Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in
the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s
sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally
recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth
University is an equal opportunity employer.
Unit: School of Medicine
Department: Cellular, Molecular and Genetic Medicine
Department Summary: The Department of Cellular, Molecular
and Genetic Medicine is dedicated to unraveling the fundamental
biology that supports health and drives disease. Our faculty,
trainees and students tackle some of the most pressing challenges
in biomedical science, from the molecular and genetic roots of
disease to the complexities of whole-body physiology.
Our foundational studies are driving the frontiers of scientific
discovery, pushing the boundaries of what we understand about
biology, disease and the human body. From our labs in downtown
Richmond to research collaborations around the world, our work is
generating new knowledge, influencing the direction of biological
science and redefining what is possible in biomedical
research.
We are proud to be a community of passionate educators and mentors,
deeply committed to empowering the next generation of scientists
and leaders. With alumni enjoying successful careers across a broad
spectrum of industries, our rigorous training programs offer
students a transformative education that drives innovation today
and creates lasting impact for tomorrow.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to lead animal model
creation at a large (>$500M in research awards) Carnegie R1
research university. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a
highly respected and experienced team with a long history of
serving the university’s research community. The Director must
possess comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the Core’s
operations. This role supports a diverse active user base across
VCU—predominantly within the School of Medicine (SOM), but also
servicing the School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry, and others,
as well as external investigators. The Director ensures the
seamless delivery of major core services, including breeding colony
management (the facility's largest service line), cryopreservation,
rederivation/IVF, and the production of new genetically engineered
mouse models (GEMMs).
Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Scientific & Operational Direction
- Core Oversight: Prioritize and supervise all daily
technical functions, project timelines, and operational workflows
within the Core; management of three direct reports
Investigator Consultation: Meet with faculty and
investigators to discuss new projects, design custom genetic
strategies, and provide regular status updates on ongoing
projects
Institutional Grant Support: Provide customized letters
of support for faculty grant submissions, assist investigators with
budget preparation, and directly participate in grant and
manuscript writing
Importation & Logistics: Collaborate with the
Division of Animal Resources (DAR) to manage mouse line importation
and rederivation. Assist investigators with identification of
existing mouse models and with the logistics for procurement from
sources such as the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center
(MMRRC) and various international sources of mouse lines
Specialized Grant Leadership: Serve formally as the
Director of the Mouse Core for key institutional research
grants
Technical Innovation: Keep the facility at the cutting
edge of genome-editing capabilities by tracking emerging
methodologies and staying active within professional networks such
as the International Society for Transgenic Technologies
(ISTT)
Institutional Engagement: Attend and contribute to
relevant Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center meetings, including
Scientific Steering Committee meetings and External Advisory Board
meetings, ensuring alignment of Core activities with institutional
priorities and strategic goals
2. Administrative & Financial Leadership
- Regulatory Compliance: Serve as the Principal
Investigator (PI) on two Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee (IACUC) protocols and maintain compliance as the PI on
the Virginia Board of Pharmacy license
- Grant Reporting: Support institutional grant mechanisms
by managing deliverables for the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Support Grant (CCSG), including compiling annual progress reports
and driving the 5-year renewal process
- Financial Oversight: Direct budgeting and financial cost
accounting, including the annual A21 cost accounting processes and
monthly financial dashboard certifications
- Complex Billing Management: Oversee and execute the
Core's multi-stream billing framework
3. Teaching & Mentorship Responsibilities
- Didactic Instruction: Develop and deliver formal
lectures on genetically modified mice in several university courses
(e.g., “Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetics”)
- Specialized Training: Provide ad-hoc lectures focused on
operational best practices in Mouse Breeding Colony Management
- Hands-on Mentorship: Provide direct, one-on-one
scientific and technical training to graduate students, postdocs,
and laboratory trainees utilizing the Core's services
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
- Advanced scientific degree (preferably Ph.D.) in genetics,
molecular biology, or a related biomedical field
- Deep, comprehensive scientific and technical expertise across
all facets of GEMM technologies
- Proven administrative capacity to manage complex budgets,
multi-user facility operations, and institutional compliance
protocols
- Excellent communication skills
- 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
- Prior direct experience managing or directing a successful
Transgenic and Knockout Core Facility or similar shared resource
lab
- Demonstrated record of collaborative grant writing and
peer-reviewed publications
Salary Range: Commensurate
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.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Restricted Position: No
Sensitive Position: Yes
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Other
Rank: Open
Tenure: Ineligible
Months: 12 months
Contact Information:
Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org