolution testing; toxicology.
Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in microbiology, gut
microbiome, and molecular biology.
Required License or Certification n/a
Valid NC Driver's License required? Yes
Commercial Driver's License Required? No
Recruitment
Recruitment Details
Anticipated Hiring Range $58,000-$60,000
If you anticipate multiple hires from this search, please indicate how many
Recruitment Dates
Job Open Date 07/01/2026
Applicant Information
Quick Link https: // jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/232342
EEO NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact
Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or [email protected].
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks.
Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must
be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive
credit.
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employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons
hired to work in the United States.
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk ().
How did you learn of this opportunity?
NCSU Website
NCSU Executive Search Services
Monster.com
CareerBuilder.com
InsideHigherEd.com
Other Online Job Board
Carolina Job Finder / Employment Guide
Job / Career Fair
The Chronicle of Higher Education
HERC
Professional Journal
Print Advertisement (Newspaper / Periodical)
Professional Organization
Direct Contact from NCSU HR Representative / Recruiter
NCSU Employee Referral
Social Media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Other)
Other
If you learned about this vacancy from "other source" or "other website", please provide the source.
(Open Ended Question)
Do you have, or will you have by date of hire, a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science, Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Toxicology, or related field?
Yes
No
Briefly please describe your experience with complex research projects, especially in regard to knowledge of advanced analytical chemistry techniques for plant-derived phytochemicals.
(Open Ended Question)
Do you have experience supervising professional staff and/or student employees? Briefly please describe your experience.
(Open Ended Question)
Do you have a record of publishing primary research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals?
Yes
No
According to our university's regulations, a postdoctoral scholar needs to have successfully completed their terminal degree no more than 5 years from the start date of their appointment. Given this, please provide the date (MM/DD/YYYY) your terminal degree has been or will be confirmed.
(Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Contact Information for References
Resume/CV
Optional Documents
