Research Specialist

Posting Information

Posting Information

Department Epidemiology - 463501 Career Area Research Professionals Posting Open Date 10/12/2026 Application Deadline 10/19/2026 Position Type Temporary Staff (SHRA) Position Title Research Specialist Position Number 20073014 Vacancy ID S028143 Full-time/Part-time Full-Time Temporary Hours per week 40 Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Position Location North Carolina, US Hiring Range $25.00 - $29.00/per hour Proposed Start Date Estimated Duration of Appointment 6 months or longer

Position Information

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Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Department of Epidemiology is one of the seven departments located in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. The department's primary focus is to the development and application of research methods to understand the patterns and causes of health and disease, and the application of that knowledge to improving the health of populations. We provide strong training in research methods and opportunities for the application of epidemiology to a wide range of health problems through our research. The achievements of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni have enabled us to become one of the leading academic departments of epidemiology in the world. The department has 40 Tenured-Tenure Track / 10 Joint Tenure-Track Faculty, 24 Fixed Term / 3 Joint Fixed Term Faculty, 120 Adjuncts, 32 EHRA Non-Faculty, 22 Postdocs, 28 SHRA (Staff), 32 SHRA Temporary and 202 Students. The department's operating budget is 27 million a year.

Position Summary

The purpose of this position is to provide laboratory research support for the general operation of the BioSpecimen Processing (BSP) University-wide, College of American Pathologist (CAP) accredited core facility. An organized and detail-oriented individual who will need to perform molecular biology and general laboratory techniques to fulfill the requirements of this position. A major component of the work will be processing human biospecimen samples manually or on automated high-throughput pieces of equipment. Specifically, the position will involve extraction of DNA and RNA from biospecimens, quantitation and quality analysis of extracted specimens, aliquoting, and storage of biospecimens. Use of a computer-based specimen inventory and tracking system to detail receipt, processing, aliquoting, storage and distribution of all specimens will be required. All tasks must be performed successfully in a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory environment following strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with adherence to tight deadlines.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Management Preferences

• Experience working in a SOP-driven laboratory environment.
• Experience working with a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Familiarity with commonly used laboratory equipment including single- and multi-channel pipettes, centrifuge, laminar flow hoods, autoclaves, and spectrophotometers.
• Knowledge of safe blood work procedures and experience working with human biospecimens in a biosafety level-two laboratory.
• Knowledge of research and regulatory standards to maintain a high throughput, HIPAA-regulated, SOP- driven laboratory environment.
• Experience using robotic equipment in a high throughput environment.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

• Ability to lift or move up to 50lbs (for transfer of dry ice shipments as well as removing and restoring full freezer racks) with or without accommodations
• Ability to work with dry ice, -80 C and Liquid Nitrogen freezers using appropriate personal protective equipment
• Ability to move Liquid Nitrogen tanks on carts and un-hook and re-hook tanks to fill hoses

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

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Posting Contact Information

Office of Human Resources Contact Information

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.

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
• Cover Letter
• List of References

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Please list years of experience with micro and serological pipettes. (0.6 - 10 years as an example)

(Open Ended Question)