Vice Dean for Research

Vice Dean for Research

University of Illinois College of Medicine

The University of Illinois College of Medicine is one of the largest medical schools in the nation with campuses in Chicago, Peoria and Rockford. Our mission is to advance health for everyone through outstanding education, research, clinical care, and social responsibility. UI COM ranks in the top third of NIH-funded institutions and is only one of four Research 1 universities in the state of Illinois.

Reporting to the Executive Dean of the College of Medicine, we seek a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as the College of Medicine’s first Vice Dean of Research. This inaugural role presents a unique opportunity to drive the future of biomedical research during a time of transformative growth at the UI College of Medicine, with the potential to make a profound impact. The Vice Dean for Research will play a critical role in shaping the future of biomedical discovery and advancing the College’s mission to improve health for all.

Position Summary

The Vice Dean for Research will provide leadership and strategic direction for the research enterprise for the UI College of Medicine. This individual will guide the strategic growth of the College’s research enterprise, foster innovation, and support faculty development across all campuses. The Vice Dean collaborates with college and campus leaders to foster a culture of excellence in research, enhancing the college’s research portfolio, and ensuring the integration of research with clinical and educational missions.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Promote and foster an environment that supports innovative, high-impact research across basic, clinical and translational sciences.
• Oversee College of Medicine’s (COM) comprehensive research strategy implementation, ensuring alignment with the college’s strategic plan to advance scientific discovery through transformative research.

Develop Thematic Programs:

• Direct COM’s investment in the thematic research areas of cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and neuroscience and visual sciences, and cross-cutting research areas to include community engagement and information sciences, diabetes and metabolic disorders, immunology and inflammation, vascular biology, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
• Work with department heads, COM leadership and institutional partners to attract and retain top faculty to strengthen existing research programs and build upon new opportunities, in line with COM’s strategic priorities, including cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and neuroscience.

Encourage Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Engagement:

• Foster a culture of collaboration to create a multidisciplinary and thematic programs research environment.
• Promote and support innovative research initiatives and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Develop strong relationships with external stakeholders, including funding agencies, industry partners, and other academic institutions to advance research goals.

Compliance:

• Ensure all research activities comply with institutional policy, regulatory requirements, and ethical standards of research.
• Interface with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research on issues related to institutional research board (IRB), Office of Animal Care and Institutional Biosafety (OACIB), conflict of interest (COI), and research integrity.
• Work with the environmental health & safety office to ensure safe laboratory practices.

Graduate Education Oversight:

• Oversee the administration of master’s and PhD degree programs, ensuring academic excellence and compliance with accreditation standards.
• Lead efforts to enhance graduate education, gain extramural support through training grants, and refine graduate education policies to ensure programs remain highly competitive.

Faculty Development and Mentorship:

• Provide guidance and mentorship to faculty in developing their research program and facilitating collaborations.
• Support career development for junior faculty.
• Develop and support initiatives to enhance research training and professional development programs for faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers.

Resource Management and Performance Metrics:

• Direct the allocation of research resources, including budget management, laboratory space, and investment in research infrastructure including equipment and shared services.
• Oversee the UI COM thematic project grant development and Michael Reese Foundation Pioneer in Research award programs.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to assess the impact and quality of the research programs.
• Work with Office of Technology Management to promote and grow the commercialization of research findings and the development of intellectual property.

Qualifications:

• PhD., MD, or equivalent terminal degree in medicine or biomedical sciences
• Minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in a research-intensive environment, preferably within an academic medical center or research institute.
• Demonstrated success in securing research funding and leading high-impact research programs, and mentoring.
• Strong leadership, management, and people skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with faculty, staff, students, leadership, and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to develop, navigate, and lead implementation of strategic plans and initiatives in an academic medical center
• Commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and research integrity.

This job description is designed to provide a high-level overview of the responsibilities and requirements for the position of Vice Dean for Research. It is not intended to cover every detail of the role and additional duties may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Expected Effort:

Estimated effort for the role is 50% FTE, with the other 50% dedicated to maintaining the individual’s personal research program and general faculty responsibilities.