Vice President for Research

The Vice President for Research (VPR) reports to the University President and is administratively based on the Rootstown campus. S/he is responsible for providing leadership and direction in the development and implementation of all research activities and the infrastructure to support them. S/he represents the office both internally to the University administration and faculty and externally to various stakeholders. The VPR serves as a member of the University’s leadership through active participation on the senior executive management team and in various institutional planning, implementation, and evaluation activities. The VPR also provides overall leadership to the working groups supporting the goal of the Discovery Pillar of the University’s Strategic Plan.

Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) is a public health sciences university composed of three Colleges: Medicine, Pharmacy, and Graduate Studies. We are a graduate and professional degree university with a student enrollment of approximately 1,050 and growing. We currently support the following degree programs: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Philosophy, and master’s degrees in Public Health, Fundamentals in Medicine, Medical Ethics and Humanities, Leadership and Health Systems Sciences and Medical Sciences in Anesthesia (CAA). Our academic campus is headquartered in Rootstown, Ohio, approximately 18 miles east of Akron, Ohio. We are closely partnered with several of the nation’s top health care systems including Akron Children’s Hospital, Summa Health System, University Hospitals Health System, the Cleveland Clinic, Bon Secours Mercy Health and Aultman Hospital.

We are nationally and internationally recognized for research excellence in our core research focus areas (RFA). We are currently ranked in the top 12% of all Blueridge Institute ranked research organizations with approximately $20 million in sponsored research activities. Our six research focus areas are 1) Health Services Research 2) Neurodegenerative Diseases & Aging 3) Hearing Research 4) Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism 5) Heart & Blood Vessel Disease and 6) Musculoskeletal Research.

This is a transformative time at NEOMED with pursuit of integrated clinical partnerships with our major academic medical affiliates (Akron Children’s Hospital, Summa Health System, University Hospitals Health System), growth of our research enterprise with a greater focus on translational research and health services research, growth of our college educational offerings, and expansion of our technology commercialization resources. The new Vice President for Research will work with the President to lead the integration and expansion of translational research with our major academic medical affiliates, develop stronger interinstitutional collaborations between research faculty and staff and improve the impact and prestige of all affiliated institutions as well as NEOMED

We are seeking an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative leader to join the NEOMED team in pursuit of our mission and vision for the future.

MISSION—NEOMED harnesses diversity, innovation, and collaboration to create transformative leaders and improve health through education, discovery and service.
VISION—To be the model of excellence in innovative education and impactful research to create transformational health care leaders of tomorrow.
CORE VALUES—NEOMED incorporates the following values in all that we do:
Leadership | Excellence | Advocacy | Diversity | Equity | Respect

Northeast Ohio Medical University is an AA/EEO Employer. The university has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion and to maintaining working and learning environments that are free from all forms of discrimination. Women, individuals with disabilities, veterans and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location: Rootstown, OH

Benefits Offerings: https://www.neomed.edu/hr/benefits/

Principal Functional Responsibilities

• Leads the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) to provide research, research development and support technology transfer services for the institutional community. This includes both pre-award and post-award functions.
• Ensures appropriate functioning of critical research support units and regulatory functions including Human Research Protection/Institutional Review Board oversight and compliance.
• Oversight and leadership of animal welfare functions including IACUC and Comparative Medicine Unit (CMU) and USDA/AAALAC compliance. Serves as the Institutional Official.
• Oversight of Environmental Health and Safety to include biosafety and radiation regulation and compliance.
• Oversight of grants accounting function, regulation, and compliance.
• Establishing and managing ORSP indirect rates (facilities and administrative costs) for federally sponsored research and other sponsored programs.
• Provides ongoing direction of research visioning efforts and oversight of emerging and established research focus areas.
• Serves as the primary research liaison from the university to health systems, universities, health departments, and outside sponsoring agencies.
• Oversees all research facilities and space allocation.
• Develops and implements activities designed to foster collaborative research programs across the Colleges and among the major academic medical affiliates, including, but not limited to, providing leadership for translational research development efforts.
• Works with the Office of Faculty Affairs and the department chairs to develop and implement faculty and staff development programs in research-related areas.
• Works with the General Counsel’s office to support intellectual property disclosure, protection and licensing.
• Oversees personnel and function of the REDIzone (Research, Entrepreneurship, Discovery, Innovation zone); supports faculty innovation goals
• Oversees annual Student Research Fellowship Program and Student Research Forum
• Participates in personnel and budgetary decisions relating to research and sponsored programs and assists with the development of the institution’s general operating and capital budget requests, including equipment service contracts
• Serves as a member of Graduate Faculty Council and other appropriate committees, including Conflict of Interest, Intellectual Properties and Research Committees.
• Serves as a member of various local, state, and national committees.
• Engage, stimulate, and support student research endeavors.
• Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and innovation.
• Provides research mentorship to faculty and students.
• Serves as the Research Integrity Officer for the research integrity program.
• Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure that allegations of research misconduct are managed in accordance with federal regulations and University and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
• Oversees the conflicts of interest appeals process and monitors compliance with approved Disclosure Review Committee (DRC) financial conflict of interest management strategies.
• Fulfills other duties as requested by the President.

Qualifications
Education/Training/Scholarship:

• An advanced degree is required with preference for M.D./Ph.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D. or M.D. degrees.
• Postdoctoral training in a research-intensive environment.
• 5 years of progressive leadership responsibility at an academic health center or biomedical research institute is required.
• Recognition as a scholar is required, with preference for achievements in research to obtain appointment as a tenured associate or full professor.

Experience: Significant relevant experience in higher education with a specific emphasis in research; significant experience in an administrative position with duties and responsibilities for academic and fiscal management; a demonstrated track record of accomplishment in medical or biomedical research; evidence of success in progressive leadership roles in academic administration; and demonstrated ability to build collaborative ventures and forge partnerships. The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of the needs of faculty performing basic science research, translational research, clinical research, and health services research.