Sung Wan Kim Endowed Chair in Drug and Gene Delivery

Sung Wan Kim Endowed Chair in Drug and Gene Delivery. The University of Utah College of Pharmacy seeks excellent applicants for the Sung Wan Kim Chair in Drug and Gene Delivery in the Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics at the Associate Professor or Full Professor level. Exceptional candidates at the Assistant Professor level may be considered, provided they demonstrate a consistent record of extramural-funded research, high-impact publications, excellence in teaching, and strong leadership abilities.

The Sung Wan Kim Chair in Drug and Gene Delivery is supported by an endowment honoring Dr. Sung Wan Kim, a pioneer in drug delivery and biomaterials research. A Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering until his untimely passing in 2020, Dr. Kim's intent for the endowment was to support a leader in drug and gene delivery and related areas.

Eligible candidates will have a Ph.D. and/or M.D., with a sustained record of peer reviewed funding, distinguished international reputation, and a substantial research and publication record in any of the following fields - drug and gene delivery, nanomedicine, gene therapy, molecular imaging and theranostics, biomedical engineering, immunology, cell biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields. Preferred areas include but are not limited to drug and gene delivery, nanomedicine, gene therapy, molecular imaging, theranostics, immunology, cell biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. Opportunities exist for successful candidates to align research areas with campus-wide initiatives such as biomedical engineering, data science and artificial intelligence, immunology, inflammation and infectious diseases, diabetes and metabolism, neuroscience, genomic medicine, chemical biology, and cancer. The Department and the University of Utah offer unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations and actively encourage translational research with clinicians and scientists in the Health Sciences Center and the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Candidates must also be committed to teaching excellence in subjects relevant to both graduate (PhD) and professional (PharmD) programs in the College of Pharmacy.

Housed in the state-of-the-art Skaggs Research Institute, the Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics is one of the most recognized departments of its type, with highly accomplished faculty in drug delivery research and education and with a history of significant extramural funding and scholarly output. The Department contributes significantly to the reputation of the University of Utah, which has been recognized as a member of the Association of American Universities. The Department is home to internationally recognized centers, including the Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery, Center for Cell Sheet Tissue Engineering, and Utah Center for Nanomedicine, and has strong ties with the Department of Biomedical Engineering with many faculty cross-listed. Notably, the Department makes important contributions to economic development and patient health through leading edge innovations resulting in new technologies and patents. More information about the Department can be found at https://pharmacy.utah.edu/pharmaceutics/.

Salt Lake City offers an exceptional quality of life with plenty of opportunities for outdoor and cultural recreation. As Utah's flagship institution, the University of Utah is increasingly recognized nationally and internationally for its cutting-edge research and quality of educational programs. It is a research-intensive institution with an annual excess of $750M in research funding, a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere, state-of-the-art healthcare, and research facilities, and is highly supportive of student and faculty entrepreneurial activities. The University of Utah serves over 36,000 students across the U.S. and the world. The College of Pharmacy continues to be a leader in research, with substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding agencies, ranked #7 in terms of NIH funding amongst the US Colleges of Pharmacy.

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are completed. For full consideration, interested applicants should submit their curriculum vitae, along with their research and teaching statements and a cover letter listing names and contact information for at least three references on-line by December 1, 2025 at: https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/183543.

Inquiries may be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Jindřich Kopeček, D.Sc., Distinguished Professor of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at jindrich.kopecek@utah.edu.

The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission.

Department: 00283 - Molecular Pharmaceutics
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date: 6/30/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Requisition Number: PRN03844F