Job Details

Chair, Department of Molecular and Precision Medicine
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Position Number: 5741970
Location: Hershey, PA
Position Type: Medicine - Physicians

Penn State College of Medicine (PSCOM) seeks an accomplished and visionary scientific leader to serve as the Inaugural Chair of the Department of Molecular and Precision Medicine. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for an active scientific leader to shape and grow a newly formed department seeking to be at the leading edge of biomedical research. This position affords an opportunity for a dynamic, inclusive and innovative individual to lead a department dedicated to advancing the fundamental understanding of human health and disease through innovative research.

PSCOM is a leader in medical education, research, and clinical care. Under the leadership of Dean Karen Kim, PSCOM strives to be at the forefront of health care innovation, aligning with Penn State University's strategic goal to transform health through academic and clinical synergy. Research endeavors, bolstered by $160 million in annual extramural research funding, are focused on basic, clinical, and translational science with interdisciplinary collaboration. To catalyze this interdisciplinary collaboration, PSCOM has re-organized its basic science departments from five departments to three. The newly formed departments are Cell and Biological Systems, Molecular and Precision Medicine, and Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics.

The Department of Molecular and Precision Medicine (MPM) consists of 18 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, 19 fixed term faculty, and 24 joint appointee research faculty from clinical departments and is focused on advancing knowledge at the subcellular level to ultimately drive groundbreaking discovery that informs diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. The inaugural Chair will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic vision that positions the Department as a leader in molecular and precision medicine. This position involves fostering a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration that is supported by a track record of extramural funding. The Chair will oversee the recruitment and mentoring of outstanding faculty, support faculty development at all stages, foster a culture that nurtures trainees, manage departmental resources and budgets, and promote diversity, equity, and belonging.

The ideal candidate will be a distinguished scientist with a strong record of research accomplishments in molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, cancer biology, or a related field with a current and established record of extramural funding. The candidate should have substantial experience in academic leadership, including managing multidisciplinary teams and fostering a diverse and collaborative research environment. A Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent degree is required in addition to a current academic appointment (and administrative experience) at the professor level.

Confidential inquiries and nominations can be directed to the consulting team at WittKieffer, Jeff Schroetlin, Linda Komnick, and Imran Ali at iali@wittkieffer.com.

The Penn State College of Medicine values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.