Research Assistant Professor

Cell Biology and Physiology - 422001

03/03/2026

03/17/2026

No

Permanent Faculty

Research Assistant Professor

Fixed Term Faculty

FAC0005837

Full-Time Permanent

40

1

North Carolina, US

Dependent on Qualifications

05/01/2026

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.

The Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the UNC School of Medicine is recruiting for a fixed-term faculty position at the rank of Research Assistant Professor. This position will focus on creation and use of human brain organoid models for basic and translational studies related to ciliopathies. Conceptually and technically novel and innovative research focused on the mechanisms of primary cilia signaling in health and disease are expected. A major effort will be participating in the operation of the Anton Lab and development and implementation of novel technologies and cell biological models relevant to its mission of defining the mechanisms of early cerebral cortical development in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. The position entails development and refinement of human organoid and mouse genetic models designed to define and manipulate primary cilia signaling in the developing neuronal and glial cells. The technologies involved may include latest advances in human cortical organoids, progenitor or neuron type specific mouse genetic models, live imaging, lineage tracing with bar codes, mapping of signaling interactomes, optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulation of primary cilia signaling, single cell genomics, CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing, sequential proteomics of ciliary signaling networks, and functional evaluation of human mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. The research areas will focus on neurodevelopmental disorders and the spectrum of models and technologies for their study. Additional duties will include participation in lab operation and management with a focus on staff collaboration. The development of independent research interests, funding, and publication in the scientific literature is highly desired.

PhD/MD/DVM or equivalent degree in the biomedical sciences or similar field. Position requires experience with successful application of human brain organoid and complex mouse genetic models of brain development, original hypothesis-based experimental design and completion, RNA, protein, and epigenomic analysis, CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing, imaging technologies, and scholarly writing and publications.

Priority will be given to applicants with research experience focused on the mechanisms of cerebral cortical development, disorders, and the relevant genetic methodologies. Experience with project management and grant writing is a plus.