Research Analyst - Sumner Lab

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM with occasional evening and weekend work

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is a world-renowned center and a global leader in precision nutrition research. Our on-site facilities include multiple wet labs and clinical facilities as well as a vivarium and a metabolic chamber. Approximately two hours from UNC-Chapel Hill, the NRI is located on the beautiful North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, NC, a mid-size city with a small-town feel. The institute is within walking distance of the city center which includes shops, restaurants, a minor-league ballpark, theater, and music hall of fame. We are also a short drive to Charlotte and Winston-Salem/Greensboro. The NRI offers programs that support a healthy work/life balance. We also offer professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development, and lifelong learning.

Learning how people can eat uniquely!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI) is an internationally recognized center conducting innovative basic and translational science to establish how individual differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet affect our nutritional needs. Our research contributes to the prevention and mitigation of chronic disease across the lifespan from periconception through aging.

Our Mission is to lead precision nutrition research through understanding how genetics and environment affect an individual's requirements for and responses to nutrients.

NRI principal investigators hold faculty appointments in the departments of Nutrition and Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. Their research interrogates nutrient roles in disease prevention, disease risk factors, and the impact of gene-environment and gene-nutrient interactions.

The NRI promotes excellence in nutrition knowledge, teaching, and research. We seek and encourage a diversity of experiences and ideas and provide the tools and flexibility for all employees to achieve success and excellence within their chosen occupations and aspirations.

We are committed to open dialogue, careful listening, becoming educated about the systems that hinder or prevent success, and taking action to ensure that all are equally acknowledged for their contributions and equally reap the benefits of being part of our community.

Our Vision is to use scientific discovery to ensure optimal health through individualized nutrition.

Everyone who works at the NRI supports this hopeful vision. Working at the NRI means doing good for the world. Join us!

The NRI and this position are in Kannapolis, NC, in the Charlotte region.

Position Title: Research Analyst

NOTE: This position is located in Kannapolis, NC, appx. 2 hours from UNC's main campus.

The Research Analyst will work with the Sumner-Lab at the UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute to process data for small- and large- scale metabolomics investigations conducted using high resolution mass spectrometry. The candidate will work in a dynamic team of chemists, biochemists, biologists, and mathematicians to perform investigations in areas of nutrition, obesity, fertility, brain health, pregnancy outcomes, and environmental exposures that are funded under federal grants.

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.

- Experience developing and implementing software for untargeted metabolomics data processing: including peak picking, alignment, normalization, filtering, batch correction, and metabolite identifications and annotations
- Experience in writing and testing script in R, python, and SQL
- Experience analyzing genomics and biological data, including the use of Jupyter notebooks
- Experience in regression analysis and machine learning
- Experience using quality control methods for metabolomics data capture and data processing
- Experience processing metabolomics data
- Experience in software development and testing
- Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively contribute to the team
- Experience preparing report summaries and PowerPoint presentations

- Course work in Bioinformatics
- Experience in biology
- Good understanding of wet-lab techniques
- Experience in multi-omics data analysis

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.

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.