Head of the Department of Biological Sciences

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

10d

About The Position

Carnegie Mellon University seeks an accomplished scientist and collaborative leader to head its Department of Biological Sciences. The head will hold a newly endowed headship and lead the department at a pivotal time, including overseeing the opening of expanded research space and new teaching laboratories in the Richard King Mellon Hall of Science, scheduled to open in early 2028. The head will develop and execute a compelling vision to elevate the department’s scientific impact and external support, advance the quality and visibility of life sciences research across the university, and build interdisciplinary programs that draw on CMU’s strengths in computational biology, engineering, computer science, and machine learning.

Biological Sciences is one of four departments in the Mellon College of Science and has strong ties to CMU’s cross-university Neuroscience Institute. The department includes 20 internationally recognized tenure-track faculty, 16 teaching-track faculty in Pittsburgh and at CMU’s Qatar campus, six staff members, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, and 60–70 graduate students. Its research strengths include molecular and cellular biology, neuroscience, microbiology, and evolutionary and developmental biology. Faculty are active in externally funded research, with grants from the NIH, NSF, and private foundations. The department offers undergraduate and graduate education, a PhD program, and specialized master’s programs, including Computational Biology and Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics.

The head will build on the department’s record of innovation and technology development, foster a collegial environment in which faculty, staff, and students can excel, and advance the department’s scientific excellence, impact, growth, and national visibility. The role includes advocating for the department, cultivating philanthropic and institutional support, and developing productive partnerships within CMU and with the University of Pittsburgh and the wider Pittsburgh research community.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree with training in a field of biological sciences that complements departmental strengths.
• Qualifications warranting appointment as a Full Professor.
• Nationally or internationally recognized research program.
• Significant scientific achievement and sustained success securing external research funding.
• Demonstrated success in academic leadership and organizational development.
• Demonstrated leadership in building research programs, recruiting and developing outstanding faculty, strengthening graduate education, and fostering productive partnerships.

Nice To Haves

• Distinguished candidates with demonstrated excellence in biological research, institutional leadership, administration, and teaching are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Articulate and execute a vision for elevating the department’s scientific impact and external support.
• Lead the department, including overseeing the opening of expanded research space and new teaching laboratories in the Richard King Mellon Hall of Science.
• Advance the quality and visibility of life sciences research across CMU.
• Build ambitious interdisciplinary research programs leveraging CMU’s strengths in computational biology, engineering, computer science, and machine learning.
• Build research programs and recruit and develop outstanding faculty.
• Strengthen graduate education and foster productive partnerships.
• Foster an environment in which faculty, staff, and students can excel.
• Advocate effectively for the department and cultivate philanthropic and institutional support.
• Position Biological Sciences for growth in scientific excellence, impact, and national visibility.

What This Job Offers

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