The School of Medicine and Public Health is seeking candidates from among its current faculty for two positions that will co-lead the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine: Research Director and Clinical Director/Novel Diagnostics Laboratory Director. This call is for the Clinical Director. Qualified candidates are invited to apply for this key leadership role. Please consider nominating potential candidates, as well as alerting qualified candidates who may be interested in applying. (For information about the Research Director position, see its separate webpage.)
All applications received by Monday, Feb. 19 will be given full and equal consideration. The Research Director position description is below.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit a CV and personal statement/cover letter detailing the following:
- Your interest in this position and vision for the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine.
- A summary of your background and qualifications for this position.
Send applications, nominations, and questions to:
Andrea Poehling, Chief of Staff – Office of Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies, andrea.poehling@wisc.edu
Position Description
Degree and area of specialization
MD/PhD, MD, or DO
Minimum number of years and type of relevant work experience
The successful candidate will have a compelling vision for the future of clinical testing and diagnostics leveraging precision medicine approaches within a leading public academic medical center. The Clinical Director will possess proven leadership and management skills; an outstanding background in clinical diagnostics, including laboratory test validation; and dedication to furthering diversity of the faculty, staff and students in the center and establishing an inclusive and professional work environment.
Applicants must be a current SMPH tenure track or CHS track faculty member at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and able to devote approximately 50% of their time and effort to this position. The Clinical Director will continue to engage in their clinical, educational, and service commitments for their remaining effort within their SMPH department.
Applicants must have a MD/PhD, MD, or DO; a demonstrated record of excellence in scholarship and relevant leadership experience at the school, campus, and/or national levels; and a broad appreciation of the mission of the UW SMPH.
Position Summary
The Clinical Director of the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine (CHGPM) will partner with the Center’s Research Director to lead the Center’s team and further its mission to catalyze research, clinical, and educational activities in human genomics and precision medicine; grow and nurture the UW human genomics and precision medicine community; and bring the benefits of precision medicine to all Wisconsinites.
The Clinical Director will help meet the Center’s goals centered on patients, partnerships, and clinical and translational research by embodying its foundational principles and focusing on Wisconsin’s communities and beyond; advancing discovery and technology; and cultivating diversity, equity and inclusion.
Together with the Research Director, the Clinical Director functions as the chief executive of the Center. The Clinical Director is responsible for the Center’s clinical and translational activities, as well as management of resources and supervision of personnel. The Clinical Director reports directly to the Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies.
The successful candidate will be an innovative leader in the field of human genomics and precision medicine with strong clinical and educational experience, as well as skills in strategic management and leadership.
Principal duties
- In partnership with the Center’s Research Director and leadership team, develop and manage Center programs and initiatives
- Establish and further develop a CLIA/CAP-certified molecular diagnostics laboratory and computational environment and maintain its financial sustainability
- Serve as laboratory director of the lab and obtain necessary certifications from CAP/CLIA along with managing both current and future requirements for lab test validation
- Establish a team of molecular and computational staff to execute analytical and clinical validation projects for biomarkers developed at the Center and within the UW-Madison precision medicine community
- Develop a process to prioritize biomarkers for analytical and clinical validation through a Center-led seed funding mechanism
- Establish an advisory team to identify potential biomarker candidates for further validation and development, including representatives from UW Health, SMPH and industry partners
- Partner with UW Health to deliver novel diagnostics at the bedside, through close collaboration with the UW Health Senior Director of Precision Health
- Working with the SMPH’s Associate Dean for Clinical Trials and Chief Clinical Research Officer, develop a portfolio of biomarker-driven clinical trials at UW Health/SMPH to leverage and advance discoveries made at the Center and UW-Madison
- Working with the SMPH’s Associate Dean for Clinical Trials, Chief Clinical Research Officer and Director of Industry Engagement and the Center’s Research Director, develop and pursue proposals to lead industry-sponsored and NIH-sponsored clinical trials in precision medicine at UW-Madison
- Establish and maintain working relationships and coordinate priorities with clinical implementation teams at UW Health
- Identify and facilitate collaborative opportunities between clinical faculty in SMPH and UW Health, and human genomics faculty and staff in the Center or UW-Madison for genomic discovery and biomarker development
- In partnership with the Research Director, convene and chair a stakeholder advisory committee that includes department chairs, the Director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, and representatives from the SMPH Office of the Dean and UW Health
- Coordinate leadership development, implementation and evaluation of the Center’s strategic plan with the Research Director as a key stakeholder and a member of the Executive Team
- Engage and advise resident and affiliate faculty of the Center to identify and facilitate opportunities advancing the translation of laboratory discoveries made at UW-Madison
- Lead the center’s fundraising activities to support the development of novel molecular diagnostics
- Participate in professional, public and university service appropriate to the faculty rank
Additional information
Number of individuals supervised:0 initially; the clinical director will recruit new staff in the new laboratory
Compensation: The directorship includes a base adjustment that is coterminous with this administrative role.