DIRECTOR of the Human Technopole Foundation

Call for the DIRECTOR of the Human Technopole Foundation

The Human Technopole Foundation is a new independent, government-funded research Institute in the field of life sciences, which was established in 2018 and is part of a wider and ambitious redevelopment project of the area where Expo Milano 2015 was held, the so-called “MIND – Milan Innovation District”. Human Technopole is at the core of a new public-private ecosystem focused on science and innovation.

The Foundation is seeking to appoint as Director an outstanding scientist and visionary leader to guide the next stages of the Institute’s development.

The ideal candidate is an internationally renowned scientist, with outstanding scientific track record, exceptional leadership and strategic skills, and proven experience in managing leading research organisations with international standing and successful programmes centred on multidisciplinary, large-scale, data-intensive biomedical sciences.

About Human Technopole

The Human Technopole’s Campus is composed by the iconic “Palazzo Italia” which houses the administration and computational labs and other five pavilions hosting experimental labs equipped with state-of-the-art technological facilities including a Data Centre, next generation sequencing, light and Cryo-Electron microscopy and an Automated Stem Cell and Organoid facilities. An additional large building and technological facilities are currently being designed and will accommodate the future development of the Institute.

Five departments (research centres) are currently active at Human Technopole: Genomics (including separate programmes in Population and Medical Genomics and Functional Genomics), Neurogenomics, Structural Biology, Computational Biology and Health Data Science. Over the last three years Human Technopole has established a core administrative organisation, and recruited the scientific leadership of the research centres, together with several Group Leaders, staff scientists, postdocs and technical staff, and joined collaborative Ph.D. programmes. Currently around 250 people from 22 nationalities work at Human Technopole, with the prospect of continuing growing to about 450 in the next two years.

In the next stage of development, along with the already planned facilities, Human Technopole will also be responsible for setting up and managing additional facilities accessible to external users through open, competitive processes following the best practices set by ESFRI and the example of other international institutions.

Human Technopole is supervised by the Italian Government and is independent in its operations. The Director is a member and the chair of the Management Committee, appointed by the Supervisory Board. Human Technopole’s main advisory board is the Scientific Committee composed of external international scientists of high reputation.

The role of the new Director

The Director is responsible for the scientific and administrative management of Human Technopole thus overseeing, with the Heads of research centres and the Director of administration, its strategic development and running of internationally-competitive research programmes and state of the art facilities.

The new Director will take over from a very successful start-up phase, during which Human Technopole built its core facilities, recruited 21 world-class research group leaders and attracted nearly 8.5M Euros in extramural funding, including ERC and other sizeable EU grants. The new Director is expected to continue expanding on these successes with the necessary scientific leadership and guidance.

Additionally, the Director will oversee the development and maintenance of the Human Technopole’s laboratory infrastructure, including those accessible to external users, maximizing the synergies with the broader landscape of the Italian scientific community.

The new Director will also lead Human Technopole to become a major source of Italian innovation, playing an important role in translating advanced science into business opportunities.

The new Director will be responsible, together with the Heads of research centres, and in close dialogue with the Scientific Committee, for preparing the Strategic Plan 2024-2028, ensuring continuity while proposing new challenges and new ambitions.

Appointment Process

Applications for the position of Director will be received until 7 July 2022. The selection process will be carried out by an ad hoc international selection committee to be appointed by the Supervisory Board. The selection process is expected to be completed in the fall, with a start date of appointment ideally in January 2023 or soon thereafter.

A four-year fixed–term contract, renewable once, will be offered.

To receive more information please write to presidenza@fht.org or visit HT website www.humantechnopole.it .

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