Chair, Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMCMS) seeks a dynamic, nationally respected molecular, cell, or cancer biologist and academic leader to be the chair of the Department of Molecular, Cell, & Cancer Biology. UMass Chan is ranked in the top quartile of research-based medical schools in the value of all grants and contracts, and it consistently ranks among the top ten to fifteen schools in annual intellectual property licensing revenues.

The chair of Molecular, Cell & Cancer Biology will lead all aspects of the department, including education, research and administration. The chair will lead the academic functions of the faculty through the medical school and will work directly with Terence Flotte, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine, provost and executive deputy chancellor to develop and execute a strategic plan for the department that is aligned with the strategic plan of UMCMS. In addition, the chair will have a demonstrated record of trainee and faculty mentorship in high quality research. They will assure adequate academic and professional staffing of the department, directing and coordinating the recruitment of faculty and administrators.

The Department of Molecular, Cell & Cancer Biology is known nationally and internationally for its excellence in research. The department has strengths in the fields of cancer models, cell lifecycle, computational biology, gene function and expression, infectious diseases, metabolism, and tumorigenesis and progression. The department currently has 30 tenure-track faculty members, 10 non-independent faculty, and 16 affiliated faculty; it is anticipating adding numerous additional faculty lines over the coming years.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School was established in tandem with the UMass Memorial Medical Center. UMass Chan is consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of U.S. medical schools and schools of osteopathic medicine for excellence in primary care education. The institution also ranks near the top among public medical schools in the Northeast in funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health, with $173 million in NIH funding in FY 2022. Federal and private research grants and contracts at UMass Chan rose from about $2 million in 1977 to more than $291 million in FY 2022, making it one of the fastest growing research institutions in the United States.  UMCMS is a major force in both basic and clinical research. Among the many areas of concentration are: cancer, neurotherapeutics, HIV/AIDS, innate immunity, viral immunology, diabetes, gene function and expression, molecular genetics, and RNAi. Over the last several years, UMCMS has built a nationally recognized RNA Therapeutics Institute and Gene Therapy Center.

The Chair of the Department of Molecular, Cell & Cancer Biology oversees all aspects of the department, promoting teaching, innovation and cutting-edge research while making administrative decisions within the established operating philosophy, goals and objectives of UMass Chan Medical School. The chair will sustain and grow a highly functional department through collaboration with senior leadership, assuring the highest quality of academic research and achievement throughout the department. The chair will evaluate performance and initiate personnel actions such as merit increases, promotions, disciplinary or similar actions and encourage the professional growth and development of faculty. The chair will both grow NIH-funded research within the department and strengthen ties across the research communities at UMass Chan Medical School.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or M.D/Ph.D. and be highly accomplished investigators who are eligible for appointment at the rank of full professor at UMass Chan. They will have a record of excellence in peer-reviewed publication; an outstanding record of extramurally funded research; the qualities to be an effective institutional leader; and the proven ability to be an advocate for programmatic initiatives within their home institution and throughout the broader academic community. Candidates must have a record of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of their institution among faculty, students, and staff.

Strong candidates will communicate effectively in both written and oral presentations; possess outstanding interpersonal skills to gain the confidence and respect of a wide variety of constituents; and be able to inspire faculty and staff to strive for excellence in research and education while achieving high morale. They will also reflect, through actions, words, and professional conduct, the qualities of honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, and a commitment to listening carefully and objectively. Ideal candidates must exhibit energy, charisma, a strong work ethic; and be a person of optimism and good humor with a strong empathy for people and consideration for others. They will have a record of inspiring both by example and by mentorship, with experience building collaboration among faculty and fostering collegiality across multiple departments and programs. They will see beyond today, promoting a compelling vision for future pathways of research and discovery in basic and clinical science related to human genetics and evolutionary biology.

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School has retained Park Square Executive Search to assist in the search. Nominations, inquiries, and applications may be sent in confidence to:

Bruce Rychlik, Managing Partner,

Jonathan Fortescue, Ph.D., Managing Partner or

Clarice Helfand, Senior Research Associate

+1 617 401 8362

UMMSChair@parksquare.com