Full Professor of Neurological Surgery

Position Summary

Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (SNRI) and the Department of Neurological Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) seek a highly qualified and productive researcher for a faculty position as a Full professor (tenure eligible) to be the Director of the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group (ISCBIRG). This leader will become a member of the SNRI Executive Committee (EC) and direct the ISCBIRG Research Group by leading ISCBIRG research-related initiatives and responsibilities, as outlined below.

The ISCBIRG at IUSM is an integrated component of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. The group is comprised of a critical mass of key principal investigators who study molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and develop novel repair strategies to promote neural reorganization and functional recovery in experimental models of these injuries. The long-term goal of these studies is to translate promising treatments from animal models to humans. Additionally, several faculty conduct ongoing clinical research on TBI in pediatric, adolescent, and adult patient populations.

The Department of Neurological Surgery provides world-class clinical care, education, and research in neurosurgery and related neurosciences. Research can include “bench” or laboratory research, translational science, clinical research, or clinical trials. Researchers in the Department of Neurological Surgery are passionate about developing innovative techniques and new treatment approaches that provide patients the best chance for healing, recovery, and improved quality of life. Whether through clinical and laboratory research projects or involvement in multi-center clinical trials and databases, neurological surgery researchers are advancing treatment solutions in this critical area of medicine. Indeed, faculty and staff are participating in several nationwide clinical trials.

ISCBIRG Research-Related Initiatives and Job Responsibilities:

To enhance the productivity of and collaborations between current pre-clinical and clinical investigators within Neurosurgery, ISCBIRG, and Stark Neuroscience: This includes, but is not limited to:

• Enhancing the research infrastructure support provided by the Neurosurgery and Stark Neuroscience administrative team, including pre-award and post-award grant management, financial support, pre-clinical and clinical research team support, patient data registry and information access improvements, equipment and facilities upgrades, and streamlined statistical support.
• Providing effective mentoring to faculty at all levels, as well as to fellows and students.
• Facilitating collaborations in Neurosurgery, Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group (ISCBIRG) and Stark Neuroscience among investigators and between clinical and pre-clinical faculty to establish new research areas, particularly within areas of established strengths.
• Facilitating new interdisciplinary collaborations between Neurosurgery, ISCBIRG and Stark Neuroscience faculty and faculty at IUSM- utilizing existing seed grant mechanisms as well as other potential matching fund mechanisms.
• Promoting larger new research collaborations between Neurosurgery, ISCBIRG, and Stark Neuroscience faculty and those at IUSM
• Identifying faculty facilitators to foster communication between clinical and basic science investigators.
• Enhancing the existing Neurosurgery, ISCBIRG, and Stark Neuroscience intramural funding mechanism to encourage the collaboration between clinical and basic researchers.

To increase federal research funding within Neurosurgery, ISCBIRG, and Stark Neuroscience faculty. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Promoting cutting edge spinal cord and brain injury research that will lead to increased funding (with a focus/goal on NIH multi-PI R01s, P, and U grants) and high-impact (>10 Impact Factor) publications within and across the Institute.
• Fostering the utilization of existing projects and future bi-campus seed projects to develop data to support new NIH and DOD grants
• Encouraging faculty with existing NIH grants to collaborate with each other in complementary new areas and to encourage and foster new investigators to submit multi-PI NIH and DOD proposals
• Continuing to expand collaborations with funded faculty in other IUSM departments and centers with the goal of developing data for NIH grants in entirely new areas.
• Developing training grants to support the next generation of investigators and equipment grants to enable the success of all researchers.

To initiate and facilitate various educational initiatives focused on spinal cord and brain injury broadly across the IUSM translational spectrum, with a special emphasis on interactions between human and preclinical model research.

To promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across the research and educational missions within the research group.

Criteria:

• National/International reputation for expertise in brain and/or spinal cord injury research
• Current or recent history as PI or Co-PI on large, federally funded grants focused on brain and/or spinal cord injury (e.g., history of multiple R01’s, P, U grants). Continuous external grant support
• Active publication record in the fields of spinal cord and/or brain injury-related research
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Embraces and values diversity, equity, and inclusion

Benefits:

• Membership on the EC of Stark Institute
• Annual Salary plus Supplement for Directorship Role
• Potential of Endowed Chair – Hulman Chair
• Potential of Vice Chair of Research Position in Dept. of Neurosurgery
• Indiana State Budget Appropriation for Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research
• Surrounded by successful, complementary departments and resources (not exhaustive):
• Indiana University School of Medicine and IU Health Methodist Hospital Trauma Center: IU Health Methodist Hospital is one of only three adult Level 1 Trauma Centers in Indiana and provides patients high-quality care to promote long-term healing.
• TRACK TBI designated center
• IUSM Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, is one of 16 funded Traumatic Brain Injury Centers in the United States – enrolling inpatients with traumatic brain injury and following their outcomes throughout their lifetime.
• CARE consortium
• The Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), currently funded by a newly-awarded 7-year, >$5 million/year NIH grant (following multiple renewals), began in May 2008 with strong support/involvement from all clinical researchers. The goal of the Indiana CTSI Translational Cycle is to facilitate the conduct of clinical and translational science research: to begin at the bench, progress through to the bedside via clinical trials, expand to the community, and then return to the bench for further research
• Indiana Biobank is one of three Indiana CTSI Biobank Partners. The Indiana Biobank Provides a robust collection of high-quality biological samples linked to electronic medical record data to accelerate translational research.
• Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
• Neurorehabilitation & Robotics Unit in the IU Health Neuroscience Center

As the nation’s largest medical school, IUSM is committed to being an institution that not only reflects the diversity of the learners we teach and the patient populations we serve, but also pursues the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that inform academic excellence. We desire candidates who enhance our representational diversity, as well as those whose work contributes to equitable and inclusive learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty. IUSM strives to take an anti-racist stance, regularly evaluating and updating its policies, procedures, and practices to confer equitable opportunities for contribution and advancement for all members of our community. We invite individuals who will join us in our mission to advance racial equity to transform health and wellbeing for all throughout the state of Indiana.

Indianapolis is the capital and most populous city in the State of Indiana. It is growing economically thanks to a strong corporate base anchored by the life sciences. Indiana is home to one of the largest concentrations of health sciences companies in the nation. Indianapolis has a sophisticated blend of charm and culture with a wonderful balance of business and leisure. The growing residential base is supported by rich amenities and quality of life – the city possesses a variety of professional sports, arts venues and outdoor recreation areas. Residents of this dynamic city, and surrounding suburbs, enjoy leading educational systems and top-ranked universities, paired with a diverse population. Indianapolis International Airport is a top-ranked international airport, being named “Best Airport in North America” by Airports Council International for many years. For additional information on life in Indy: https://faculty.medicine.iu.edu/relocation.

Basic Qualifications

Doctorate or terminal degree required. Minimal qualifications for this position include an PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or DO.

Department Contact for Questions

Neuroscience Administration: [email protected]

Additional Qualifications

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