Director of Research Workforce Strategy and Community Partnerships; Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Essie Torres
As Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA), Dr. Essie Torres leads efforts to align postdoctoral training and professional development with national recommendations. Her focus is on enhancing the postdoctoral experience through expanded development opportunities, improved mentorship, and career preparation. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs under Torres is also building its mentor network by providing resources to empower mentors and foster a culture of continuous learning for postdoctoral scholars. Additionally, she contributes to UNC system-wide initiatives exploring career pathways for postdocs and strengthening infrastructure to support their training and professional development.
With over 20 years of experience as a public health researcher, Dr. Essie Torres has expertise in cross-cutting issues such as social determinants of health, health literacy, racial inequities, cancer disparities, and health equity among marginalized communities, using mixed methods, CBPR, and Implementation Science approaches. Throughout her career, she has mentored scholars at various educational stages. She is a two-time recipient of the Undergraduate Research Mentor Award from East Carolina University and has mentored nearly 100 scholars. She remains passionate about creating a comprehensive postdoctoral training experience.
Administrative Staff
Lyndsey Suarez provides administrative support to Essie Torres.
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 919-445-9640