Chair, Department of Neuroscience

THE OPPORTUNITIY

The University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center announces a search for a chairperson of our Department of Neuroscience.  UTSW Medical Center is a rapidly expanding comprehensive health center located in Dallas, Texas, one of the most rapidly growing, prosperous, and technologically advanced regions of the country. 

The UTSW Department of Neuroscience represents the core of basic science in the O’Donnell Brain Institute (OBI), a $1 billion investment dedicated to making UTSW the nation’s leading center of brain science advancement.  The Institute’s programs span the entire spectrum from world-leading neuroscience research to the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.  The Department of Neuroscience occupies approximately 50,000 square feet of modern laboratory and teaching space in the heart of our scientific campus.  The department currently houses 22 faculty members. Its current Chair, internationally renowned neuroscientist and geneticist Joseph Takahashi, announced his retirement after 16 years of leadership. 

THE INSTITUTION

As one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, UT Southwestern integrates pioneering research with exceptional health promotion, clinical care, and education. The UT Southwestern Medical Center is located in the heart of the Southwestern Medical District – a nearly 400-acre medical complex 10 minutes north of downtown Dallas. Through its own and affiliated health systems – UT Southwestern University Health System, Parkland Health, Children’s Health, Texas Health Resources, and the VA North Texas Health Care System – UT Southwestern healthcare providers are central to the care of millions of residents in the highly diverse population of North Texas.  

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The Chair will bring many of the following qualifications, professional experiences, and personal attributes:

• An outstanding record of research and scholarly achievements that merit appointment to the rank of full professor in the department;
• Distinguished researcher with a world-class scientific reputation;
• Good judgment in hiring and an eye for scientific excellence; a track record of supporting faculty and staff;
• An altruistic leader with a proven commitment to mentoring, motivating, and promoting faculty;
• An inclusive and receptive leadership style that values open dialogue and constructive engagement across differing viewpoints;
• Experience running a laboratory and managing administrative staff to support grant applications and accounting;
• Experience navigating and advocating for a department within a complex university, research, or medical center environment;
• An understanding of budgets and a record of fiscal responsibility;
• Visionary and principled leadership; a results-oriented approach, the highest level of integrity, and timely decision-making;
• Personal qualities that foster collaboration and resilience, such as humility, persistence, patience, good humor, and flexibility;
• A history of progressively responsible and successful academic leadership in a complex university, research organization, or medical center; demonstrated track record of academic excellence and success in leading and advancing research and academic programs;
• An appreciation of the importance of collaboration among different basic biomedical research fields, and between basic science and clinical disciplines.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the search process is completed.  Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent to sekstrom@spencerstuart.com.

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Work is performed primarily in general office and/or laboratory areas. 

SALARY 

Salary negotiable  

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community.  As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

Appointment rank will be commensurate with academic accomplishment and experience. Consideration may be given to applicants seeking less than a full-time schedule.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

Salary : $1,000 - $1,000,000