Post-Doc Research Associate

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.

The Department of Political Science resides within the College of Arts and Sciences. The Department of Political Science is the fourth largest undergraduate major in the College with more than 700 majors, a graduate program of approximately 80 students in residence and 44 tenure/tenure-track and fixed-term faculty.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will support research on free expression and constructive dialogue within higher education. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. While the position will be housed within the Political Science Department, applications from closely related disciplines, such as Sociology, Communication, and Economics are welcome. The primary responsibilities for the position include: contributing to the preparation of reports, presentations, and articles arising from the research; programming and distributing survey instruments; conducting project management work related to researching free expression topics within the University of North Carolina System, such as managing IRB processes, and coordinating with campus partners. While the primary purpose of this position is to support a UNC initiative to examine free expression issues within the UNC System, priority will be given to applicants who can connect such work to their broader research program. The position has no teaching responsibilities.

Ph.D. in Political Science or closely related discipline such as Sociology, Communication, and Economics.

Expertise in political behavior, survey research, and experimental methods.

Applicants who will have a Ph.D. in hand by July 1, 2026 are preferred. However, applicants who will finish their Ph.D. by December 1, 2026 will also be considered provided they can reside primarily in the Chapel Hill area during the fall semester and commit to the position on a full-time basis.

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the 2022 UNC Free Expression and Constructive Dialogue report, available at https://fecdsurveyreport.web.unc.edu/, and to use their cover letter to articulate possible intellectual contributions they could make to future research in this area.

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.

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.