Open Rank

Posting Information

Posting Information

Department Psychiatry - Research - 412250 Posting Open Date 07/06/2026 Application Deadline Open Until Filled Yes Position Type Permanent Faculty Working Title Open Rank Appointment Type Open Rank Vacancy ID FAC0006010 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 10/05/2026

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

The UNC Department of Psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine is seeking an exceptional scientist for a full-time, tenure-track faculty researcher focused on the neural and molecular mechanisms of geriatric mental health disorders, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. The Department of Psychiatry provides an outstanding environment for translational neuroscience, basic and clinical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and career development. Under the new Chair, Dr. Warren Taylor, the Department of Psychiatry is growing its clinical and research expertise in geriatric mental health and strengthening ties between the Department and the UNC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

This new faculty member will lead an innovative research program investigating mechanisms underlying geriatric mental health disorders, cognitive aging and AD vulnerability, with a particular emphasis on longitudinal course, depression and anxiety, neural circuitry, and molecular biomarkers. The successful candidate will develop an independent program of externally funded research; contribute to collaborative initiatives within Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience, and the broader UNC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center; and leverage multimodal methodologies such as neuroimaging, molecular assays, and ecological data. Ideally, the candidate will serve as a resource for other investigators in the Department on computational psychiatry approaches.

In addition to developing a robust independent research program, the faculty member will also provide high-quality research mentorship to trainees in the Department of Psychiatry, including medical students, residents, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career faculty. Primary responsibilities include designing and executing research studies; building team science collaborations; conducting data analysis; disseminating results; publishing in high-impact scientific journals; and securing extramural grant funding. This position represents a critical investment in UNC's strategic vision to transform research and care for older adults, improve mental health outcomes in later life, and reduce the burden of Alzheimer's disease through precision neuroscience.

The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of research excellence partnered with expert clinical care. 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. We strive to promote faculty, staff, and learner development in a diverse, respectful environment where our colleagues demonstrate professionalism, enhance learning, and create personal and professional sustainability. We optimize our partnership with the UNC Health System through close collaboration and commitment to service.

OUR VISION

The vision of UNC is to be the nation's leading public school of medicine. We are ranked 5th among public peers in NIH research funding. Our Allied Health Department is home to five top-ranked divisions, and we are home to 18 top-ranked clinical and basic science departments in NIH research funding.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Psychology, Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
• Evidence of research excellence and productivity, including peer-reviewed publications and a strong record of scholarship.
• Demonstrated expertise in neuroimaging, cognitive aging, geriatric mental health disorders, Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, or related neural circuitry processes.
• Evidence of potential to obtain and sustain extramural research funding.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and commitment to interdisciplinary, collaborative science.
• Commitment to mentorship and to fostering inclusive excellence in research training.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Postdoctoral training in geriatric mental health, neuroimaging, cognitive aging, or Alzheimer's disease research. Expertise in computational neuroscience is of particular interest.
• Demonstrated success with independent or collaborative grant funding (e.g., NIH K/R mechanisms, foundation funding).
• Experience conducting research on aging, clinical neuroscience, or biomarkers relevant to geriatric mental health or Alzheimer's risk.
• Experience mentoring students, fellows, or junior investigators.
• Ability to contribute to the department's growing precision-medicine, computational psychiatry, and neuroscience initiatives.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/321737

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
• List of References
• Research Statement

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

• • Did your PhD work produce at least one first-author research publication in a peer-reviewed journal?

• Yes

• No

• • Briefly describe your expertise in neuroimaging, cognitive aging, geriatric mental health disorders, Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, or related neural circuitry processes.

(Open Ended Question)

• • Do you have experience with submitting extramural research proposals to the federal government and or private foundations? If so, please list sponsors and briefly describe your role/contribution.

(Open Ended Question)