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September 8, 2015

Archived: Wanted: Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Division Director

By Helen Sunshine

Search Committee Members:

Helen Sunshine, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Chair

René Etcheberrigaray, Center for Scientific Review

Irene Glowinski, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Sherry Mills, Office of Extramural Research, NIH

Philip Cole, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Judith James, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Scott Miller, Yale University

With the recent retirement of Dr. Michael Rogers, the search is now open for an outstanding individual to serve as director of our Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry (PPBC).

This position offers significant opportunities to set scientific priorities, lead change and improve the biomedical research enterprise.

PPBC has a very broad scope, ranging from basic science to clinical areas. It supports research in fields including chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, enzymology, glycoscience, biotechnology, pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, anesthesiology, sepsis, trauma, burn injury and wound healing.There are tremendous opportunities to build bridges among these scientific disciplines, such as employing chemical methods to build tools for the life sciences and medicine, understanding fundamental biochemistry in its in vivo context and using systems approaches to solve physiological and pharmacological problems.

The division is organized into two branches, one focused on biochemistry and biorelated chemistry and the other on the pharmacological and physiological sciences. PPBC has 11 scientific staff members who serve as program officers.

The PPBC division director reports to the NIGMS director and is a member of our senior leadership team, which helps set policies and priorities for the Institute. There are also opportunities to participate in and advise on NIH-wide activities and collaborations with other federal agencies and scientific organizations.

Candidates must have an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a field relevant to the position. The ideal candidate will have considerable research experience in one or more of the areas that PPBC supports. Broad knowledge and understanding of the varied areas comprised by the division would be a great asset. In addition, candidates should possess recognized leadership, research management, strategic planning and collaborative abilities.

For additional information and application instructions, please see the vacancy announcement (no longer available). NIGMS will accept applications for at least 45 days from September 8, 2015, but it will not close the application process until a candidate has been selected.

As chair of the search committee, I ask for your help in identifying candidates for this crucial position and in sharing this information with others who might be interested.

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About the Author

Helen Sunshine

Until her retirement in April 2016, Helen oversaw the review of a broad range of research, research training, research education and center grant applications assigned to NIGMS. She also sat on the NIH committee that develops, implements, and evaluates review policies and procedures for all types of grant applications.