CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSCIENCE

CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine invites applications and nominations for the position of chair to lead the department of neuroscience.

The UK College of Medicine seeks a visionary chair with a successful record of achievement in academic research in neuroscience or appropriately related fields. Exceptional accomplishments as a researcher and academician are a must, as the chair's duties will include continuing the research program as well as supervising and maintaining academic activities.

The predominant criteria for appointment as chair include a national reputation for research and the proven ability to mentor faculty while training future leaders in neuroscience. A successful candidate will be a nationally prominent academic leader and role model with an established record of excellence in research, education, and mentorship.

The successful candidate should demonstrate strong leadership skills as a listener, decision-maker, humanist, and an effective advocate for the department and its faculty. The ideal candidate will have outstanding research credentials, including an extramurally funded research program and track record of research productivity, a history of administrative leadership, and/or significant evidence of potential for such leadership. The candidate should have experience developing collaborative initiatives and the personal characteristics needed to promote, foster, and facilitate the trust of colleagues and the broader University faculty. The successful applicant should demonstrate impeccable integrity and be an effective communicator. Prior extensive administrative experience as a department chair, vice chair, or director of graduate studies or equivalent is preferred.

Professional Experience/Qualifications:

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or
• Outstanding national/international reputation in neuroscience research, including a strong history of extramural funding and current extramural
• Demonstrated leadership experience, with preference for previous experience in administrative positions in an academic medical center
• Proven record of recruitment, mentorship, and retention of
• Demonstrated track record of teaching undergraduate and medical students, as well as research training for graduate students and postdoctoral

The College of Medicine seeks qualified applicants who value its mission. As an Equal Opportunity Action Employer, we strive to foster a community where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives feel secure and welcome.

Interested applicants should apply through the University of Kentucky job posting (https://medicine.uky.edu/departments/neuroscience). Questions and inquiries can be directed to John Gensel, co-chair of the search committee at gensel.1@uky.edu or Doug Andres, co-chair of the search committee at douglas.andres@uky.edu.

All applications will be handled securely, sensitively, and confidentially.

The position is open until filled; however, applications will be reviewed beginning in February 2025. Please submit by this date to ensure full consideration.

DEPARTMENT CHAIR ANTICIPATED DUTIES

This position is established in keeping with the mission statement of the UK College of Medicine.

Mission Statement

The College of Medicine promotes an environment that provides excellence in education, compassionate health care, and transformative research to improve the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond.

Scope of Role

As an oversight position, the chair of neuroscience will ensure that department faculty work in conjunction with one another and with other groups across the college and campus, sharing research resources whenever possible. This will also include administrative, teaching, laboratory, and mentoring support. The chair will work closely to maximize the net yield of each project and avoid separation or duplication of work in multiple isolated units.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Grow the department research faculty and research portfolio and provide oversight for the department's research
• Facilitate faculty mentoring in
• Facilitate an environment of collaborative research and conduct, including maintaining records of accomplishments and facilitating the acquisition of external
• Continue their independent research in line with the goals of the
• Publish in peer-reviewed literature as an author and co-
• Provide oversight for the department's educational
• Participate in and advocate for quality teaching programs for all learners within the
• Assign faculty to teaching roles and manage the distribution of educational assignments among
• Mentor faculty in various professorial series and oversee the academic development and productivity of the department.

Ideal Candidate Experience and Attributes:

• A strong visionary and inspirational leader who can artfully convey a long-term vision for the department yet is equally skilled at implementing a detailed plan to achieve that Highly approachable and compassionate; a record of promoting a culture of innovation, collaboration, teamwork, respect, and honesty; a professional and personal demeanor characterized by integrity, graciousness, humility, genuineness, empathy, and sincerity; and a passion for the

organization's mission and objectives.

• Exceptionally team-oriented; skilled at working well and partnering with scientists across the college and University to identify, build, and negotiate "win-win" relationships and collaborations; politically astute yet apolitical with an ability to break down silos and ensure a collegial and productive work
• Highly adept and at ease managing the day-to-day operational details with the ability to make strong and decisive decisions when needed while simultaneously creating unity within a diverse
• Able to conceptualize and analyze complex business opportunities, understand an academic department's finances, and apply that knowledge to manage all department aspects
• Actively develop the department's mission, strategies, and practices to support a diverse and inclusive

The UK College of Medicine Department of Neuroscience offers a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. It provides research and training opportunities spanning molecular and cellular neurobiology to neuroimaging, covering neuroscience fundamentals and exploring mechanisms and treatments for central nervous system disorders resulting from aging, injury, and disease. Currently, research in the department is supported by a diverse array of funding sources, including over $7.5 million in research awards from the National Institutes of Health (2023 Blue Ridge Rankings), placing it among the top NIH-funded neuroscience departments at public medical schools.

The department includes 24 distinguished faculty members and their exceptional teams of research scientists, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers, all contributing to

the department's research and teaching mission. In addition, the department has numerous faculty joint appointments across the college and campus, including clinical departments and research centers, reflecting its collaborative spirit and diverse scientific approaches to foster an innovative research and training environment. Pioneering work in the department encompasses areas such as brain development, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, addiction, brain and spinal cord injury, and cognitive neuroscience.

The department offers a PhD program that delivers a robust foundation in neuroscience coupled with high-quality mentorship and research opportunities. The department also provides instruction for numerous health professional/pre-professional programs across campus and offers a graduate teaching certificate program in anatomical sciences and/or neuroscience instruction. Finally, the department co- administers an undergraduate major, providing classroom discussion and independent research projects. Alumni from this program have excelled in various scientific fields, including academic research, industry roles, government positions, and science policy careers.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Established in 1960, the College of Medicine produces highly qualified, caring physicians and biomedical scientists to serve the people of Kentucky and the nation. In 2021, the college tallied 718 medical students among its main and three regional campuses, 807 ACGME-accredited program residents and fellows, and 300 graduate students. It is one of six health-related colleges at the University (Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health), encompassing 25 basic science and clinical departments and more than 1,100 full-time faculty members.

In the past two years, the college has expanded its educational and research efforts, adding two new regional campuses in Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky with educational opportunities that complement those offered at the main campus in Lexington. The college also has a campus in Morehead, a component of its effort to address the Commonwealth's physician shortage by offering third- and fourth-year medical students a curriculum emphasizing rural medicine.

In recent years, the College of Medicine has focused heavily on research. In fiscal year 2021, the

college's research funding totaled more than $232.7 million, with its National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding doubling since fiscal year 2017. This has allowed, and will continue to allow, UK researchers to dedicate more time and resources to alleviating the health issues Kentuckians face.

DEAN, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE - CHARLES H. "CHIPPER" GRIFFITH, III, MD, MSPH

Charles H. "Chipper" Griffith, III, MD, MSPH, leads the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as dean following a long, honorable career as a champion for medical education in the Commonwealth. His career of advancing education, providing exceptional clinical care, and conducting transformative research at the University of Kentucky spans over three decades.

Dr. Griffith holds more teaching honors than any faculty member in the history of the College of Medicine, including the Alpha Omega Alpha/ Association of American Medical Colleges Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award (2004), the most highly regarded medical school teaching award in the country. In 2006, the Clerkship Directors of Internal Medicine national organization honored him by renaming its educational research award the Charles H. Griffith Educational Research Award.

Dr. Griffith has published multiple articles and served on numerous national committees, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Board of Directors (the national medical honor society) and numerous committees for the National Board of Medical Examiners, including the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Committee.

He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and then completed residency at the University of Kentucky, where he also earned his Master of Science in Public Health.

ABOUT UK HEALTHCARE

UK HealthCare, the College of Medicine's clinical enterprise, is an award-winning, nationally recognized health care system dedicated to patient-focused care. Its designation as a Level 1 trauma center and its reception of Magnet status means its team of more than 9,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals are heavily qualified to treat Kentucky's sickest patients. The hospital system, which includes more than 80 specialized clinics and 140 outreach programs, reported more than

41,500 discharges of patients and 1.8 million outpatient visits in fiscal year 2019. UK HealthCare has

been named the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky by U.S. News & World Report for the past five years.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

The University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant university, and Kentucky's flagship institution. Its mission is to serve the Commonwealth through excellence in education, research, creative work, service, and health care.

The University has been named a "Great College to Work For" and is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers." Those who work here enjoy competitive employee benefits and various enriching arts and entertainment experiences, including concerts, museum visits, and spirited athletics events.

For more information about UK's campus, watch: https://visit.uky.edu/virtual-visit

LIVING IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and home to a welcoming, open-minded, and diverse community full of Southern hospitality. The city is a blend of scenic beauty from its rural countryside and a vibrant nightlife with campus happenings and downtown attractions. It also maintains a thriving economy thanks to its abundance of various industries. Large worldwide companies such as Lexmark and Valvoline are headquartered in Lexington, and other major employers such as Amazon and UPS have large warehouses here. For more information and an engaging video overview, click

here: https://www.uky.edu/ofa/welcome-lexington

Also known as the "Horse Capital of the World," the city is located in the heart of the Bluegrass, surrounded by beautiful horse farms. The region's fertile, limestone-enriched soil and vast green grasslands are major components of its capability to raise title-winning horses.

While Lexington is large enough to host various events and maintain a bustling downtown scene, it also holds many large parks and greenspaces. When it is time for a weekend escape, popular areas for outdoor activities, such as Natural Bridge State Park and Red River Gorge trails, are just a short drive away.

For additional information on the city of Lexington, visit http://www.visitlex.com/about/visitor-guide/

HOW TO APPLY

Follow this link for the application: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/565095

Successful applicants must undergo a national background check and pre-employment drug screen upon being offered employment, as required by the University of Kentucky Human Resources. The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity University. Individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, women, and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

CONTACT

John Gensel, co-chair of the search committee at gensel.1@uky.edu

Doug Andres, co-chair of the search committee at douglas.andres@uky.edu