The University of Missouri (MU) seeks applications and nominations for three coordinated positions in radiopharmaceutical sciences, broadly defined: an Assistant
Professor, an Associate/Full Professor (both tenure-track), and a Senior Research Scientist (non-tenure-track). Multiple appointments in each track are possible. These appointments are part of MizzouForward, the most important strategic investment to achieve research excellence and student success in the history of the university. This initiative will leverage existing institutional strengths and address national health and scientific priority areas through innovation and collaboration. Successful candidates will have outstanding, competitive, externally funded research programs in any area of radiopharmaceutical sciences including, but not limited to, imaging, theranostics, radiobiology, and dosimetry. Positions are available in the Departments Chemistry and Physics in the College of Arts & Science, Departments of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and the Department of Biochemistry in the School of Medicine. Appointments and / or joint appointments in other departments are possible. A centerpiece of the University's focus on radiopharmaceutical excellence is the University of Missouri research reactor (MURR) – the most powerful on a university campus in North America. MURR produces several medically important isotopes such as Lu-177 and Tb-161. Recently, the University has built a world-class preclinical radiopharmaceutical development center: the Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Center (MITC). MITC hosts a full suite of radiochemistry and pre-clinical imaging capabilities. MITC partners with the NextGen Precision Health Initiative. Established in 2021, the NextGen Precision Health Institute (NGPHI) provides research faculty from across the University of Missouri System with a new cutting-edge research facility dedicated to solving our most pressing health concerns. Assistant Professor — Radiopharmaceutical Sciences / Radioligand Therapy (Tenure-Track) The Assistant Professor will join MITC's discovery laboratories in radiochemistry and radioligand therapy, building an independent, externally funded research program. MITC offers state-of-the-art radiochemistry laboratories, a radioactive vivarium, and dedicated small-animal PET, SPECT/CT, and MRI. Located immediately adjacent to MURR — the most powerful research reactor on a university campus in North America — MITC provides routine access to Lu-177, Tb-161, and other beta-emitting isotopes at quantities and specific activities that few other production facilities in the country can obtain, together with dedicated alpha laboratories licensed to handle Pb-212, At-211, and Ac-225, a targeted alpha therapy capability available at only a handful of U.S. universities. The appointee will contribute to graduate and undergraduate instruction in radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry and will help expand doctoral training in a field where demand for radiochemists outpaces the number of graduates nationally. Associate/Full Professor — Radiopharmaceutical Sciences / Radioligand Therapy (Tenure-Track) The Associate/Full Professor will anchor the cluster as an established, externally funded investigator able to lead on arrival, directing preclinical discovery research in MITC. The appointee will use MITC's radiochemistry laboratories, radioactive vivarium, small-animal PET, SPECT/CT, and MRI, and dedicated alpha laboratories (Pb-212, At-211, Ac-225), together with reactor-produced Lu-177, Tb-161, and other beta-emitting isotopes from MURR next door. The role includes mentoring the cluster's junior faculty hires and connecting MURR isotope production, large-animal studies conducted with the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the phase 1 radiopharmaceutical clinical trials program in the School of Medicine. The appointee will carry graduate instructional responsibilities in radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical sciences and will be expected to chair doctoral committees. Senior Research Scientist — Radiopharmaceutical Pipeline Development (Non-Tenure-Track) The Senior Research Scientist (non-tenure-track) will provide the technical capacity to execute industry-sponsored radiopharmaceutical research contracts, including radiolabeling and conjugation chemistry, radiochemical purity and stability testing, biodistribution studies, and imaging studies supporting dosimetry. The appointee will serve as the named technical lead accountable for milestones and deliverables across multi-year sponsor agreements, working within MITC's radiochemistry laboratories, radioactive vivarium, and small-animal imaging suite, with isotope supply from MURR and access to MITC's dedicated alpha laboratories.
