Chair, Ben May Department for Cancer Research & Director, Ludwig Center

The University of Chicago's Biological Sciences Division is searching for an academic leader and eminent cancer researcher to serve as Professor and Chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research and as Director of the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago. The Ben May Department for Cancer Research has a legacy of internationally recognized and impactful scientific discovery, and the Chair is expected to develop and expand on the department's research strengths and ambitions.

The University of Chicago is a vibrant center of scientific investigation and innovation, and opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration are abundant within and outside the Biological Sciences Division. The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center delivers outstanding patient care, conducts world-renowned research, and provides exemplary undergraduate, graduate, medical, and postgraduate education. The Ben May Department for Cancer Research and the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago are key components of the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.

 With cancer research and clinical cancer care as a major focus and area of greatest investment, and with the construction of the new cancer pavilion and hospital underway, an exciting and strategic opportunity has emerged to lead impactful basic science cancer research and foster Team Science, with the goal of leveraging research strengths and collaboration across the Biological Sciences Division, the College of Medicine, the Comprehensive Cancer Center and the larger University. 

 The Chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research is a highly visible and prestigious role that will benefit from an impressive variety of available resources, including significant endowment funds from the Ludwig Center, to support the growth of basic science research focused on cancer. The new Chair will have the opportunity to build a robust department within the context of a broad ecosystem of interdisciplinary cancer research and training and will develop and grow collaborations enabling translational science and promote the creation of large, multi-investigator grants.

 The Chair will also serve as a senior leader at the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, representing the perspective and needs of basic research and discovery science. The Chair and Ludwig Director will report directly to the EVP and Dean of the Biological Sciences Division. In addition, as a senior leader and member of the Executive Committee of the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Chair will report to the Oncology Dean, Biological Sciences Division, and the Director of the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Chair will participate in the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center 's strategic planning efforts that encapsulate and utilize strengths across disciplines in the university system. Construction is underway for the new UChicago Medicine Cancer Pavilion and Hospital, the state's and city's first freestanding Comprehensive Cancer Center . This $815M, 575,000 square foot facility with 80 beds is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.

 Additionally, as Director of the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago, this leader will have the opportunity and resources to direct and further grow a preeminent research enterprise exploring major aspects of cancer research, including but not limited to tumor metabolism, cancer metastasis, cancer microbiome, tumor immunology, drug resistance mechanisms, cancer theranostics, and other cutting-edge work. The organizational structure, robust resources, and collaborative culture at the University of Chicago allow considerable flexibility in tailoring this position to fit the desired vision and scope.

 The Chair and Director will work closely with outstanding institutional assets, including Argonne National Laboratory with its world-class super-computing capabilities, the Howard T. Ricketts Laboratory, Pritzker School for Molecular Engineering, the Duchossois Family Institute (DFI) that focuses on the role of the microbiome and immune system in health and disease, the Marine Biological Laboratory, and the Center for Translational Data Science. Additionally, this role will build upon a multidisciplinary training structure involving multiple well-funded and successful graduate programs (the Committee on Cancer Biology, the Committee on Immunology, the Committee on Molecular Metabolism, the Committee on Microbiology, and the Committee on Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology amongst others) alongside various NCI funded pathway programs for undergraduates. In addition to impactful research, the Ben May Department for Cancer Research has a history of entrepreneurial efforts and works to bridge research, industry, and venture creation. Important collaborations include the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, and, more recently, the Chan-Zuckerberg BioHub Chicago. The department currently benefits from access to 27 core research facilities, including Functional Genomics, Cancer Metabolomics, and the Cellular Screening Center.

 The Ben May Department for Cancer Research and the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago combination constitute the major discovery engine for fundamental cancer research and work seamlessly within the cancer ecosystem to translate basic discovery to clinical applications. By leveraging the unique resources and multidisciplinary collaborations throughout the University and Affiliates, the candidate will be positioned to build a world-class cancer research and therapeutics department.

 Overall, this is a well-resourced and exciting opportunity for an emerging leader in cancer research to build a departmental community that prioritizes scientific discovery, team science, and translational impact.

 Prior to the start of employment, qualified applicants must have a doctoral degree or equivalent and qualify for appointment as full professor with tenure. 

 Application Process

The University of Chicago has retained AMN Healthcare (www.amnhealthcare.com) to support this recruitment.  Bernard Godley, MD, PhD, MBA, Lead Physician Executive & Academic and Life Sciences Practice Leader at AMN Healthcare, is leading this important search.  Inquiries, applications, and nominations must be sent by email to Charlotte Tinsley, Consultant, AMN Healthcare, at [email protected]

To be considered, those interested must also apply through The University of Chicago's Academic Recruitment job board, which uses Interfolio to accept applications: http://apply.interfolio.com/141240 .  Applicants must upload a CV, a bibliography, and a letter of interest highlighting the applicant's vision for the University of Chicago's Ben May Department for Cancer Research and relevant leadership experience. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

For instructions on the Interfolio application process, please visit http://tiny.cc/InterfolioHelp.

All University departments and institutes are charged with building a faculty from a diversity of backgrounds and with diverse viewpoints; with cultivating an inclusive community that values freedom of expression; and with welcoming and supporting all their members.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity .

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination .

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email [email protected] with their request.