Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV)

University of Maryland • Baltimore, MD

2d • $297,000 - $446,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) seeks an accomplished, visionary, and collaborative scientist-leader to serve concurrently as Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV). This is a leadership opportunity of exceptional breadth and scientific potential. The Chair and Director will have the platform to shape an integrated research strategy, develop areas of distinction, and position UMSOM for continued national and international leadership in microbiology, immunology, virology, infectious diseases, and related disciplines. The role calls for a distinguished scientist who combines intellectual vision and academic credibility with the executive and administrative capabilities required to lead two substantial and multifaceted organizations.

As Chair, the individual will provide strategic, academic, scientific, and administrative leadership for the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The Chair will build upon the Department’s existing strengths, advance excellence in research and education, support the success and development of faculty and trainees, foster productive effective integration with IHV, and productive connections with other departments, centers, and institutes across UMSOM.

As Director of IHV, the individual will provide strategic leadership for IHV’s broader mission—which encompasses basic, translational, and clinical research, epidemiology, public health, education, and global health. Working in close partnership with the accomplished leaders of for these complementary programs, the Director will advance IHV’s mission to improve human health through scientific discovery, innovation and global collaboration. A central priority of this role will be to strengthen and expand IHV’s laboratory research enterprise. The Director will assess existing capabilities, establish clear scientific priorities, recruit and support exceptional investigators, and cultivate the infrastructure and collaborative environment necessary for sustained research excellence.

Requirements

• Terminal degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g. virology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, etc.)
• Academic accomplishments and national or international distinction commensurate with appointment as Professor at UMSOM; rank and tenure status will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications.
• A strong track record of federally funded research and a deep knowledge of the important directions in discovery and innovation in research.
• Substantial and progressively responsible leadership experience in a complex environment, ideally within a similar basic science department and/or research institute in a matrixed academic medical center.
• Demonstrated ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and to build partnerships within and outside the department, institute and institution.
• Demonstrated financial, operational and administrative acumen, including experience stewarding significant resources and managing a complex portfolio of programs.
• An entrepreneurial approach, experience developing scientific strategy, a demonstrated record of successful recruiting, and the ability to inspire, manage, mentor faculty, and galvanize a diverse team.
• Ability to articulate and execute a vision.
• Operationally and fiscally astute.
• Knowledge of biosafety, especially if handling high risk pathogens.
• Experience mentoring trainees, students, postdocs, junior faculty.
• Reputation in the field — national/international recognition (awards, memberships in leadership bodies, editorial boards).
• Speaking/publishing to both scientific audiences and public media.
• Capacity to represent the Department and IHV in public fora, regulatory, and policy arenas

Nice To Haves

• Experience with major collaborative or programmatic grants is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, academic, scientific, and administrative leadership for the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
• Build upon the Department’s existing strengths, advance excellence in research and education.
• Support the success and development of faculty and trainees.
• Foster productive effective integration with IHV, and productive connections with other departments, centers, and institutes across UMSOM.
• Provide strategic leadership for IHV’s broader mission—which encompasses basic, translational, and clinical research, epidemiology, public health, education, and global health.
• Advance IHV’s mission to improve human health through scientific discovery, innovation and global collaboration.
• Strengthen and expand IHV’s laboratory research enterprise.
• Assess existing capabilities, establish clear scientific priorities, recruit and support exceptional investigators.
• Cultivate the infrastructure and collaborative environment necessary for sustained research excellence.
• Establish an ambitious scientific agenda.
• Strengthen foundational and translational research.
• Recruit and develop outstanding faculty.
• Create new opportunities for interdisciplinary discovery across the Department, IHV, and the broader UMSOM community.

Benefits

• Generous leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, paid holidays, personal leave, unlimited accrual of sick time
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Professional learning and development programs
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school
• Participation in a retirement program

What This Job Offers

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