Open Rank

Posting Information

Posting Information

Department Psychiatry - Research - 412250 Posting Open Date 06/04/2026 Application Deadline Open Until Filled Yes Position Type Permanent Faculty Working Title Open Rank Appointment Type Open Rank Vacancy ID FAC0005969 Full-time/Part-time Full-Time Permanent Hours per week 40 FTE 1 Position Location North Carolina, US Hiring Range Dependent on Experience and Qualifications Proposed Start Date 07/05/2027

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

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine is seeking a physician-scientist with strong skills in computational neuroscience, structural biology, and molecular pharmacology to advance precision-medicine approaches in serious mental illness. The Research Assistant Professor position is a full-time, fixed-term appointment at the Research Assistant Professor level. Experience integrating in vitro functional assays (e.g., Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer) with in silico structural methods (e.g., AlphaFold-based structure prediction and molecular dynamics simulations) is required. The successful candidate will develop a research program characterizing how genetic variants of neuroreceptors modulate medication binding and receptor dynamics, with the goal of informing pharmacogenetically guided drug selection in schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Additionally, the successful candidate is expected to be a skilled, independent researcher with excellent experience in designing and executing research studies, mentoring graduate students and other trainees, and writing research papers and grants.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

1. MD or equivalent medical degree.

2. Completion of, or near-completion of, residency training in psychiatry or a closely related clinical neuroscience specialty.

3. Research training and demonstrated experience in computational neuroscience, structural biology, and/or molecular pharmacology, including molecular dynamics simulations and/or cell-based functional receptor pharmacology assays.

4. Strong peer-reviewed publication record in computational, structural, and/or molecular neuroscience.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

1. PhD or MD/PhD in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, bioengineering, structural biology, or a related quantitative discipline.

2. Experience with G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structural biology, AlphaFold-based protein structure prediction, and high-performance computing for large-scale molecular dynamics simulations.

3. Experience with Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) or comparable cell-based functional assays, and a track record of competitive extramural research funding.

4. Ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary studies with collaborators from diverse scientific backgrounds.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/320168

Department Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title Ammie Senn, HR Consultant Department Contact Telephone or Email ammie_senn@med.unc.edu Academic Personnel Office Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost office at (919)-962-1091 or send an email to facultyrecruitment@unc.edu.

Please note: The Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department notify the Department Contact.

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.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae / Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • What is your highest degree?

• PhD

• MD

• PharmD

• DDS

• DVM

• JD

• MLS/MIS

• Masters

• Other

• • Briefly describe your research training and demonstrated experience in computational neuroscience, structural biology, and/or molecular pharmacology, including molecular dynamics simulations and/or cell-based functional receptor pharmacology assays.

(Open Ended Question)

• • Are you familiar with Pharmacology nomenclature of GPCR's?

(Open Ended Question)

• • Have you previously published your research results in a peer reviewed scientific journal?
• Yes, as Lead Author
• Yes, but not as Lead Author
• No