Description
The Department of Medicine at the University of Texas Dell Medical School is
seeking candidates for the position of Associate Chair of Research (ACR).
The ACR plays a key role in bidirectional communication of research needs,
strategy, accomplishments, and works in progress with the department Chair and
Vice Dean for Research. The ACR will be responsible for the full spectrum of
research activities within the Department to shape the overall objectives and
execution of Dell Med's research strategy within the context of departmental
needs and goals.
About Dell Medical School and the University of Texas at Austin Medical
Center
As part of The University of Texas at Austin, one of the nation's leading
research universities, the Dell Medical School pursues innovation in the
redesign of healthcare delivery, excellence in healthcare research, and
programs in interdisciplinary and inter-professional education. It is the
fifth medical school in the UT System and the first medical school established
in nearly five decades by a member of the Association of American
Universities, an organization of leading public and private research
universities.
The University of Texas Medical Center, anchored by Dell Medical School, is
defining the future of health. Announced in August 2023 with planning and
implementation underway, The University of Texas Medical Center will cement
Austin as a premier destination for health care alongside other major Texas
cities. With two new, state-of-the-art hospitals – A UT specialty hospital and
a cancer center being built by MD Anderson – plus the academic and research
expertise of UT, The University of Texas Medical Center will provide the
integrated, world-class care that is a hallmark of academic medicine.
The Dell Medical School is especially interested in qualified candidates who
can contribute to excellence within the learning health system.
About the Department of Internal Medicine
The Department of Internal Medicine is home to 20 categorical residents per
year, which includes a Primary Care Track and a Distinctions Track in Care
Transformation, plus 5 preliminary interns in Medicine. Dell Seton Medical
Center (DSMC) is a 220-bed, safety net, Level 1 Trauma Center, and serves as
the inpatient training facility for this program. In September 2021, Dell
Med's IM program deployed a resident staffed team to Ascension Seton Medical
Center Austin (SMCA) Hospital. SMCA is a full-service hospital with 24/7
emergency care and comprehensive Level 1 Stroke Center. SMCA also has a Level
IV Trama Center.
About Austin
Austin is a vibrant, lively university city, known for its excellent public
K-12 schools, lively music scene, superb cuisine, and international festivals
such as South by Southwest. The city typically ranks among the country's best
places to live. Nearby lakes and rivers as well as the beautiful adjacent
Texas Hill Country provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities.
About the Position
The specific roles and responsibilities of the ACR:
Leadership, Strategy, and Impact
Represents the department and Department Chair in all research matters.
Serves as the point of contact between the department, including
Department Chair and investigators, and the Office of the Vice Dean for
Research to inform guidelines, policies, and strategic directions.
Promotes high-impact research to improve health and healthcare throughout
Central Texas.
Aligns departmental research efforts to establish UT Medicine as the
premier leader in research discovery, translation, and implementation.
Works with the other ACRs to develop and execute Dell Med's research
strategy.
Facilitates and enables joint research efforts and team science across
Dell Med departments, UT Austin Colleges and Schools, and outside
partners.
Oversees collecting, assembling, and presenting departmental research
benchmarks and impact.
Identifies and communicates departmental research accomplishments to
leadership, communications, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
Resource Management, Operations and Infrastructure
Represents the department at all required meetings organized by the Office
of Research.
Endorses and approves departmental clinical trials, IRB, biosafety, and
IACUC applications and protocols. This includes the feasibility and
resource needs of projects.
The ACR shares responsibility with departmental investigators and the Office
of Research to ensure all research activities adhere to ethical standards,
regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and scientific integrity.
The ACR will coordinate, at a departmental level, responses to issues of
non-compliance and collaborates with relevant internal and external
regulatory bodies to address compliance issues and facilitate research
integrity.
Will identify and communicate departmental resource needs, including
enhancing and maintaining departmental research infrastructure and space,
to the Office of the Vice Dean.
Ensures faculty use appropriate channels of approval and negotiation for
all sponsored projects, whether federal, industry, or donor sponsored.
Assists in the oversight of systems design to facilitate stewardship of
departmental and common resources.
Funding and Grant Management
Assists in identification and targeted dissemination of funding
opportunities to departmental faculty.
Will determine Dell Med or partner feasibility, deadlines, and appropriate
resourcing for extramural funding applications.
Ensures departmental awareness and compliance with application guidelines,
deadlines, and reassurances for proposals.
Ensures research faculty follow all notification guidelines to sponsored
projects administration and is involved in communication around any missed
deadlines.
Identifies early career researchers and ensures mentorship and tracking to
facilitate successful transition to R stage.
Identifies and tracks later career researchers and encourages resources
and collaborations necessary to transition from smaller R awards to R01,
from R01 to P and U awards, and to sustain programs of research as needed.
Facilitates organization of works in progress, review of proposals, and
other events to facilitate success of the department's research program.
Can include mock reviews.
Personnel Management
Oversees departmental mentorship of early career research faculty.
Assists with recruitment and on and/or off-boarding of departmental
research faculty.
Provides promotion and tenure assistance for research-focused faculty.
Oversees stewardship for student, resident, and postdoctoral fellow
research.
Participates in research matchmaking for students.
Identifies potential research collaborators across Dell Med departments, UT
Austin Colleges and Schools, and outside partners.
Qualifications
MD or DO degree; board certified
Strong track record of research productivity, including NIH (or
comparable independent) peer-reviewed funding; significant experience
obtaining and administering extramural funding from a range of sponsors.
Must have a proven track record of collaborating with, supporting, and
developing multiple members of a clinical research department including
writing and administering complex grants.
Experience in guiding and mentoring junior faculty, fellows, resident
physicians and medical students in academic activities.
Academic rank commensurate to experience.
Application Instructions
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative
action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding
nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a
policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or
veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and
admissions.
