Post-Doc Research Associate

Posting Information

Posting Details

Department Computer Science - 318400 Posting Open Date 09/15/2026 Application Deadline 09/22/2026 Open Until Filled No Position Type Postdoctoral Scholar Position Title Post-Doc Research Associate Vacancy ID PDS004966 Full-time/Part-time Full-Time Temporary Hours per week 40 FTE 1 Work Location Chapel Hill, NC Position Location North Carolina, US Hiring Range Dependent on Experience and/or Qualifications Proposed Start Date 01/01/2027 Estimated Duration of Appointment 12 Months

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 and is among is the top ten research universities in the nation for federal research expenditures as well as for federally funded social and behavioral sciences research and development.

Here at Carolina, our highly skilled postdocs play a vital role in our research enterprise and towards our overall commitment to research excellence. Across many disciplines, postdocs contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. They provide innovative ideas and perspectives, foster a stimulating research environment and advance knowledge within their fields. Postdocs are crucial members of our scientific research workforce, contributors to our research outputs and an important reason why Carolina is one of the leading public research institutions in the country.

UNC-Chapel Hill offers postdocs comprehensive medical and vision coverage, paid leave, and benefits and services that support professional development and a healthy work/life balance. Chapel Hill regularly ranks as one of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, a reputation guided by the diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Department of Computer Science is one of 16 science departments and curricula in the College of Arts and Sciences. It is a major teaching department with more than 30 tenured/tenure track faculty, nine research faculty, and 28 adjunct faculty, who serve more than a thousand undergraduate students and hundreds of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Our driving research ideal is collaboration-as it has been since the founding of our department in 1964. We believe that computer science's greatest purpose is in working with other scientists to solve problems in their own disciplines. Therefore, we actively seek opportunities to generate new research with our colleagues and with scientists in other departments across campus, including in science, medicine, and the humanities. Numerous computer science faculty members have adjunct or joint appointments in other departments, lead large interdisciplinary research groups, and collaborate with colleagues from multiple universities across the Research Triangle, the United States, and even the world.

Position Summary

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will conduct research under the direction of Prof. Tianlong Chen in the UNITES Lab, focusing on multimodal foundation models and multi-agent systems. The position will involve conducting independent and collaborative research, developing and evaluating multimodal AI models, and contributing to research publications and projects.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

A doctoral degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field, or completion of the doctoral degree by the proposed start date.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Strong research background in computer vision and multimodal machine learning. Experience with deep learning and multimodal/vision-language models. Strong programming and research skills. Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and publish research findings. Ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Experience in multimodal reasoning and foundation models. Experience with large vision-language models or multi-agent systems. Strong publication record in relevant research areas.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements Special Instructions

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325488

Posting Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title Tianlong Chen, Assistant Professor Department Contact Telephone or Email tianlong@unc.edu Postdoctoral Affairs Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at (919) 962-9982 or send an email to opahr@unc.edu.

Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs 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.

Optional and Required Documents

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae / Resume

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter

Supplemental Questions

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