Postdoctoral Research Scholar

The Postdoctoral Scholar will assist the Principal Investigator (Dr. Andrew Neilson) in the Plants for Human Health Institute by leading and conducting independent research (80%), along with some general laboratory management (10%), and some mentoring of graduate students as appropriate (10%).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate will be expected to develop and submit (with guidance from the Principal Investigator) postdoctoral fellowship applications and other grant applications to sponsors such as USDA, NIH, etc. The successful candidate is expected to routinely publish their research in relevant peer-reviewed academic journals.
• The primary duties of this position will include conducting advanced independent and/or directed research with a focus on the interaction between plant-derived phytochemicals, the human gut microbiome and nutrition/health outcomes. Major research thrusts in the Neilson lab currently involve 1) utilizing phytochemicals to modulate production of gut microbiome-derived uremic toxins such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), phenylacetic acid, phenylacetylglutamine, and imidazole propionate, and 2) understanding individual genetic differences predict phytochemical bioavailability, metabolism, and efficacy for disease prevention, among others.
• The majority of the work will be performed using 4 key research tools: 1) anaerobic fecal fermentations, 2) rodent models of nutrition/disease (including models of genetic diversity), 3) mammalian and/or bacterial cell culture, and 4) instrumental analysis (particularly LC-MS/MS). This will include study design, collection and analysis of data, ensuring quality of data, basic statistics analysis, generating tables and figures for presentation (in manuscripts and conference presentations) as it relates to impacts on human health, participation in preparation and submission manuscripts, reports and grant proposals.
• Other general duties will include general lab and instrument maintenance and management as well as other duties as assigned. In addition to performing assigned experiments, the successful candidate will contribute to the intellectual direction of the lab by identifying important research questions, formulating hypotheses and designing experiments (including adoption of new techniques) to test those hypotheses.
• The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to work independently and creatively. She/He will provide support to peers, collaborative partners, and students, have good communication skills, and be able to articulate clearly the scientific and technical needs in the field, set clear goals, and work within an interdisciplinary setting.

This position is located in Kannapolis, NC

Learn more and apply here: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/232342

Research Technician

The Komarnytsky Lab, part of the Plants for Human Health Institute and Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, has developed an integrated translational pipeline linking molecular insights from cell culture and animal models to physiological outcomes in clinical settings, with special focus on metabolic resilience, pharmacogenomics, optimized physical performance, and innovative botanical supplementation strategies.

The clinical research program includes the Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) unit that supports mechanistic and intervention clinical studies evaluating exercise- and obesity-induced immune dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The HPL unit also facilitates collaborative studies in metabolic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular health, advancing nutrition and botanical intervention research through integrated physiological assessments and translational clinical approaches.

The Research Technician will provide vital, hands-on support to the clinical research program, contributing to both clinical and laboratory investigations. This position is integral to the precise execution of the HPL clinical trials, including participant screening and recruitment, clinical assessments, sample processing, biomarker analysis, cell culture, and data management to ensure high-quality, reproducible research outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Preparing, calibrating, and operating clinical research equipment (e.g., metabolic carts, treadmills, cycle ergometers, body composition analyzers)
• Performing standardized procedures and protocols to support clinical studies
• Collecting and processing biological samples (e.g., blood, plasma, urine, stool, saliva) using standardized research protocols
• Processing, collecting, culturing, and cryopreserving cells or tissue samples under sterile conditions
• Collecting, recording, and tracking clinical study data
• Performing biochemical and ELISA assays for chemical and biomarker quantification
• Screening, recruiting, and scheduling participants; obtaining informed consent; and conducting study visits
• Maintaining operational readiness, including stocking clinical supplies, monitoring inventory, and coordinating equipment service logs
• Ensuring adherence to University, local, state, and federal regulations, policies, and protocols

Search more jobs

• Visit https://jobs.ncsu.edu to search for more jobs within N.C. State University.