University of Delaware

Chair – Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences

Appointment effective on or before August 1, 2027

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at the University of Delaware is excited to invite applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences (MMSC).

We seek a visionary academic with strategic and administrative leadership experience who understands all facets of departmental life including resource/personnel management, accreditation and regulations, instructional delivery, scholarship, external funding, and engagement with department stakeholders / partnerships. We value a candidate who demonstrates a commitment to undergraduate and graduate education and will foster innovative teaching and scholarship.

The department is entering an exciting period of growth and expansion. The University of Delaware has been awarded funding through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program, which will support the establishment of a new Physician Assistant (PA) Program within the Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences. The incoming Chair will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the department's academic and research programs. This expansion presents an opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, advance healthcare workforce development, and support the department's continued growth and academic excellence.

The candidate should have an earned doctorate in biomedical, molecular, genetics, biotechnology, clinical laboratory sciences, or a closely related field and be eligible for an appointment at the rank of Professor.  A sustained record of past federal funding as principal investigator is required. Professional certification (e.g., ASCP Board, ABMGG) is preferred.

GENERAL INFORMATION: MMSC is an agile, student-centered department recognized for innovation in education, research, outreach, and practice. Celebrating more than 75 years, MMSC combines programs in laboratory medicine (accredited), medical diagnostics, and biotechnology (accredited) with a dynamic, federally funded research enterprise ($3.1M+ portfolio). The department enrolls >700 students across four undergraduate majors, including Medical Laboratory Science (NAACLS-accredited), Applied Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (ASBMB-accredited), Medical Diagnostics, with two concentrations (preparing students for either medical school or physician assistant programs), and an Interdisciplinary Studies in Medical and Molecular Sciences major. Graduate education has grown with three professionally focused master’s degrees alongside our established Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences.  We actively collaborate with academic, clinical, community, and industry partners (60+) to enrich experiential learning and broaden access to STEM. Approximately 50% of MMSC faculty lead sponsored research reflecting our commitment to advancing science and educational innovation. The Department has laboratory research space in the Delaware Technology Park and the Ammon-Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center on the University's STAR Campus.

The College of Health Sciences is a dynamic, innovative academic unit with 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students and 135 faculty, who are nationally recognized leaders across multiple disciplines. The College is housed in multiple buildings on the traditional main campus but also is an anchor tenant of the University’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. STAR has become an exciting center that combines business, research, education and simulation space, all focused on leading strategic priorities in health science, biopharmaceuticals, data science, engineering, finance and other cross-cutting fields of study. In addition to the Department of MMSC, CHS has six additional academic units, including Communication Sciences and Disorders (#33 U.S. News Best Graduate Schools), Epidemiology, Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Physical Therapy (ranked #1 by US News and World Report), and the School of Nursing with a BSN program ranked #40 and MSN ranked #35 by U.S. News Best Colleges. With annual research expenditures of approximately $20 million, the college currently houses a number of large, interdisciplinary grants with significant funding from the NIH and DoD. The college boasts strong research teams in the areas of neurological disorders, cardiovascular health, chronic disease conditions, molecular biosciences, epidemiology, and public health. The college also houses and supports the Partnership for Health Communities that serves as a community-engagement hub for the University of Delaware. This environment fosters innovative research aimed at addressing pressing health challenges and improving clinical and population health.

One of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States, the University of Delaware has a rich history of contributing scientific insights and new ideas, fostering enlightenment, transforming lives and changing the world. Today under the leadership of President Laura Carlson, the University is committed to building on this legacy to meet the complex challenges facing the globe. The University’s foremost priority remains to ensure the success of every student, and this commitment dates back to our roots as a small private academy founded in 1743. From that early school, which educated three signers of the Declaration of Independence, UD has grown into a research-intensive, technologically advanced institution that is at the forefront of innovation in the classroom, in the laboratory and in the community.

Located in scenic Newark, Delaware, within 2 hours of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., the University is a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Carnegie Research University (with very high research activity, a designation accorded to fewer than 3% of degree-granting institutions in the U.S.), and with external funding exceeding $200 million. A state-assisted, privately governed institution, the University enrolls approximately 18,600 undergraduates and 4,500 graduate students.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Compensation packages are competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Faculty at the University have regularly received annual cost-of-living and merit salary increases and the UD benefits package is one of the best in the nation. The University is responsive to the needs of dual career couples, supports work-life balance through an array of family-friendly policies, and is dedicated to broadening participation in higher education. Relocation funds and start-up funds are available.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Review of applications will begin on December 4, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations and expressions of interest will be held in confidence and references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission. Applicants should upload a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. The letter of application and CV will be shared with the search committee. For inquiries, contact: Darcy Reisman, PhD, PT, Search Committee Chair, 302-831-0508, dreisman@udel.edu

The University of Delaware is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or status as a protected veteran, as well as any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. For the University’s complete non-discrimination statement, please visit www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html