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Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School of Medicine

Department: Cellular, Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Department Summary: The Department of Cellular, Molecular and Genetic Medicine is dedicated to unraveling the fundamental biology that supports health and drives disease. Our faculty, trainees and students tackle some of the most pressing challenges in biomedical science, from the molecular and genetic roots of disease to the complexities of whole-body physiology.

Our foundational studies are driving the frontiers of scientific discovery, pushing the boundaries of what we understand about biology, disease and the human body. From our labs in downtown Richmond to research collaborations around the world, our work is generating new knowledge, influencing the direction of biological science and redefining what is possible in biomedical research.

We are proud to be a community of passionate educators and mentors, deeply committed to empowering the next generation of scientists and leaders. With alumni enjoying successful careers across a broad spectrum of industries, our rigorous training programs offer students a transformative education that drives innovation today and creates lasting impact for tomorrow.

Chief Purpose of this Position

The Department of Cellular, Molecular and Genetic Medicine is seeking a term, research-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are looking for a candidate with expertise in quantitative genetics and bioinformatics to grow a research program who will develop independent, externally funded research programs that apply innovative state-of-the-art quantitative modeling approaches to important problems in medicine.

We are particularly interested in candidates whose research aligns with the following priority areas:

1. Quantitative genetic models in twins and other relatives

Developing biometrical models that incorporate data from twins and relatives, as well as genotype data to further our understanding of the etiologies of disorders, disease and traits.

2. Approaches and pipelines to analyze longitudinal and highly multivariate data

Developing methods for the analysis of large-scale neuro-imaging, genomic and other high-dimensional data.

3. Causal modeling using data from relatives and genomic data

Developing approaches for causal inference from non-experimental data, such as data from relatives, instrumental variables or longitudinal studies.

4. Applied analyses of large complex and genetically-informative datasets

Substantive applications of novel methods to address empirical questions concerning risk factors for mental and physical health outcomes. Examples from across the lifespan are of particular interest.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research 100%: Develop rigorous, innovative, and externally funded research programs in Quantitative Genetics. Successful candidates will be expected to publish high-impact research, compete successfully for extramural funding, and build collaborative research programs to enhance the department's research portfolio.
• Candidates will be expected to serve as highly collaborative researchers who can contribute to team science across CMGM, VIPBG, and the broader School of Medicine.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• A PhD or equivalent degree in quantitative, statistical, behavioral, or computational genetics/genomics
• Evidence of strong research productivity and potential to develop an independent, externally-funded research program
• Expertise in quantitative statistical modeling, or related computational methods relevant to medicine

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have expertise in the following areas:

• Statistical Genetics: Experience with molecular genetics/genomics/epigenomics, population genetics, bioinformatics, multi-ancestry genomics, genetic variant curation, and statistical methods development.
• Classical Genetics: Proficiency in twin and family modeling within a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework (e.g., OpenMx). Experience with multivariate, longitudinal/developmental and causal modeling, instrumental variables, and working with both continuous and ordinal data is highly valued.
• Computational Genetics: Skills in clinical informatics, genomic data science, multi-omic analyses, biostatistical methods, machine learning, and AI. The ability to develop reproducible pipelines using high-performance computing and coding in Python, R, or other computational languages is a plus.
• Familiarity with the use of AI tools to assist coding and validity testing of novel methods.
• Experience with cloud computing, GPU-based processing, or large-scale biomedical data infrastructure.

Salary Range: Commensurate

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

ORP Eligible: Yes

Restricted Position: Yes – this position does not have a set end date; continued employment is dependent upon project needs, availability of funding, and performance.

Flexible Work Arrangement: Other

Rank: Assistant Professor

Tenure: Ineligible

Months: 12 months

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Jodi Humpage
Contact Email: jodi.humpage@vcuhealth.org