Mentoring

Part of the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Nutrition Research Institute is home to accomplished research scientists with expertise in a range of fields, including nutrition, genetics, biochemistry, neuroscience, epidemiology, toxicology, psychology, and medicine. Separately and together they are breaking ground in the field of precision nutrition by understanding the reasons for metabolic variation, which include genetic, epigenetic, dietary, and environmental causes.

Faculty and Research Opportunities

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute offers opportunities for faculty and researchers to refine or expand a nutrition-related research program. The Institute is particularly interested in research related to nutrigenomics, metabolomics, epigenetics, clinical nutrition and/or energy expenditure.

Available Opportunities

UNC NRI Faculty Fellows: 

The UNC Nutrition Research Faculty Fellows are faculty scholars affiliated with the NRI, but located at the UNC Chapel Hill main campus in Chapel Hill. These scholars collaborate with Institute faculty members in Kannapolis on a research project of mutual interest or they conduct research at the NRI using NRI expertise and equipment, perhaps one of the NRI’s Kannapolis-based Cores (e.g. the Human Research Core, the Nutritional Biochemistry Core, or the Nutrigenomics Core).

Nominations are solicited annually (usually in October) and interested faculty may submit a research proposal or concept paper (not to exceed five pages) with a funding request (a preliminary budget and budget justification).   Applicants should also attach a curriculum vitae. Funding for faculty fellows’ projects depends on the scope and length of the project, but generally does not exceed $50,000. Fellows are expected to make regular visits between Chapel Hill and Kannapolis to facilitate collaboration, conduct research/experiments, and present research findings in seminars in both locations.

Prospective applicants should contact Susan Smith PhD, Deputy Director for Science at susan_smith@unc.edu for more information.

 

UNC NRI Visiting Faculty Scholars: 

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute invites applications from non-UNC Chapel Hill faculty to visit the UNC Nutrition Research Institute for a limited period of time (minimum 3 months, maximum 12 months).   Faculty scholars may spend a summer or a sabbatical here at the NRI. The UNC NRI encourages applications from researchers who are innovators, who can contribute to interdisciplinary discussions of how to advance individualized or precision nutrition, and who have an interest in collaborating with UNC NRI faculty. Research space, research funding, and a stipend may be provided.

Prospective applicants should send a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to Dr. Steven H. Zeisel, Director, steven_zeisel@unc.edu. The letter should detail what the investigator would like to accomplish at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, as well as a proposed timeline and a preliminary budget. The maximum amount that may be requested is $150,000 for a 12 month period.

Apply to be a Faculty Fellow

Interested faculty may submit a research proposal or concept paper (not to exceed five pages) with a funding request (a preliminary budget and budget justification). Applicants should also attach a curriculum vitae.

Prospective applicants should contact Susan Smith, PhD, Deputy Director for Science, at susan_smith@unc.edu for more information.

Apply to be a Visiting Faculty Scholar

Prospective applicants should send a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to Dr. Steve Hursting, Director, hursting@email.unc.edu.

The letter should detail what the investigator would like to accomplish at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, as well as a proposed timeline and a preliminary budget. The maximum amount that may be requested is $150,000 for a 12 month period.

Doctoral Student Opportunites

Faculty members in the Department of Nutrition at UNC-Chapel Hill who are located at the Nutrition Research Institute have openings for outstanding doctoral students. This is an exceptional opportunity to conduct research in a state-of-the-art facility with cutting-edge scientific programs.

2022 Doctoral Student Opportunities

These faculty members currently have openings for doctoral students. Funding for stipend, in-state tuition, reimbursement, and costs associated with research expenses and the dissertation project will be covered. Please email faculty members directly to discuss your interest. For more information about their programs and working at the NRI, click any name below to take you to the faculty member’s page.

Carol Cheatham, PhD
Associate Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience
Nutrition for memory and attention abilities
carol_cheatham@unc.edu

Stephen Hursting, PhD
Professor, Nutrition
Diet-gene interaction for cancer prevention
hursting@email.unc.edu

Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD
Professor, Nutrition
Dietary intake and nutrient requirements
mkohlmeier@unc.edu

Natalia Krupenko, PhD
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Role of folate in promoting health and preventing disease
natalia_krupenko@unc.edu

Sergey Krupenko, PhD
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Vitamin folate and its role in liver function and cancer
sergey_krupenko@unc.edu

Philip May, PhD
Professor, Nutrition
Nutritional effects on maternal risk factors and on children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
philip_may@unc.edu

Katie Meyer, ScD
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Nutritional and Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiologist
ktmeyer@email.unc.edu

Sandra Mooney, PhD
Associate Professor, Nutrition
Effect(s) of environment and genes on brain development
sandra_mooney@unc.edu

Wimal Pathmasiri
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Impact of diet on gut microbiome related metabolism
wimal_pathmasiri@unc.edu

Susan Smith, PhD
Professor, Nutrition
NRI Deputy Director for Science

Molecular mechanisms by which dietary components affect prenatal development.
susan_smith@unc.edu

Delisha Stewart, PhD
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Influence of nutrition on cancer health disparities
delisha_stewart@unc.edu

Susan Sumner, PhD
Professor, Nutrition
Metabolic individuality
susan_sumner@unc.edu

Saroja Voruganti, PhD
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Genetics and environmental influences on disease risk
saroja@unc.edu

How to Apply for a Doctoral Student Position

To begin the application process click the button below to the PhD program application page on the UNC-Chapel Hill website.

QUESTIONS about the application process?
Jonathan Earnest
Academic Coordinator
earnestj@email.unc.edu
919-966-7212
260 Rosenau Hall CB # 7461 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7461