There are several opportunities to join our diverse research team. Our multidisciplinary team includes athletic trainers, neuroscientists, epidemiologists, neuropsychologists, physicians, physiatrists, and other disciplines. We work together in an inclusive environment of talented faculty, staff, postdoctoral trainees, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants. Together, we innovate solutions to meet the growing needs we encounter in caring for our civilian and military patients and study participants. We invite you to explore our opportunities below.

Training opportunities

The Matthew Gfeller Center supports the Carolina Postdoctoral Program for Faculty Diversity. The goal for this program is to develop scholars from underrepresented groups for possible tenure track appointments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and other research universities. We strongly encourage candidates interested in neuroscience with an emphasis on studying acute and chronic effects of sport and military traumatic brain injury to apply. Interested candidates should contact Dr. Jason Mihalik (Director, Matthew Gfeller Center) for additional details. More details on the opportunity are available here: https://tbicenter.unc.edu/news-item/postdoc_fellow/

Paid employment opportunities

Opportunities are available to join the Matthew Gfeller Center team in many different ways:

Our partner center, the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes, is searching for an Open Rank (Associate/Full Professor)/Research Director in sport-related concussion/neurodegeneration. Those interested can apply here.

The Gfeller Center is seeking a highly skilled Data Analyst. Those interested can apply here.

Volunteer opportunities

The Matthew Gfeller Center provides a strong academic and educational environment for undergraduate students interested in gaining neuroscience research experience. The interest in working with us is very high and, unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate every request. Those with strong interest and invited to demonstrate their commitment to joining our team in a volunteer capacity by completing our Volunteer Information Form.

Jenner Carey Bryan Award for Research

The Jenner Carey Bryan Award for Research in Exercise and Sport Science is named in memory of Jenner Carey Bryan who passed away on March 17, 2016. Jenner loved sports of all kinds and appreciated efforts to improve safety for athletes. His family established the Jenner Carey Bryan Award so that undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill could work toward improving safety in sport, while keeping Jenner’s memory alive.

The Award was established by Jenner’s aunt and uncle, Drs. Lisa Carey and Matt Ewend, and made possible by donations from Jenner’s family and friends. The award will support two undergraduate students who wish to engage in concussion research at the Matthew Gfeller Center. Students will receive $1,000 for completing a summer internship in 2023, and $1,000 during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Eligible candidates must be full-time undergraduate students with a minimum of one full semester remaining prior to graduation.

Applications for next year will open in early 2024.

Guskiewicz Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Named in honor of Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, the 12th Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the founding Director of the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes (CSRA), this undergraduate research fellowship will provide a wide range of opportunities for the talented candidates to learn and impact the CSRA’s efforts to provide high-level research and clinical care in the areas of former athlete mental, physical, and social functioning. Since 2001, the CSRA has brought hundreds of former NFL players to campus to help improve their health and well-being so they can fully appreciate life after sport as well as conducted meaningful research on many former athlete populations.

This fellowship award will support one undergraduate student engaging in research at the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes. Students will receive $1,500 during the 2023-2024 academic year (split evenly between Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.

Applications for next year will open in early 2024.

Any questions related to these opportunities can be directed to Caprice Roberts at caprice_hunt@med.unc.edu

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

We recognize that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and students enriches our university by building creative teams that foster scientific discovery and enhance our teaching mission. As a clinical research center, we are passionate about creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment for everyone. It is therefore our policy not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or Active Duty or Veteran status.

We are also committed to providing a safe environment for our team and for our campus community. Many members of our team have completed several training opportunities, including:

HAVEN (Helping Advocates for Ending Violence Now): in collaboration between the Equal Opportunity and Compliance office, the Carolina Women’s Center, and Student Wellness.
Green Zone Training: to train members of the Carolina community to know more about the issues and concerns faced by military-affiliated students and to identify individuals who are available to assist this population
Safe Zone: A program designed to create a network of allies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and allied (LGBTQIA+) students.