Executive Director, Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute
Position Description
Application Link: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/20944
Special Instructions
This is an open, national and rolling search. Review of applications will begin immediately as they are received. Candidates meeting all of the required qualifications may be contacted immediately for inquiry and an interview. It is possible a preferred candidate may be selected as other applications are still being received. Therefore, the most serious and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. To receive full consideration, applications should be submitted prior to February 28, 2024; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted after February 28 will be reviewed and considered as long as the position remains unfilled. Application materials should include: 1) a full and updated resume, 2) cover letter summarizing the interest in the position and how the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications are met, and 3) a list of four references with full contact information. However, references will only be contacted after written consent of the candidate.
Position Summary
As the state’s premier urban research institution, Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) is committed to being a welcoming campus community that reflects and enacts the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that inform academic excellence. We seek candidates who will not only enhance our representational diversity but whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty. IU condemns racism in all its forms and has taken an anti-racist stance that moves beyond mere statements to interrogating its policies, procedures, and practices. We hope to identify individuals who will assist in our mission to dismantle racism so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed at IUI.
IUI seeks a visionary founding Executive Director of the new Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute (CBATI). The Executive Director, reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research at IUI, must have a strong track record of research and leadership in a field of relevance to the institute .
Since its founding in 1820, IU has built a globally recognized reputation for world-renowned research and creative excellence while serving Indiana, the nation, and the world. Comprising the university are IU Bloomington, IU Indianapolis, five regional campuses, two regional centers, nine School of Medicine campuses, and several Global Gateways connecting the university to the world. IU received $777.74 million in sponsored grants and contracts in FY 2023, of which $551.1 million was for research.
IU has committed to expanding IUI’s already extensive academic and research portfolios, enhancing talent attraction and retention, and investing millions of dollars in the campus. The campus’s location in the state capital of Indianapolis—the 16th largest city in the country—and its proximity to IU’s School of Medicine—the largest medical school in the country—and multiple Fortune 500 companies in the Life Sciences create unparalleled opportunities for collaboration with bioscience and technology leaders.
Already, the university, the state, and federal funders are investing heavily in IUI, as evidenced by plans to establish a new Science and Technology Corridor (SciTech Corridor). The SciTech Corridor will leverage expanded research programs, new laboratory space, and robust STEM degree programs to attract faculty talent and grow enrollment in key disciplines, bolstering the talent pipeline for Indiana employers and fostering new industry collaborations. CBATI’s innovative wet lab and dry lab research and office space will be a part of IUI’s SciTech Corridor.
Drawing on dedicated funds appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly, the university will invest $60 million to significantly expand and renovate research and laboratory space and up to $10 million to attract 30 new STEM faculty. These investments create exciting opportunities, perhaps unique in the nation, in terms of the potential for research advancements over the coming decade.
CBATI is a vital component of IUI’s plan to increase research productivity and impact and is a foundation of IUI’s 2030 Strategic Plan to transform IUI into the state’s next-generation urban research campus.
CBATI will embrace IUI’s 2030 Strategic Plan objectives by:
- Fostering multi-disciplinary collaborations within and across all schools on campus, including the School of Medicine, to engage in high-impact research that will attract large-scale funding; and
- Expanding efforts to translate research and creative activity to the public through a shared commitment to disclosure and licensing of inventions, discoveries and innovations; entrepreneurship and commercialization; and partnerships with key constituencies.
CBATI is a campus-level interdisciplinary research institute, consisting of a set of core facilities, and faculty affiliates across all of the Life Science and Technology schools at IUI having joint appointments with the Institute. In addition, CBATI will also serve as an incubator for the development of new research consortia with a special focus in artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), bio- and medical informatics, health equity, and community-engaged research.
In fulfilling its strategic mission, CBATI will serve as a focal point for interdisciplinary bioscience and technology research and development at the intersection of medicine, health, life sciences and technology that seeks to investigate the human condition at all levels, from the molecular to the environmental. Building on the research strengths already recognized in IU’s School of Medicine; School of Science; Luddy School of Informatics, Computer Science, and Engineering; School of Nursing; School of Dentistry; Fairbanks School of Public Health; and the School of Health and Human Sciences, the potential for immediate research growth could be in the areas of:
- Wearable and implantable medical devices and sensors;
- Advanced technologies for medical imaging;
- Advanced technologies for the bioanalytical detection of biomolecules and biomarkers;
- Novel biovisualization approaches, as well as algorithm development and improvement; and
- (Bio)sensor development, including analysis of large data sets, and their application to detect, monitor, and treat various conditions and diseases.
Other areas for planned growth for CBATI include:
- Drug discovery of small molecules, peptides/proteins, nucleic acids, and cell-based therapies – particularly AI/ML-enabled; and
- Advanced drug delivery systems, including dual or multi-purpose technologies and systems.
Existing internal and external partnerships that CBATI could immediately leverage include: the Indiana Clinical Translational Sciences Institute; the Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute; Regenstrief Institute; Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health; Indiana Biosciences Research Institute; Indiana Center for Biomedical Innovation; and multiple corporate partners, such as Indiana University Health; Eli Lilly and Company; Cook Medical; and Roche Diagnostics.
The CBATI Executive Director will have the following responsibilities:
- Provide a coherent vision for collaborative life sciences/technology research through effective leadership that embraces the full range of disciplines represented by CBATI.
- Establish the research, policy, and human infrastructure for the effective management of the Institute.
- Develop CBATI’s national and international profile.
- Develop mutually-beneficial R&D partnerships with industry.
- Partner with the Vice Chancellor for Research to identify, promote, and contribute resources to strengthen CBATI and manage its portfolio. This includes identifying and supporting opportunities for research within existing funding streams and, where possible, through multi-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships across the University and beyond including peer institutions, healthcare organizations, corporations, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and other concerned individuals.
- Work closely with existing centers and institutes at IU and IUI to ensure their growth and success.
- Stimulate the development of new research consortia and centers that are consistent with the CBATI research focus, taking advantage of unique research and clinical resources within the University.
- Foster and support high quality research and scholarly activities within CBATI by ensuring a stimulating, collegial, and well-managed environment.
- Attract, lead, retain and develop faculty and staff who will promote academic and research excellence within CBATI and will contribute to the successful development of CBATI and University.
- Manage resources effectively to ensure CBATI is self-sustainable after a period of 5 years.
- Engage a range of internal and external stakeholders to collaboratively identify research opportunities and partnerships.
- Oversee regular meetings of CBATI Advisory Board; ensure that the Advisory Board receives regular CBATI progress reports and that any plans for the future of CBATI take the Advisory Board’s counsel into consideration.
Qualifications
Required
- A terminal degree. Although a Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D. is strongly preferred, candidates with other science or health-related terminal degrees (i.e., Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.P.H.) having other relevant training and experience will also be considered.
- Extensive research experience working in an academic, industrial, or government research setting.
- At least 10 years of experience leading successful cross-disciplinary research teams, as evidenced nationally and, preferably, internationally.
- Experience, or at least the firm understanding, in the range of scientific disciplines and areas represented by CBATI’s mission.
- Acute understanding of the priorities, operation, and strategies of securing externally funded grants and contracts to support research.
- Strong evidence of being a trusted and effective colleague.
- History of successful and effective staff management and professional development.
- Proven capacity to successfully train and develop early-career researchers.
Preferred
In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have one or more of the following:
- Strong academic record and eligibility for the rank of Full Professor in an appropriate academic department at Indiana University.
- Extensive research experience at a research-intensive university.
- Successful and sustained record of achieving high levels of research-based funding as a Principal Investigator.
- Existing externally funded research in areas of science represented by CBATI and the desire to maintain funding while serving in the Executive Director position.
- Experience developing and leading successful partnerships with any or all of the following external partners: peer universities, healthcare organizations, corporation, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and concerned individuals.
- A record of pursuing and supporting technology transfer and licensing, and economic development activities.
Primary Contact
Nominations, questions, or other inquiries should be directed to IU Executive Recruiting via the confidential inbox at exesrch@iu.edu
Best Consideration Date
02/28/2024
