Co-Program Leader, Cancer Biology Research Program- School of Medicine

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university and is classified as Carnegie Level 1 research institution. As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. The Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is an NCI-designated cancer center that hosts 1000-plus researchers conducting basic, population, translational and clinical cancer research. Massey is part of VCU Medical Center. one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, which provides state-of-the-art treatments and patient care, while educating workforce and advancing research.

Unit: School of Medicine

Department Summary: VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center (Massey) is working toward a future without cancer – one revolutionary idea, one promising therapy and one life saved at a time. Through innovative research, patient care, education and community engagement, Massey is discovering, developing, delivering and teaching effective means to prevent, detect, treat and cure cancer and to making these advancements equally available to all. Founded in 1974, Massey was among the earliest cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It is the only cancer center in the Richmond metropolitan region and one of only two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the state, placing it among the top 4 percent of cancer centers in the country.

Purpose of the Position:

As a member of the Massey senior leadership team, the position will provide leadership and direction with other members of the senior leadership in the furtherance of the mission to reduce the state cancer burden for all Virginians by addressing the confluence between biological, social, and policy drivers through high-impact, cutting-edge research; person-centered care across the continuum, from prevention through survivorship; community integration; and training the next generation of community-centric researchers and health care professionals.

The Co-Program Leader will oversee the programmatic growth and cohesiveness of the Cancer Biology program and identify opportunities for strategic growth and development to facilitate interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary cancer research collaborations. The over-arching responsibilities for this position include articulating the vision and formulating the overall aims of the program, governing the program by leading its members with common scientific interests to collaborate towards reducing to practice the program aims, mentoring junior faculty members, and participating in strategic planning and recruitment activities for Massey.

Massey provides support for a variety of shared resources including Flow Cytometry Shared Resource, Microscopy Core Laboratory, Cancer Mouse Models Core, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Clinical and Translational Research Laboratory, Proteomics, Tissue and Data Analysis and Acquisition Core Laboratory, and Transgenic/Knockout Shared Resource. Additionally, Massey has a comprehensive Clinical Trials Office that provides administrative, regulatory, and nursing support for the clinical trials conducted at Massey.

Duties & Responsibilities:

As the Co-Program Leader for the Cancer Biology program, the over-arching responsibilities for this position include the following:

• Conceiving and formulating the overall theme and specific aims of the CCSG program based on leading edge areas of cancer research.
• Governing the program by leading its members with common scientific interests to collaborate towards reducing to practice the different program aims.
• Organizing new member orientation and mentorship of junior faculty members, suggesting senior member mentors, and steering new members to pilot project and other funding mechanisms to assure viability as independent researchers.
• Participating in strategic planning and recruitment activities for Massey through Executive and Governance Committees.
• Promoting and coordinating initiatives to foster and facilitate intra and inter-programmatic collaboration, especially across disciplines.
• Promoting research educational activities that include such activities as Center-wide symposia, retreats, poster sessions, training programs, and standard and special courses in the various schools of the institution.
• Reviewing and interviewing potential program members to understand their area of cancer research and identify potential collaborations, as part of the application process for Cancer Center membership.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Academic appointment with tenure, or tenure-track position at the level of Associate or full Professor
• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD (or equivalent)
• Extensive cancer relevant research experience
• Proven extramural funding track record, with active NCI funding (or equivalent)
• Extensive publication experience
• Proven trainee and faculty mentorship skills
• Experience in, and coordination of, collaborative grants and managing trans-disciplinary research
• Experience with MPI, P01 and/or SPORE grant applications
• 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

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

ORP Eligible: Yes

Restricted Position: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Other

Rank: Open

Tenure: Open

Months: 12 months

Contact Information 
Contact Name: Trey Ashman
Contact Email: ashmang@vcu.edu