"Alzheimer's Disease Researcher"

Alzheimer’s Disease Researcher (MD/PhD)

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, in conjunction with The Pat Summitt Clinic and the Brain & Spine Institute at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN, is seeking a neurologist or physician-scientist (MD/PhD) with an established and strong research focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary team committed to advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease through cutting-edge research and clinical care.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in clinical or translational neuroscience research related to Alzheimer’s disease, a proven record of independent or collaborative research in neurodegenerative diseases, and an interest in leading or participating in investigator-initiated and industry sponsored clinical studies, biomarker discovery, or translational science research activities.

This candidate will be expected to develop a strong translational research program in the field of Alzheimer’s research to complement a dynamic clinical program at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Highlights

• Dedicated research time and institutional support for clinical, translational, and basic science research in Alzheimer’s disease
• Access to established laboratory infrastructure with core facilities, and collaborative opportunities through the basic science departments at the University of Tennessee Knoxville
• State-of-the-art clinical and research infrastructure within The Pat Summitt Clinic
• Opportunities for leadership in sponsored clinical trials and investigator-initiated clinical research studies
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Potential for academic appointment and mentorship of students, residents, and fellows

The Pat Summitt Clinic is a comprehensive multidisciplinary center devoted exclusively to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, providing exceptional patient care, supporting caregivers, and advancing clinical and basic research.

Areas of Strength

1. Research & Clinical Trials:

• Active participation in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Collaboration with UT Medical Center’s Office of Clinical Trials to support industry sponsored clinical studies
• Assistance from the Office of Research Support at the UT Graduate School of Medicine for developing and performing investigator-initiated clinical research and other research activities
• Access to cutting-edge imaging and biomarker tools (MRI, fMRI, DG and amyloid PET/CT imaging) through collaboration with clinical departments at the UT Medical Center

1. Clinical & Multidisciplinary Care:

• Large patient base with over 3,000 dementia patients, including Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia
• Multidisciplinary team: cognitive neurologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, and rehabilitation specialists
• Advanced neuropsychological testing and cognitive assessment technologies

1. Education & Community Engagement:

• Mentorship opportunities for medical students, residents, graduate, and undergraduate researchers
• Robust community outreach initiatives providing education and support to patients, families, and the public

Institutional Research Strengths

As part of a growing research initiative, the Pat Summitt Clinic is expanding efforts to:

• Develop and implement novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions
• Advance biomarker discovery and precision medicine approaches for patients with Alzheimer’s disease
• Enhance collaborative research initiatives in aging, neurodegeneration, and dementia care

For those interested in basic science research, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) offers:

• Robust laboratory facilities equipped for molecular biology, neurogenetics, and biomarker development
• Collaborative opportunities with basic science departments at UT Knoxville, including partnerships within the Graduate School of Medicine and through UTK’s Neuroscience Program
• Institutional support for extramural funding opportunities (NIH, NSF, private foundations)
• Access to shared core facilities, including genomics, proteomics, imaging, and biostatistics support
• Opportunities to contribute to translational research efforts bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical applications
• Opportunity to collaborate with structural and computational biologists and with access to novel radionuclides for preclinical and clinical imaging through Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The University of Tennessee Medical Center is committed to providing substantial resources, funding support, and state-of-the-art facilities to accelerate research in Alzheimer’s disease.

Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine includes 17 divisions and comprises more than 265 faculty members dedicated to the tripartite mission of clinical care, education, and research. In addition to thriving Internal Medicine Residency and Transitional Year programs, there are well-established fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care Medicine, and Hematology/Oncology. We will be starting a Neurology Residency in July 2025. Plans are underway for further expanding our fellowship programs.

UTHSC College of Medicine-Knoxville, Graduate School of Medicine

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville, Graduate School of Medicine was initially established in 1956 as the UT Memorial Research Center and Hospital, which also provided the graduate medical and dental educational (GMDE) and research programs in Knoxville. The GMDE programs collectively became the UT Graduate School of Medicine with the formation of the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) in 1991, and more recently were renamed the UTCOM-K with the increased emphasis on undergraduate medical education in Knoxville as well as the statewide presence of UTHSC.

The mission of the Knoxville Campus is to advance medical education required to train the next generation of physicians and dentists, deliver comprehensive and compassionate care with our hospital partner, the University of Tennessee Medical Center, and conduct innovative research that is meaningful for patients and their families. Our college provides training for third- and fourth-year Medical Students, second year Physician Assistant Students, as well as Graduate Medical Education for 11 primary residency programs and 17 subspecialty fellowships. UTCOM-K consists of 548 faculty (258 paid), 245 residents and fellows and hosts an average of 40-50 medical students per month. UTCOMK also provides Continuing Medical Education services for faculty, residents and practicing physicians in our region, as well as Advanced Medical Simulation for students, residents, and faculty.

Research on the Knoxville campus includes both Investigator Initiated Clinical Research and Translational Research, both of which are integral to the UME and GME missions as well as bridging with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the state’s flagship land grant institution. Investigator Initiated Clinical Research is supported by the Office of Research Support, which provides research coordination and data analysis, and by the Office of Biostatistics and Research Consultation, which provides assistance with study design and statistics. Over the past 4 years, the number of open prospective investigator-initiated trails has increased 250% with the number of enrolled subjects expanding 9-fold. UTCOM-K includes six Translational Research programs which integrate with 4 academic departments and associated core residencies as well as 3 fellowships. These Translational Research programs include Regenerative Medicine, Trauma Research, Vascular Research, Amyloid and Cancer Research, Molecular Imaging, and Women’s Health, with collective outcomes that include significant evidence of entrepreneurship as well as a three-fold increase in annual extramural funding over the past 5 years.

As the region’s academic medical center, Magnet® recognized hospital and Level I Trauma Center, the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeastern Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The 710-bed hospital also is home to the region’s only dedicated Heart Hospital, only adult and pediatric transplant center, the region’s first certified comprehensive stroke center, a private neonatal intensive care unit and serves as a regional perinatal center.

UTMC offers the following Centers of Excellence:

• Brain and Spine Institute
• Cancer Institute
• Emergency and Trauma Center
• Heart Lung Vascular Institute
• Center for Complex Medicine
• Center for Perioperative Medicine
• Orthopaedic Institute
• Primary Care Collaborative
• Center for Women and Infants

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is the flagship statewide, public, academic health institution in Tennessee. Founded in 1911, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science is to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans and the global community by fostering integrated, collaborative, and inclusive education, research, scientific discovery, clinical care, and public service. Employing more than 4,600 people on its faculty, staff, and not-for-profit corporation faculty practice groups, and with more than 3,200 students across the state, UTHSC contributes $4 billion to the economy of Tennessee.

Part of the University of Tennessee System, the Health Science Center is headquartered in Memphis and includes all six of UT’s doctoral-degree-granting health science colleges -- Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Graduate Health Sciences, and Health Professions. UTHSC spans the state with its four major, regional clinical health science locations in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville, as well as more than 100 clinical education sites across Tennessee. UTHSC is the largest educator of health care professionals in the state and operates the state’s largest residency and fellowship advanced training programs.

Living in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville offers a thriving research and medical community in an affordable, vibrant city with high quality of life, a low cost of living (below the national average), and no state income tax. The region boasts strong educational institutions, a growing technology sector, and proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, providing endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Knoxville was recently ranked as one of the “Best Places to Live Among Mid-Sized Cities” and continues to grow as a hub for research and innovation.

Nominations and Applications

Applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and references. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted by December 10, 2025. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit materials through the University of Tennessee HR Employment site. Nominations may be submitted directly to the firm coordinating this search:

• Jacob Anderson, Principal
• Julia Butler-Mayes, Ph.D., Associate
• Parker Executive Search
• Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875
• Atlanta, GA 30328
• 770-804-1996 ext. 102; 109; 111
• janderson@parkersearch.com | jbutler-mayes@parkersearch.com