Vice Chair of Research

Position Highlights

The Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is recruiting a Vice Chair of Research.

The Vice Chair of Research will oversee all Department of Ophthalmology research initiatives in both the translational and basic science domains. They will have financial oversight of departmental research programs and administrative oversight of research program administrative staff. Qualified applicants are expected to have an outstanding research record with extramural funding and leadership skills to develop a strong multidisciplinary collaborative ophthalmology research program.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintain a highly productive research mission with a national and international reputation.
• Compete successfully for external funding to maintain a well-rounded research portfolio.
• Set priorities and key metrics to reflect research and scholarship within the Department.
• Create and implement, with departmental leaders, new research programs to achieve the Department vision and goals.
• Work with the Chair to develop strategic short- and long-term goals within research mission.
• Assist the Chair of the Department in developing/ recruiting/ retaining high potential research faculty.
• Represent the Department at relevant local, national and university committee meetings.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior faculty members in defining and developing their research and directions.
• Provide oversight, guidance, and annual evaluations to faculty members within the research mission.
• Provide oversight for research administrative staff and research-directed faculty to ensure effective resource utilization
• Develop infrastructure to expand to graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, resident, medical student, clinical fellow, and undergraduate involvement in research, presentations, and publications. Create learning opportunities to help the Department and Medical School gain the skills needed to pose testable hypotheses, efficiently evaluate those hypotheses, interpret data, and draw appropriate conclusions.
• Encourage focused investigations & grant applications by trainees as well as faculty and ensure adequate preparation prior to project initiation.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD., rank of Associate Professor or Professor

or

• Associate Professor or Professor rank on Clinical Series track.

*Strong track record of successful extramural grant funding, including federal programs.

*Established track record of federal investigator-initiated research funding.

*Experience leading basic, clinical or translational research program.

*Success in mentoring research faculty in career development programs.

UTHealth is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment-related activities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law or university policy. Reasonable accommodation, based on disability or religious observances, will be considered in accordance with applicable law and UTHealth policy. The University maintains affirmative action programs with respect to women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and eligible veterans in accordance with applicable law.