Chair of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine

Chair of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine

Tufts University School of Medicine invites applications for the position of Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology. The Chair is an accomplished scientist and investigator who leads a group of outstanding basic science research faculty and investigators and is responsible for developing and executing a cutting-edge research agenda. The ideal candidate should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D., be an internationally recognized scientist with an outstanding research program and a track record of institutional service and leadership at all levels.

The Immunology Department, with a core faculty of 12 researchers, has an outstanding history in research and training, with expertise in immunity, inflammation, and tissue damage and repair. The Graduate Training Program in Immunology, based within the department, encompasses an additional 18 investigators with diverse interests, with particular strength in infection biology. Moreover, two initiatives that encompass institutions beyond the School of Medicine exemplify the deep institutional commitment to immunological research and the Immunology Department. Tufts University has launched the Infection and Immunity cluster-hiring program encompassing the Schools of Medicine, Arts & Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, the Fletcher School, the Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy, and the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, to support cutting-edge science and solutions to urgent health challenges. Immunity is also a focus area of the Tufts Medicine-Tufts University Research Enterprise, whose goal is to build a globally recognized best-in-class research entity via transformative growth in strategic areas of translational research. Together, these two initiatives represent investments that will create a dynamic, collaborative environment to advance research, education, and innovation in immunology.

This position provides an exciting opportunity to develop and focus the department. The Chair will be able to recruit new faculty into a modern research space, which includes outstanding core facilities. The successful candidate is expected to embrace the department’s wide-ranging interests and to leverage new faculty recruitments to strengthen and focus these areas.

Responsibilities of the Department of Immunology Chair

The Chair of Immunology reports to the Dean of the School of Medicine and works closely with the other department chairs to ensure that research and teaching in the master’s degree, PhD, and professional programs on the Boston campus continue to be of exceptional quality, innovative, and fully aligned with the curriculum committees overseeing each program (Master’s, PhD, MD). The Department of Immunology chair facilitates this goal by working collaboratively with the Directors of the PhD programs, MD program, the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. The chair is responsible for creating a research/learning/teaching/working environment that is broadly inclusive and fully supports the School of Medicine’s mission and vision to inspire discovery and revolutionize health education.

In addition to the chair’s focus on conducting world-class research as a faculty member, the chair oversees the faculty and the department's day-to-day activities. Specific responsibilities include:

• Faculty recruitment. Hiring outstanding faculty and staff members is necessary to replace those who retire, leave Tufts for other opportunities, or address needs arising from expanding programs. It is the chair’s responsibility to assess current and future needs, oversee a transparent process to identify and recruit the best possible faculty member for each position, honor the University’s commitment to inclusivity, and make every effort to attract candidates from diverse backgrounds.
• Research. Working closely with department members and school administration to utilize human and financial capital to build an environment in which investigators thrive. An essential aspect is the recruitment of investigators who, with departmental support, will build successful independent research programs and be committed to the success of the greater department and the wider research community. The chair guides the department's long-term research vision by building on existing strengths in basic molecular and cellular immunology, the immunology of chronic diseases, and in-depth knowledge of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of inflammatory diseases, including infections. They also support the development of cross-department, school, and university collaborations to enable faculty to conduct the most impactful multidisciplinary research.
• Assignment of Teaching and Administrative Responsibilities. The chair is responsible for selecting faculty members for course directorship roles and contributing to decisions regarding leadership of the PhD programs. Assignments to these important leadership roles are made in consultation with the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, and the leadership within each degree program, as appropriate. The chair helps faculty members prepare to take on these positions and provides the mentorship needed to be impactful leaders in these key roles.
• Faculty Appointments and Promotions. The chair is responsible for ensuring the professional development of faculty members in the department by providing the necessary opportunities and mentoring for appropriate advancement to tenure status and Associate and Full Professor of Immunology. The chair oversees the collection of materials required for appointments and promotions, including letters of evaluation for faculty members in the department being reviewed for appointment or promotion.
• Budget / Salaries. The chair helps develop and oversees the department budget, together with the department administrator. Salaries of faculty members and staff in the department, including annual merit increase recommendations, are the responsibility of the chair.

Qualifications: Applicants should hold an appropriate doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DO, etc.) and serve at the level of Associate or Full Professor with experience appropriate to their career level. We highly encourage applications from women and minoritized individuals committed to mentoring underrepresented groups in the sciences.

The ideal candidate for the Chair of the Department of Immunology will have the following qualities:

• Outstanding research track record as evidenced by extramural funding
• A scholar with a record of peer-reviewed publications or a similar record of academic productivity
• Experience leading teams
• An effective leader, mentor, and team builder
• Strong interpersonal skills
• An outstanding educator and mentor, with strong teaching evaluations
• Experience with budget and administrative responsibilities
• Collaborative with experience in conflict management and negotiation
• Dedicated to inclusive excellence

Interested candidates should submit their applications via Interfolio at: https://apply.interfolio.com/183147. Required application materials include a CV, a cover letter describing their interest in the position, a vision statement, a brief statement of commitment to fostering inclusive excellence, and email addresses for at least 3 references. (References will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission.)

Questions regarding the position (but not applications) may be addressed to ImmunologyChairRecruitment@tufts.edu.