Research Assistant Professor (Center for the Business of Health)

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

Founded in 2018, the Center for the Business of Health ( CBOH ) focuses on its mission of bringing together expertise from the UNC community to generate knowledge, prepare business leaders, and catalyze important collaborations around the business of health. The center’s vision is to be the leading academic destination and trusted voice at the intersection of business and health as well as to use our interdisciplinary community resources to improve health and well-being in the state of North Carolina and beyond. Our interdisciplinary approach and diverse partnerships enable the CBOH to make significant impacts within higher education, the healthcare industry, and ultimately in the lives of individuals and communities. The Research Assistant Professor will advance the CBOH’s research and thought leadership activities and support efforts to translate business of health research into actionable business and policy recommendations for broader societal impact. This includes producing business, healthcare, and related research publications and products important to the CBOH’s external reputation. This is a research-intensive, interdisciplinary academic role focused on catalyzing new knowledge, fostering collaboration across disciplines, and developing actionable insights for academic and industry audiences. The position has the following core responsibilities: -Conduct independent and collaborative research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies to address complex challenges in healthcare business, practice, and policy -Lead the design and execution of scholarly research projects that advance knowledge and inform evidence-based solutions -Publish peer-reviewed articles, white papers, case studies, and policy briefs to advance the CBOH’s national reputation for thought leadership -Analyze industry trends, emerging technologies, and public policy impacts to inform academic and practitioner communities -Present research findings at academic conferences, industry forums, and policy roundtables -Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in research methods, publication strategies, and project design; supervise research assistants and interns, fostering professional development and high standards in research activities -Engage in interdisciplinary scholarly collaboration with faculty and thought leaders across UNC and external institutions -Translate and curate academic research for diverse external stakeholders -Serve as Principal Investigator and collaborate with research teams to develop and manage research partnerships with corporate and foundation stakeholders, aligning external interests with the CBOH’s research priorities -Maintain research excellence and rigor for externally sponsored projects; oversee evaluation of deliverables and cultivate trusted relationships with sponsors -Contribute healthcare expertise to multidisciplinary teams preparing competitive grant proposals and support the CBOH’s research mission through external funding acquisition The remainder of the role will include responsibilities that translate research for the purposes of academic engagement: -Integrate research expertise into curriculum development by collaborating with faculty to design and enhance academic programs, courses, and experiential learning opportunities in the business of health -Provide intellectual leadership for academic event programming, developing scholarly content for conferences, symposiums, webinars, and workshops -Mentor graduate students in interdisciplinary case development, guiding the annual case competition and fostering advanced analytical and research skills -Lead dissemination of research findings and thought leadership, overseeing production of whitepapers, blogs, and insights for the CBOH website, ensuring academic rigor in collaboration with interns and external partners This position may also have supervisory responsibilities, particularly with students and research-related staff.

Nice To Haves

At least 5 years of related experience that includes experience in public-sector or private-sector business as well as familiarity with business of health convenings and/or research and its potential to impact practice and policy
Strong research methods knowledge
Experience leading multi-disciplinary research teams and managing people and processes
Outstanding technical, written, and verbal presentation skills with the business, policy, clinical, and academic communities
Knowledge or experience with clinical settings (as physician, nurse, or other health provider) is preferred
The ability to work across and with schools and departments at the University; other organizations doing work/funding areas of CBOH research; federal, state, and local government leadership (elected officials, senior staff, and appointed officials); and private sector business senior executives
Proficiency with various data analytics tools and resources
Detailed-oriented and be able to take a research project from obtaining funding through producing and publishing findings
Able to work effectively in an academic environment in which collaborative decision-making occurs

Responsibilities

Conduct independent and collaborative research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies to address complex challenges in healthcare business, practice, and policy
Lead the design and execution of scholarly research projects that advance knowledge and inform evidence-based solutions
Publish peer-reviewed articles, white papers, case studies, and policy briefs to advance the CBOH’s national reputation for thought leadership
Analyze industry trends, emerging technologies, and public policy impacts to inform academic and practitioner communities
Present research findings at academic conferences, industry forums, and policy roundtables
Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in research methods, publication strategies, and project design; supervise research assistants and interns, fostering professional development and high standards in research activities
Engage in interdisciplinary scholarly collaboration with faculty and thought leaders across UNC and external institutions
Translate and curate academic research for diverse external stakeholders
Serve as Principal Investigator and collaborate with research teams to develop and manage research partnerships with corporate and foundation stakeholders, aligning external interests with the CBOH’s research priorities
Maintain research excellence and rigor for externally sponsored projects; oversee evaluation of deliverables and cultivate trusted relationships with sponsors
Contribute healthcare expertise to multidisciplinary teams preparing competitive grant proposals and support the CBOH’s research mission through external funding acquisition
Integrate research expertise into curriculum development by collaborating with faculty to design and enhance academic programs, courses, and experiential learning opportunities in the business of health
Provide intellectual leadership for academic event programming, developing scholarly content for conferences, symposiums, webinars, and workshops
Mentor graduate students in interdisciplinary case development, guiding the annual case competition and fostering advanced analytical and research skills
Lead dissemination of research findings and thought leadership, overseeing production of whitepapers, blogs, and insights for the CBOH website, ensuring academic rigor in collaboration with interns and external partners