Faculty Positions for UTSW O'Donnell Brain Institute Scholars Program

Description

O’Donnell Brain Institute Scholars Program

The Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute (OBI) at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is initiating the OBI Scholars Program for exceptional early career scientists of any discipline whose research program includes mechanistic studies relevant to human nervous system disease. This program is open to PhD, MD, or MD/PhD applicants seeking their first tenure-track assistant professor position or who are currently serving as Assistant Professors or have recently been promoted to Associate Professors. 

 

OBI Scholars will receive a generous ~$3M recruitment package and laboratory space in the recently opened, state-of-the-art O’Donnell Biomedical Research Building, which houses a diverse set of investigators, including basic and human neuroscientists, immunologists, biochemists, and structural biologists. The program supports individuals pursuing either laboratory-based or human subject research.

 

The primary objective of the OBI Scholars Program is to recruit and support outstanding scientists whose research advances understanding of CNS disease and aging. The program will consider exceptional applicants from any discipline, but we are particularly focused on two key areas: (1) circuit biology relevant to movement, memory/cognition, and pain; and (2) molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and regeneration, including neuroimmune and endolysosomal mechanisms. Within these priorities, research may explore fundamental aspects of neuron or CNS function or broadly relevant disease mechanisms, without requiring direct use of disease models.

 

A recent major OBI initiative in circuit neuroscience is the Program in Memory Longevity, led by Attila Losonczy, MD, PhD, which focuses on hippocampal circuits in both normal and pathological conditions. We are seeking to grow this program with new faculty. 

 

The OBI is highly collaborative and integrated with all neuroscience-related basic and clinical departments, including Neuroscience, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. The OBI Investigator Program enables UTSW faculty from any department doing relevant work to join the OBI community. OBI Scholars will receive a primary appointment within the OBI and a secondary appointment in the basic science or clinical department most aligned with their work. Candidates whose career includes clinical care must have or be eligible for a Texas Medical License.

 

OBI Scholars will benefit from the wealth of programs developed and supported by the OBI. These programs have been developed to ensure that UT Southwestern is a leading environment for brain science research. Programs supporting scientific study and training include the high-risk high-reward Visionary Neuroscience Program for cutting-edge multidisciplinary investigation, the trainee-focused Sprouts Program, and the Neural Scientist Training Program to attract outstanding students to pursue their PhD training at UT Southwestern. Through our Perot Neurosciences Translational Research Center, we recently launched the Clinical Neuroscience Research Excellence Initiative that will support both team-based multidisciplinary clinical research and the career development of outstanding early faculty in clinical research. The Travel Grant Program makes it possible for trainees to present their research at national and international conferences.

 

The Research Interest Group Program supports multidisciplinary groups of laboratory and clinical faculty interested in common research areas. Faculty may