New

Research Specialist

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

$45,454 - $68,818
Grade: 14

United States, North Carolina, Chapel Hill

104 Airport Dr (Show on map)

Jun 03, 2026

Posting Information

Department	Globl Hlth and Infect Disease-427801
Career Area	Research Professionals
Is this an internal only recruitment?	No
Posting Open Date	06/02/2026
Application Deadline	06/09/2026
Position Type	Permanent Staff (SHRA)
Position Title	Research Specialist - Contributing
Salary Grade Equivalent	MH14 / GN08
Working Title	Research Specialist
Position Number	20076633
Vacancy ID	P021076
Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited	Full-Time Permanent
If time-limited, estimated duration of appointment
Hours per week	40
Work Schedule	Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Work Location	CHAPEL HILL, NC
Position Location	North Carolina, US
Hiring Range	$45,454 - $68,818
Pay Band Information	To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

Position Summary 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 HIV Cure Center seeks a Contributing Research Specialist to support and lead complex laboratory, translational, and sequencing-based research projects focused on HIV persistence, latency reversal, immune response, viral reservoir characterization, and therapeutic development. This position operates with a high degree of technical independence and scientific judgment while supporting multiple projects across the Turner laboratory and Cure Center research programs. The incumbent will work with basic science models of host-pathogen interactions, virology, and molecular biology techniques. The candidate will assist in performing rigorous, reproducible research in a collaborative laboratory environment. The Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases develops ongoing clinical, educational, and research programs directed toward the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The Institute and Division's goals include coordinating and conducting basic and applied research in infectious diseases and fostering collaboration among other investigators and researchers; improving clinical care in infectious diseases, including activities related to management of HIV and other infectious diseases; activities related to emerging pathogens, international health, and clinical outreach and infectious disease prevention activities, including a focus on vaccine development and vaccination practices. UNC HIV Cure Center is focused on the discovery, development, and implementation of new treatments to allow durable treatment-free remission of HIV infection (cure).
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 in standard molecular biology techniques (including, but not limited to, western blotting, qPCR/ddPCR/PCR, nucleic acid isolation, molecular cloning, bacterial and mammalian cell culture) in a research lab. Experience working with HIV or other transmitted pathogens and viruses. Experience in NGS assays (Oxford Nanopore sequencing and ATAC-seq). Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, experience with Snapgene, Prism, and R-Studio.
Required Licenses/Certifications
Special Physical/Mental Requirements	Candidate must possess flexibility, mobility, and strength to move and access research samples, reagents, and supplies up to 10 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidate must have the physical ability to perform varied tasks that require fine motor skills, excellent hand-eye coordination, visual acuity, and a high level of concentration to repeatedly perform challenging techniques, with or without reasonable accommodation. This position will be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and hazardous materials.
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities	Not Applicable.
Position/Schedule Requirements	Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, Exposure to Hazardous Materials, Laboratory
Special Instructions
Quick Link	https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/319893

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.