Molecular Genetics and Genome Sciences - Open Rank

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center: Provost Office: College of Medicine: Molecular Genetics and Genome Sciences

Description:

The Department of Molecular Genetics and Genome Sciences is a newly established basic science department within the College of Medicine (COM) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences (OUHSC). The Department is embarking on an aggressive growth schedule to recruit multiple (3-5) tenure-track or tenured faculty - at the ranks of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor - in each of the next three years. We seek applicants who are energized by the opportunity to join a founding team to build a vibrant and evolving academic community. As members of the inaugural cohort, these faculty will have both the opportunity and the responsibility to co-create the scholarly vision of the Department, shape its collaborative norms, and define a lasting culture of excellence. Successful candidates are expected to develop independent research programs that pursue fundamental questions in molecular genetics and genome sciences, while also catalyzing interdisciplinary collaborations that span the full translational spectrum. Collectively, these new faculty will establish a broad, cross-cutting presence at OUHSC - connecting genetic and genomic discovery with biomedical data science, systems biology, genomic medicine, and clinical and public health translation.

The Department will leverage existing strengths in OUHSC to advance a coherent understanding of biology and medicine. Key partners for program-building include the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, the Nathan Shock Center on Aging, the Dean McGee Eye Institute, the Stephenson Cancer Center (Oklahoma's only NCI-designated cancer center), and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The Department will also serve as a vital link to computation-intense research on the University's Norman campus, synergizing with the research and education programs at the School of Computer Science and the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering.

We encourage applications from innovative researchers in molecular genetics, computational genomics, and advanced methodological development, as well as those pursuing mechanistic studies of organ development and dynamic modeling of disease trajectories. Successful applicants will receive a competitive salary and start-up package. The Department is housed in a newly renovated building, offering modern, contiguous space designed to support collaborative team science. The Department will actively partner with other departments, institutes, and centers across campus to explore joint growth opportunities (e.g., cluster hires) and to support shared infrastructure needs.

The Department's initial growth phase emphasizes epigenomic analyses of tissue-specific function and the integration across data modalities and biological scales. We invite applications covering a wide range of areas, including but not limited to:

• Single-cell and spatial analyses, including multi-omic integration.
• Biomedical data science that combines methodology and implementation, in areas such as statistical modeling, natural language processing, bioimaging analytics, and machine learning/artificial intelligence applications that improve genotype-phenotype mapping.
• Translational bioinformatics as applied to complex diseases, including cancers, neurological and psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and aging-related conditions.
• Implementation science that combines (epi)genomic profiles with other emerging data streams, in contexts such as biobanking, deep phenotyping, and predictive modeling of health outcomes.

Faculty in the Department will have the opportunity to mentor graduate students through multiple existing doctoral programs and are expected to contribute to graduate, medical, and postdoctoral education, including the creation of new courses aligned with their expertise. Faculty will also play a central role in establishing a new graduate program in genetics and genome sciences. Additional responsibilities include active participation in services at the departmental, college, and university levels, as well as engagement with the broader academic community nationally and internationally. The Department places a strong emphasis on mentorship and is committed to fostering professional development at every career stage.

Qualifications:

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) and demonstrate evidence of research productivity, teaching potential, and strong momentum toward a well-defined research plan.

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