2-Postdoctoral Position in Gut Microbiome and Stress Physiology at UNC-Chapel Hill, USA (2026)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is inviting applications for two fully funded Post-Doc Research Associate positions in the Department of Biology.

This exciting NIH-funded project focuses on:

• stress physiology,
• gut microbiome ecology,
• wildlife biology,
• host-microbe interactions,
• and evolutionary ecology in wild rodents.

The position is ideal for researchers interested in:

• microbiome science,
• ecology,
• bioinformatics,
• evolutionary biology,
• wildlife physiology,
• and environmental health research.

About the Position

The postdoctoral researchers will join The Petrullo Lab within the Department of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The project investigates how ecological stressors, environmental conditions, and host physiology influence:

• gut microbiome composition,
• microbial interactions,
• and host health outcomes in wild mammals.

The research combines:

• field ecology,
• microbiome sequencing,
• experimental biology,
• and computational bioinformatics.

Position Details

Feature	Details
Position	Post-Doc Research Associate
Institution	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Department	Biology
Location	Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Employment Type	Full-Time
Duration	12 Months
Salary	USD $64,000/year
Funding	NIH-Funded
Number of Positions	2
Proposed Start Date	1 July 2026
Application Deadline	26 May 2026

Research Project Overview

The overarching goal of the project is to understand how stress physiology influences the gut microbiome in wild rodents.

Researchers will study:

• ecological stressors,
• hormonal responses,
• microbial community changes,
• and host fitness consequences.

The project specifically examines:

• host HPA axis activation,
• food availability,
• population density,
• and microbiome dynamics.

Main Research Areas

The postdoctoral fellows will contribute to:

1. Microbiome Ecology and Bioinformatics

Researchers will analyze:

• gut microbiome communities,
• microbial interactions,
• and microbial traits associated with stress responses.

Strong experience in:

• microbiome bioinformatics,
• sequencing analysis,
• and computational biology

is highly valuable.

2. Field-Based Ecology Experiments

The project includes:

• field experiments,
• ecological manipulations,
• wildlife sampling,
• and rodent ecology research.

Candidates with wildlife fieldwork experience will have an advantage.

3. Host Physiology and Immunology

The study also investigates:

• immune mechanisms,
• physiological stress responses,
• and links between microbiomes and host health.

4. Independent Research Development

The position offers flexibility for researchers to:

• develop independent questions,
• design additional analyses,
• and expand research projects related to host-microbe interactions, ecology, and evolution.

Responsibilities

Selected candidates will participate in:

• fieldwork,
• wet-lab experiments,
• microbiome analyses,
• bioinformatics,
• statistical analysis,
• and project management.

Researchers will also contribute to:

• scientific publications,
• collaborative research,
• and interdisciplinary scientific discussions.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• PhD in Ecology, Biology, or a related discipline

before the appointment begins.

Essential Skills

Candidates should demonstrate:

• experience in microbiome bioinformatics,
• computational biology skills,
• strong communication abilities,
• and collaborative research experience.

The lab especially values:

• leadership,
• interdisciplinary thinking,
• and scientific creativity.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional advantages include:

• fieldwork experience,
• small mammal research experience,
• microbiome sequencing expertise,
• and ecological physiology experience.

About the Petrullo Lab

The Petrullo Lab studies:

• evolutionary ecology,
• physiology,
• and life-history strategies in wild mammals.

The lab combines ecology, physiology, microbiome science, and evolutionary biology to understand animal-environment interactions.

About UNC-Chapel Hill

UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the leading public research universities in the United States. The university is recognized for:

• federally funded research,
• interdisciplinary science,
• and innovative biological research programs.

The Department of Biology hosts:

• nearly $70 million in active research grants,
• 48 tenure-track faculty,
• and multiple internationally recognized research groups.

Why This Opportunity Is Valuable

Microbiome and host-microbe interaction research is one of the fastest-growing fields in:

• ecology,
• biomedical sciences,
• evolutionary biology,
• and environmental health.

This position provides advanced training in:

• microbiome analytics,
• wildlife physiology,
• ecological experimentation,
• and bioinformatics.

Researchers with expertise in:

• microbiome science,
• ecological data analysis,
• and environmental physiology

are increasingly in demand globally.

Salary and Benefits

The position offers USD $64,000 annually along with:

• medical coverage,
• vision coverage,
• paid leave,
• professional development support,
• and work-life balance benefits.

Living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill is consistently ranked among:

• the best college towns,
• and best places to live in the United States.

Researchers benefit from:

• a strong scientific environment,
• collaborative academic culture,
• and excellent quality of life.

Application Information

Applicants should prepare:

• academic CV,
• research background materials,
• and supporting documents required by UNC-Chapel Hill.

Official Link

Apply here: UNC-Chapel Hill Job Portal

Final Thoughts

This NIH-funded postdoctoral opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill is an excellent fit for researchers interested in:

• microbiome ecology,
• wildlife biology,
• environmental physiology,
• evolutionary ecology,
• and host-microbe interactions.

Candidates with strong bioinformatics and ecological research skills will be especially competitive.

Because microbiome science is becoming increasingly important across environmental and biomedical research, this position offers strong long-term career potential in academia and interdisciplinary life sciences research.