What are the responsibilities and job description for the Founding Director of The Lurie Autism Institute position at University of Pennsylvania?
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine invite applications and nominations for an exceptional leader to serve as the Founding Director of the Lurie Autism Institute (LAI). Together, we are launching a bold new chapter in research excellence with the creation of the Institute - a hub where innovation thrives, collaboration drives discovery, and ideas are transformed into real-world solutions. This is a rare opportunity to define the vision and culture of a world-class research institute from the ground up.
Founded in 2025, the LAI is a groundbreaking new initiative created through a partnership between the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine, comprised of the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) and its clinical enterprise, the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS). Fueled by the visionary support of the Lurie family, the Institute aims to transform the landscape of autism research by harnessing the collective expertise of two world-renowned institutions, an affiliation dating back to 1919. LAI is built to accelerate discovery across basic, translational, and clinical science, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to tackle the complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The Director of the Lurie Autism Institute will serve as the chief academic and administrative leader of the newly established institute, which is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research in the field of autism. The Director will be responsible for setting the institute’s strategic vision, fostering a vibrant and collaborative research environment, and building a strong national and international reputation for excellence.
Qualified candidates hold a PhD and/or MD degree and qualify for faculty appointment as Associate Professor or Professor rank in the Standing Faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. Candidates must have a track record of leading and contributing to the scholarship of autism, significant, successful administrative leadership experience at a thriving academic health sciences center, experience with recruitment and development of faculty, a reputation for mentorship, track record of or aptitude for interacting with donors and raising philanthropic funds, as well as achievement in articulating a compelling vision for the future of autism research, the role of the institute within highly regarded academic medical centers, and the field of autism in general.
All interested applicants are required to apply for this position online via this posting. The executive search firm, Korn Ferry, has been retained to assist in this recruitment. Beth Miller is the lead on the search along with Toni Lam, PhD, and Amber Gornik. In addition to applying online, all inquiries, nominations, and applications, which will remain confidential, should be directed to: amber.gornik@kornferry.com.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled, although an indication of interest is encouraged by October 27, 2025 for full consideration.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Founded in 2025, the LAI is a groundbreaking new initiative created through a partnership between the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine, comprised of the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) and its clinical enterprise, the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS). Fueled by the visionary support of the Lurie family, the Institute aims to transform the landscape of autism research by harnessing the collective expertise of two world-renowned institutions, an affiliation dating back to 1919. LAI is built to accelerate discovery across basic, translational, and clinical science, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to tackle the complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The Director of the Lurie Autism Institute will serve as the chief academic and administrative leader of the newly established institute, which is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research in the field of autism. The Director will be responsible for setting the institute’s strategic vision, fostering a vibrant and collaborative research environment, and building a strong national and international reputation for excellence.
Qualified candidates hold a PhD and/or MD degree and qualify for faculty appointment as Associate Professor or Professor rank in the Standing Faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. Candidates must have a track record of leading and contributing to the scholarship of autism, significant, successful administrative leadership experience at a thriving academic health sciences center, experience with recruitment and development of faculty, a reputation for mentorship, track record of or aptitude for interacting with donors and raising philanthropic funds, as well as achievement in articulating a compelling vision for the future of autism research, the role of the institute within highly regarded academic medical centers, and the field of autism in general.
All interested applicants are required to apply for this position online via this posting. The executive search firm, Korn Ferry, has been retained to assist in this recruitment. Beth Miller is the lead on the search along with Toni Lam, PhD, and Amber Gornik. In addition to applying online, all inquiries, nominations, and applications, which will remain confidential, should be directed to: amber.gornik@kornferry.com.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled, although an indication of interest is encouraged by October 27, 2025 for full consideration.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.