CCHS - Assistant/Associate Professor Preclinical Development and Clinical Translation - Tenure/Tenure Track - 530079

The University of Alabama • Alabama, AL

11d

About The Position

The University of Alabama's newly established Department of Translational Science and Medicine within the College of Community Health Sciences (CCHS) is seeking a dynamic and innovative faculty member with a passion for revolutionizing medicine. This is a unique opportunity to build a research program at the exciting intersection of Translational Science and Medicine. We seek an exceptional physician-scientist (practicing or non-practicing) with an MD/PhD or equivalent dual degree who possesses deep expertise in patient-centered research, preclinical development, and the design, formulation, and clinical translation of advanced drug delivery systems, particularly nanomedicines. The successful candidate will establish an innovative, extramurally funded research program that bridges fundamental physicochemical and biological principles with real-world clinical needs. Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University’s academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities. The newly established Department of Translational Science and Medicine is seeking a physician-scientist to significantly contribute to the department's mission of revolutionizing medicine through direct clinical translation. The ideal candidate will leverage their dual degree (MD/PhD or equivalent) and expertise to establish an innovative, extramurally funded research program focused on drug product development. Key Research Focus Areas include: Establishing programs that bridge fundamental physicochemical and biological principles with real-world clinical need; Driving the bench-to-bedside process for novel therapies; and Focusing on advanced drug product development. The successful candidate will be expected to actively integrate their research program with CCHS practicing physicians to collaboratively define critical challenges and opportunities in patient care that can be addressed by novel drug product solutions, leverage clinical expertise from CCHS staff to ensure the translational research is directly applicable and feasible within a clinical setting, and establish a pipeline that moves discoveries from the lab to practice, ensuring the research directly informs and improves patient outcomes within the health system.

Requirements

• An MD/PhD or equivalent dual degree.
• Deep expertise in patient-centered research, preclinical development, and the design, formulation, and clinical translation of advanced drug delivery systems, particularly nanomedicines.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of successful interdisciplinary collaboration between basic science and clinical departments.
• Experience with novel delivery platforms like targeted delivery methods relevant to chronic conditions.
• Proven ability to communicate fluently across the distinct languages of basic scientists (physicochemical principles) and practicing clinicians (patient care protocols and outcomes).
• Experience with, or the clear ability to develop and teach, courses that explicitly integrate clinical pathophysiology with pharmaceutical science/biomedical engineering at the graduate and undergraduate levels, aligning with the need to bridge fundamental principles with real-world clinical needs.
• Experience mentoring students (UG, PhD) and junior researchers from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds, demonstrating the ability to cultivate a truly interdisciplinary lab environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active research framework targeting advanced delivery systems and nanomedicines.
• Proactively secure extramural funding to support and sustain programmatic research goals.
• Publish high-impact research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams across the university and with external partners.
• Develop and teach academic courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Mentor and train undergraduate students, PhD candidates, and junior researchers.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university committee assignments to support the newly established department.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree