Chair (Professor Tenured/Tenure-track) - Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics (MSBMI)

Chair - Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics (MSBMI)

JOB SUMMARY: The Chair of the Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine will provide visionary academic and scientific leadership for one of the nation's premier programs in AI-driven biomedical discovery. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chair will lead approximately 15 faculty members and will be responsible for advancing the Department's research, education, faculty development, and strategic growth. The Chair will cultivate an ambitious, collaborative, and innovation-focused culture that accelerates discoveries at the intersection of artificial intelligence, computational biology, genomics, systems medicine, and precision health. Working across the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, UTHealth Houston, the Texas Medical Center, and national and international partners, the Chair will expand interdisciplinary research programs, develop transformative collaborations, and enhance the Department's national and global reputation.

The Chair will also play a central role in shaping the future of education in bioinformatics, systems medicine, and biomedical AI by strengthening existing graduate programs and developing innovative curricula that prepare students for an AI-driven biomedical workforce. As a key member of the school’s leadership team, the Chair will work closely with the Dean to implement the school’s strategic vision of becoming a globally recognized AI-native institution for education, research, innovation, and societal impact. The successful candidate will recruit outstanding faculty, expand externally funded research, foster translational partnerships across academia, healthcare, government, and industry, and position the Department as an international leader in AI-enabled biomedical science and precision medicine.

The Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine is at the forefront of the AI-driven transformation of biomedical discovery and precision health. The Department develops and applies advanced artificial intelligence, computational biology, and data science to understand human biology across molecular, cellular, organ, and population scales. By integrating genomic, multi-omic, imaging, physiological, clinical, and real-world data, the Department creates next-generation computational approaches that accelerate scientific discovery, enable precision medicine, and transform healthcare.

Research spans AI for genomics and precision medicine, foundation models for biology and medicine, cancer AI, computational drug discovery, single-cell and spatial omics, multimodal AI, imaging AI, biological networks and knowledge graphs, systems biology, digital biomarkers, causal and predictive modeling, and translational biomedical AI.

Guided by a vision to become a global leader in AI-driven bioinformatics and systems medicine, the Department educates the next generation of scientists and innovators, develops transformative AI technologies for biomedical research and healthcare, and serves as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration across basic science, translational medicine, clinical care, and industry.

Located within the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical complex, the Department benefits from unparalleled opportunities for collaborative research, clinical translation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The incoming Chair will have exceptional institutional support for strategic program development, faculty recruitment, interdisciplinary partnerships, and the expansion of an internationally recognized program in AI-enabled biomedical discovery.

APPOINTMENTS/BENEFITS:

The Chair of the Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine at the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics is a full-time faculty position.   Resources for intra- and trans-departmental program development, faculty recruitment, and cross-campus collaborations are available.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ph.D., MD, or equivalent and must have a distinguished record of research, teaching, service, and academic accomplishments that meet the criteria and high standards warranting appointment as a tenured full professor.

• Experience in assisting in the development and oversight of education programs that train and mentor the next generation of students, researchers, faculty, and professionals.

• Experience in creating a collaborative, positive, and productive work environment for all personnel, including faculty, staff, and students.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Expertise in AI-driven Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, broadly defined, with emphasis on developing and applying advanced artificial intelligence to understand biological systems and transform biomedical discovery and healthcare. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Foundation Models and Generative AI for Biomedicine, Computational Genomics, Cancer AI, Multiomics Integration, Precision Medicine, Pharmacogenomics, Single-Cell and Spatial Biology, AI-enabled Drug Discovery, Imaging AI, Multimodal Learning, Biological Networks and Knowledge Graphs, Systems Biology, Microbiome Informatics, Digital Biomarkers, Causal AI, Agentic AI for Scientific Discovery, and AI for Translational Medicine

• Outstanding track record of research productivity in one or more of the aforementioned areas, as demonstrated by extramural funding, publications, mentoring, and engagement.

• Consistent record of successful leadership and fiscal and program management.

• Demonstrated track record of excellence in research, teaching, and service. 

• Demonstrated success in mentoring and training junior faculty members to help them obtain grants/funding and achieve career growth.

• Commitment to the core values of communication, collaboration, innovation, action, and equity.

• Experience in the administration of externally supported research centers and training grants is desirable.

SALARY:

Competitive and commensurate with the applicant’s experience and qualifications.

APPOINTMENTS:

The Chair of the Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine at the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics is a full-time faculty position.  Resources for intra- and trans-departmental program development, faculty recruitment, and cross-campus collaborations are available.

HOW TO APPLY: All interested parties should apply through the UTHealth Houston Careers website. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The candidate should submit: (1) A letter of interest that addresses his/her motivation to apply and summarizes qualifications and professional achievements suitable to the Chair position, including an abbreviated vision for the department; (2) a statement that summarizes research, teaching, and service activities; (3) a full CV; and (4) contact information for three references, inclusive of titles and institutions.