Senior Researcher in Mental Health and Brain Health, School of Nursing

Key Responsibilities

• Research & Scholarship
  • Program of Research: Maintain a robust, externally funded research portfolio focused on mental health, neuroscience/brain health, and/or cognitive aging
  • Grant Acquisition: Secure consistent extramural funding (e.g., NIH/NINR, AHRQ, PCORI, HRSA) to support research activities, with a focus on R-level, Center, and training grants
  • Dissemination: Publish findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present at national/international policy and scientific forums
  • Collaboration: Partner with interdisciplinary colleagues across VCU and beyond to address complex systems-level challenges
• Teaching & Mentoring
  • Teach and mentor students across programs and faculty/trainees, providing relevant expertise in areas such as neuro/biobehavioral science, mental health, research methods, grant-writing, implementation science, and similar
• Service & Leadership
  • Provide leadership in departmental, college, and university committees
  • Participate in strategic initiatives related to research infrastructure and capacity
  • Contribute as thought-leaders to policy discussions, review panels, editorial boards and similar to accelerate the translation of science into practice
• Community Impact
  • Engage with the Richmond community and beyond to ensure research is relevant and translatable to community needs, aligning with VCU’s mission as a community-engaged institution

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in Nursing, Neuroscience, Psychology, Public Health, Medicine, or related field
• Eligibility for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor (tenure-eligible)
• Distinguished record of scholarly productivity, recent extramural funding (R-level, Center grants, training grants, or equivalent) as Principal Investigator, and current funding with a history of success in securing major research grants and managing large-scale projects
• Demonstrated commitment to research that complements and amplifies existing expertise in the School of Nursing and VCU (https://nursing.vcu.edu/research/faculty-research-and-scholarship-interests/)
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• If a registered nurse, eligibility for RN licensure in Virginia and a minimum of 2 years of previous clinical experience
• Experience mentoring doctoral students and junior faculty/post-doctoral trainees
• Experience with biobehavioral measurement (e.g., biomarkers, imaging), prevention, intervention, translational, or implementation science in mental health and brain health areas
• Commitment to and track record of interdisciplinary collaboration across health sciences schools

Salary Range

Commensurate with experience

FLSA Exemption Status

Exempt

Restricted Position

No

ORP Eligible

Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid

Rank

Open

Tenure

Tenure Track

Months

12 months

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Contact Information

Contact Name: Drs. Lana Sargent & Faika Zanjani
Contact Email: lsargent@vcu.edu & fzanjani@vcu.edu