Director, Neuroscience Research Center

On behalf of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Froedtert Health, and Children’s Wisconsin, CareerPhysician, LLC, is pleased to inform you of the inception of an international search for a visionary leader to serve as the next Director of the MCW Neuroscience Research Center (NRC) and the Director for Basic and Translational Neuroscience at the Wisconsin Institute for NeuroScience (WINS). MCW is seeking a scientific leader that values a highly collaborative collegial culture, is committed to diversity and inclusion, and possesses a vision for the impact that basic and translational scientific excellence and accomplishment can have on clinical knowledge and outcomes.

With the recent establishment of WINS and the MCW Data Science Institute, the continued growth of the Neuroscience Doctoral and Graduate Programs, and the addition of numerous outstanding faculty, it is a transformative time for neuroscience at MCW. With a competitive commitment to fiscal and programmatic resources, we believe the role represents a legacy leadership opportunity to create an internationally respected research program and to lead basic and translational neuroscience research at MCW into the future.

The ideal applicant will possess a thriving basic and/or translational neuroscience research portfolio and the appropriate leadership and entrepreneurial skillsets necessary to foster aligned neuroscience research growth and philanthropic advancement across MCW institutes, centers, departments, and health system partners. The successful candidate will possess a PhD, MD/PhD or equivalent degree and academic leadership experience and accomplishments commensurate with process qualifications for an MCW faculty appointment at the level of Associate Professor or Professor.

Key Opportunity Highlights:

• The NRC is comprised of 168 faculty members and 150+ staff across 32 departments with more than 50 associated graduate students and post-doctoral trainees. 
• MCW’s research portfolio includes $131 million in current NIH Funding and over $300 million in total research support with continued plans for robust investment and growth.
• The NRC is nationally respected for innovative neuroscience research with special acclaim in synaptic plasticity, neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and neurotrauma, mechanisms of drug addiction, vision, pain pathways, cognition, anesthetic action, and neurodevelopment.
• Committed resources and support to foster NRC success in obtaining project program and training grants. The NRC is comprised of state-of-the-art research labs with core facilities for microscopy, rodent behavior, and neuroimaging.
• MCW’s culture of collaboration provides extensive interactions and collaborations between faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students.
• Ability to play a key leadership role in aligned neuroscience with WINS. Current WINS pillars include neurotrauma, spine, stroke/neurovascular, epilepsy, neuro-oncology, movement disorders, memory disorders, and other neuroscience disciplines for life study.
• Enormous opportunities for collaboration and co-recruitment with WINS, Children’s Research Institute, Froedtert Health System, and a highly motivated group of basic and clinical department chairs.
• Play a key role in MCW’s goal of becoming a high impact internationally recognized thought leader in the neurosciences.
• Outstanding opportunity to grow the philanthropic portfolio of the NRC in partnership with WINS with a stated goal of raising $100M.
• The Neuroscience Doctoral Program (NDP) is well established, with students performing research in ion channel expression and function, mechanisms of neuronal loss, neuronal responses to painful stimuli, neuron-glial interactions, addiction, neuronal damage and recovery after spinal cord injury, and functional brain imaging.
• Neuroscience research and NRC efforts are bolstered by the MCW Center for Imaging Research, a nationally respected imaging core known for the most advanced instrumentation for the study of brain function using fMRI via a GE 3T Premier and a 7T Clinical Magnet and 9.4T Animal Magnet dedicated exclusively to research endeavors.
• Outstanding Research Cores and Shared Resources including, but not limited to, Imaging, Structural Biology, Transcript Omics, Metabolomics, and Behavioral Analyses.
• Milwaukee is the 30th largest city in the nation and was named one of National Geographic’s Best Places to Visit in 2023, one of America’s Friendliest Cities by Travel & Leisure magazine and the Coolest Midwest city by Vogue magazine. The city is located on the west side of beautiful Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, Milwaukee County is the population and cultural hub of a metro region of 1.5 million. Milwaukee is home to multiple professional sports teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers. Living in Milwaukee offers residents an urban/suburban mix feel, relatively affordable housing, a major airport, regular AMTRAK train service, unique restaurants and bars, and a rich cultural scene including theater, symphony, opera, ballet, popular music, a famous art museum, well-regarded higher education - not to mention a gorgeous setting on Lake Michigan with many beautiful parks.

To Apply

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Nominations and applications, including current curriculum vitae and a cover letter stating qualifications and reasons for interest in the role, may be submitted to Wesley Millican, MBA, CEO and Physician Talent Officer, CareerPhysician, C/O Kerry Henry at [email protected] . All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant.

Our Commitment to Mental Health and Wellbeing

MCW recognizes the hard work and multiple responsibilities of our faculty and staff and is committed to improving wellness and wellbeing. As part of MCW’s commitment, a multitude of resources are provided and encouraged including the Well-Being Index, literature/research, courses, and peer support programs.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace that includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. We strive to integrate our human and social differences into MCW’s functioning, strategies and culture to create a diverse and equitable workplace. If you believe embracing individuality and working together makes us stronger, then MCW is the place for you. People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status.