Postdoctoral Research Associate – Goode Lab

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Goode Lab

January 13, 2026

The position is located in Kannapolis, NC, approximately 2 hours from UNC’s main campus.

Position Summary

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available within the UNC Nutrition Research Institute as an integral part of the Living F.R.E.E. (Research Focused on Reducing Excessive Eating) Lab under the leadership of principal investigator, Rachel W. Goode, PhD, MPH , LCSW . This 2-year postdoctoral position provides a unique opportunity to be involved with the development and implementation of community-engaged behavioral interventions for those at the intersection of disordered eating and obesity.

We invite applications for a 2-year Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ( UNC ), focused on community-engaged behavioral health research addressing eating disorder disparities, chronic disease prevention and management, mHealth intervention development, and eating disorder screening and treatment disparities in primary care settings. The associate will receive training to become an independent investigator with an emphasis on disordered eating, behavioral health interventions, community-based participatory research, mHealth approaches, and chronic disease disparities.

The position offers ample opportunities in manuscript and grant writing, leadership development, innovative technology and methodology, and pilot study funding to develop the associate’s line of research. The ideal candidate is analytical, organized, and detail-oriented, with a proactive, reliable, and adaptable approach, strong communication skills, and a collaborative, community-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities include mentoring research coordinators and students, developing intervention materials in obesity, binge eating, and type 2 diabetes management, and mHealth programs. Additional responsibilities include conducting statistical analyses and writing scientific manuscripts. The position is full-time, in-office, with the potential for a 12-month renewal (up to 24 months total). Estimated start date:
Monday, August 17, 2026.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

PhD in Public Health, Social Work, Nutrition, or Psychology or a PhD in a related field (e.g., sociology).

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Knowledge of conducting all aspects of community-based research, public health intervention planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of health disparities, disparities in eating disorders, and obesity and diabetes prevention.
• Excellent research skills, including in the areas of developing qualitative research questions, conducting focus groups and in-depth interviews, and IRB applications.
• Ability to work with peers and supervisory staff in a professional manner and to interact effectively with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to provide guidance and leadership to undergraduate and graduate students.

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.