POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

Work Arrangement:

Requisition Number: 267675

Regular or Temporary: Regular

Location:

Durham, NC, US, 27710

Personnel Area: MEDICAL CENTER

Date: Mar 12, 2026

School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Postdoctoral Associate - Bioinformatics Critical Illness and Host-response

Be You.

The Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center requires a Postdoctoral Fellow to investigate bioinformatics within the context of critical illness. This position focuses on computational modeling of host-response mechanisms using high-dimensional multi-omics datasets. The fellow develops novel computational pipelines to identify biological signatures of sepsis and other acute critical conditions. Daily operations involve the processing of transcriptomic and genomic data integrated with longitudinal clinical variables. The investigator applies advanced statistical techniques to discover mechanistic pathways driving severe patient deterioration. Continuous collaboration with intensive care physicians ensures the clinical relevance of the biological targets identified. The researcher authors scientific manuscripts and generates preliminary data required for upcoming NIH grant submissions.

Job Responsibilities:

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics or Computational Biology or a relevant scientific discipline. The role demands extensive experience in processing and analyzing next-generation sequencing data. Mastery of R and Python is required to execute complex bioinformatics algorithms and statistical models. The applicant exhibits a deep understanding of human immunology and the physiological responses associated with critical illness. Previous work involving large-scale clinical cohorts enhances the candidate's ability to interpret host-response profiles. The fellow presents research findings at national conferences and translates computational results for diverse biomedical audiences. A proven history of publishing peer-reviewed research in high-impact computational or critical care journals is strictly required.

Minimum Requirements:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g. M.B.B.S., Sc.D., D.V.M.)

This position is Onsite. The work is performed on-site or at a designated assignment location.

Be Bold.

Maintain accurate laboratory documentation of experiments, including raw experimental data and laboratory notebooks.

Monitor progress of research projects and coordinate with Principal Investigator and Program team to stay on budget and schedule to meet the milestones and deliverables

Adhere to University standards regarding use of isotopes, chemicals, infectious agents, animals, human subjects, and the like.

Choose Duke.

Duke Surgery is #1 in NIH Grant Funding. We are an internationally recognized leader in laboratory and clinical investigation. Duke Surgery’s faculty and trainees are consistently among the top- funded researchers nationwide. This position is 100% grant funded. Beyond the engaging work, you'll also benefit from Duke's competitive benefits package, including health insurance plans, generous paid time off, retirement programs with employer contributions, tuition assistance for employees and their children, and more. Join our award-winning team and be part of an inclusive culture that values excellence, innovation, and discovery.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

See job description for education requirements.

Experience

See job description for requirements.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

See job description for requirements.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.