Senior Researcher in Mental Health and Brain Health, School of Nursing

Unit: School of Nursing

Department: Adult Health and Nursing Systems

Mission or Goal of Unit:

We champion health and well-being through the power of nursing education, discovery and practice.

Chief Purpose of this position:

The VCU School of Nursing invites applications for a senior tenure-track faculty position to lead a high-impact research program in Mental Health and/or Brain Health. We seek an established scientist with a consistent track record of extramural funding whose work is grounded in a life course perspective—examining how biological, behavioral, and social factors intersect at critical developmental stages to influence neurocognitive and mental health outcomes.

Institutional Investment & Growth Trajectory

This position is part of a University-wide initiative to recruit high-impact tenured faculty members to support its rapidly growing, transformative research portfolio, with University sponsored research awards of $550m+ in FY25. The School of Nursing is collaborating with the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation to identify talented research faculty.

Strategic Alignment & Scope

This position is a strategic priority designed to bridge the SON’s existing strengths in maternal/perinatal health and aging/dementia and to amplify the impact of VCU’s existing interdisciplinary research in the field. The successful candidate will serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging VCU’s status as a top-tier public research university to advance health equity, improve health outcomes, and optimize health care delivery for vulnerable populations. This strategic priority position provides a competitive salary and a generous start-up package.

An Unmatched Interdisciplinary Ecosystem

The VCU School of Nursing is at the forefront of innovation and excellence. We are uniquely positioned within a thriving health sciences campus and share this passion for neuroscience and mental health research with colleagues in, for example, the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy, and College of Health Professions. This environment fosters rich, interdisciplinary collaboration to meet our collective university-wide mission of excellence in research, teaching, and service that fosters innovation in practice and translational science, thus improving the quality of human life, solving complex challenges, and restoring health for all people.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research & Scholarship

• Program of Research: Maintain a robust, externally funded research portfolio focused on mental health, neuroscience/ brain health, and/or cognitive aging
• Grant Acquisition: Secure consistent extramural funding (e.g., NIH/NINR, AHRQ, PCORI, HRSA) to support research activities, with a focus on R-level, Center, and training grants
• Dissemination: Publish findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present at national/international policy and scientific forums
• Collaboration: Partner with interdisciplinary colleagues across VCU and beyond to address complex systems-level challenges

2. Teaching & Mentoring

• Teach and mentor students across programs and faculty/ trainees, providing relevant expertise in areas such as neuro/biobehavioral science, mental health, research methods, grant-writing, implementation science, and similar

3. Service & Leadership

• Provide leadership in departmental, college, and university committees
• Participate in strategic initiatives related to research infrastructure and capacity
• Contribute as thought-leaders to policy discussions, review panels, editorial boards and similar to accelerate the translation of science into practice
• Community Impact: Engage with the Richmond community and beyond to ensure research is relevant and translatable to community needs, aligning with VCU’s mission as a community-engaged institution

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in Nursing, Neuroscience, Psychology, Public Health, Medicine, or related field
• Eligibility for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor (tenure-eligible)
• Distinguished record of scholarly productivity, recent extramural funding (R-level, Center grants, training grants, or equivalent) as Principal Investigator, and current funding with a history of success in securing major research grants and managing large-scale projects
• Demonstrated commitment to research that complements and amplifies existing expertise in the School of Nursing and VCU (https://nursing.vcu.edu/research/faculty-research-and-scholarship-interests/)
• 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

• If a registered nurse, eligibility for RN licensure in Virginia and a minimum of 2 years of previous clinical experience
• Experience mentoring doctoral students and junior faculty/post-doctoral trainees
• Experience with biobehavioral measurement (e.g., biomarkers, imaging), prevention, intervention, translational, or implementation science in mental health and brain health areas
• Commitment to and track record of interdisciplinary collaboration across health sciences schools

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Rank: Open

Tenure: Tenure Track

Months: 12 months

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.

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Drs. Lana Sargent & Faika Zanjani
Contact Email: lsargent@vcu.edu & fzanjani@vcu.edu