Post-Doc Research Associate

Vacancy ID: PDS004976

Position Summary/Description:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ( UNC ) Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases ( IGHID ) is recruiting an exceptional candidate for a Postdoctoral Research Associate fellowship in malaria clinical trials.

The fellow will join a multidisciplinary research team conducting innovative clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of insecticide-treated baby wraps for the prevention of malaria in young children. Previous research demonstrated a nearly two-thirds reduction in the incidence of clinical malaria among children using insecticide-treated wraps (Boyce et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2025). Building on these findings, ongoing studies across sub-Saharan Africa are designed to generate the evidence needed to inform malaria prevention policy and implementation strategies.

Fellowship Experience

The fellow will work closely with the principal investigator, Ross Boyce, MD, MSc, and collaborating investigators to support the planning, conduct, and analysis of the clinical trials and the dissemination of their findings.

Responsibilities and opportunities will include:

Contributing to clinical trial design, protocol development, implementation, and oversight.

Working closely with field research teams and collaborating investigators in Uganda.

Conducting statistical analyses and interpreting clinical trial data.

Preparing abstracts, scientific presentations, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Contributing to grant applications and other scientific proposals.

Presenting findings at national and international scientific meetings.

Traveling to study sites in sub-Saharan Africa, typically for periods of 2-3 weeks at a time.

Developing and leading complementary sub-studies under the mentorship of the PI.

Mentorship and Career Development

A major goal of the fellowship is to prepare the fellow for an independent research career in global health, infectious diseases, epidemiology, or clinical trials. Through dedicated mentorship and hands-on experience, the fellow will develop advanced skills in:

Clinical trial design, implementation, and analysis.

Epidemiologic and quantitative research methods.

Scientific writing and peer-reviewed publication.

Grant and career-development award preparation.

International research collaboration and study management.

Mentoring students and junior researchers.

The fellow will also have substantial opportunities to develop a professional network within the international malaria research community.

The fellow will be encouraged to develop a portfolio of work that supports progression toward research independence. This will include opportunities to lead first-author manuscripts, develop and lead complementary sub-studies, present findings at international scientific meetings, and contribute to or lead grant applications. The PI will provide regular mentorship focused on research development, publication strategy, grant writing, and long-term career goals.

Education and Experience:

Clinical trials or prospective epidemiologic studies.

Statistical analysis using R, Stata, or similar software.

Research in low- and middle-income country settings.

Preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, or scientific presentations.

Malaria, vector-borne diseases, or other infectious diseases.

Prior experience in malaria research is not required if the candidate has excellent epidemiologic skills and has worked in another infectious disease area.