Vice Chair of Neurosurgery Research - McGovern Medical School

McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston, seeks an internationally recognized scientist and academic leader for the executive leadership role of Vice Chair for Research in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery.

About the role

The Vice Chair will partner with the Department Chair and institutional leadership to shape and expand one of the nation’s premier academic neurosurgery research programs. Responsibilities include strategic leadership across basic, translational, clinical, and computational neuroscience; faculty recruitment and mentorship; expansion of extramural funding; and strengthening of multidisciplinary collaborations within UTHealth Houston and the Texas Medical Center.

The department is ranked #7 nationally by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research and supports approximately $16 million in annual extramural research funding. It offers dedicated laboratory space, established biorepositories, comprehensive clinical research support, and extensive collaborative partnerships throughout the Texas Medical Center.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the department’s strategic research vision.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain high-performing research faculty and physician-scientists.
• Expand NIH, federal, state, foundation, and industry-funded research.
• Foster multidisciplinary collaborations across UTHealth Houston, the Texas Medical Center, and national partners.
• Build innovative translational research programs that leverage the department’s high-volume clinical enterprise.
• Enhance research infrastructure, mentorship, and scientific visibility.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree.
• Academic qualifications for appointment as Associate Professor (Senior) or Professor.
• Established record of sustained NIH or equivalent federal funding.
• International reputation for scientific achievement and scholarly productivity.
• Demonstrated leadership in research program development and faculty mentorship.

Preferred Experience

• Experience leading a research center, institute, or multidisciplinary program.
• Success developing large collaborative or center-level grants.
• Expertise in translational neuroscience or neurosurgical research.

Why UTHealth Houston

Located in the world’s largest medical center, UTHealth Houston provides unparalleled opportunities for scientific collaboration, innovation, and clinical translation. The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery combines nationally recognized clinical excellence with a rapidly expanding research enterprise, creating an exceptional environment for transformative neuroscience discovery.