Sanford Burnham Prebys is a preeminent, independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health.

The duties and responsibilities contained in the job description are intended to be examples of the accountabilities for which the person in the position will demonstrate competency through performance. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

The Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Jolla, California, is an internationally recognized organization in cancer research. The Center has received continuous funding from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Cancer Centers Program since 1981 under the Cancer Center for Basic Research designation. The Center received an “Outstanding” designation in the last competing NCI review (May 2020) and was subsequently awarded a Merit Extension in June 2023. The renewal is due May 2026.

Sanford Burnham Prebys is home to four disease-focused Research Centers: (1) NCI-designated Cancer Center, of which 75% of the faculty are members; (2) Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases; (3) Neurologic Diseases; and (4) Metabolic and Liver Diseases. These are supported by the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics and centers for Multi-Omics and Computational Biology, plus cross-cutting themes in aging, rare diseases, stem cells and immunology. Sanford Burnham Prebys employs ~550 employees, with 46 full-time faculty and an annual operating budget of $120 MM. The Institute ranks among the top 3 of all independent research institutes for NIH funding. Sanford Burnham Prebys is ranked in the top 2% of research institutions worldwide based on citations per paper and is #6 in the nation on the Nature Index of nonprofit/non-government institutions in biomedical science.

Located on the Torrey Pines Mesa, which is home to multiple research institutes, biotechs and UCSD, Sanford Burnham Prebys offers a cutting-edge research environment that emphasizes a highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary style of research based on the synergistic merger of biology, biochemistry, chemistry, structural biology, computer science, and engineering. Approximately one-third of the research publications arising annually from Sanford Burnham Prebys represent collaborative endeavors involving two or more PIs.

The Cancer Center is home to three research programs, each headed by a Program Leader, including Cancer Genome and Epigenetics (Peter Adams, PhD), Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment (Brooke Emerling, PhD), and Cancer Molecular Therapeutics (Nicholas Cosford, PhD). Thirty-nine Cancer Center members publish >100 papers annually and accrue >$15 MM in annual cancer-related research grant support. The Programs are buoyed by an underlying infrastructure comprising nine shared resources.

In addition, the Cancer Center has a unique partnership with the Prebys Center, a nationwide resource for chemical biology and drug discovery funded by NIH and NCI grants and contracts. Direct access to these drug discovery resources provides Cancer Center investigators with solid support in translating basic science discoveries into novel therapeutics.

The Director of the Cancer Center serves as principal investigator for the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). They are responsible for the overall management of the CCSG’s budget, progress reports and competitive renewals. The Director is supported by a Deputy Director (Cosimo Commisso, PhD), an Associate Director of Translational Initiatives (Michael Jackson, PhD), an Associate Director of Training and Education (Kevin Yip, PhD), an Associate Director of DEI (Ani Deshpande, PhD), an Associate Director of Shared Resources (Craig Hauser, PhD), and an Associate Director of Administration (Tja Owens). This strong support team shoulders much of the administrative burden, particularly management of the Institute’s shared resources, which the CCSG partly funds. The Director is advised by the Cancer Center’s External Advisory Board and Internal Advisory Board and reports to the President and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys.

The Director is responsible for the overall operations and scientific directions of the Cancer Center. They are expected to work closely with the Program Leaders to establish research priorities, spearhead research growth in the Cancer Center, and interact with the Institute’s overall scientific leadership to foster an interdisciplinary, collaborative research environment. They are expected to continue to increase translational research in the cancer center and to provide strong leadership for the Center’s Plan to Enhance Diversity.

The Director is expected to devote at least half of their effort to research, and to maintain an NIH-funded laboratory, working at the cutting edge of modern basic and translational cancer research. The Director (MD, PhD or both) should be a leader in cancer biology with a demonstrated track record of successful NCI-funded grants. They should be well-known to NCI, with prior experience in the Cancer Centers Program preferred. The Director should be an outstanding communicator, using verbal and written expression, and champion collaborative, team-based, and multidisciplinary research. Prior management experience and successful organization of large collaborative research grants are highly desirable. A strong commitment to advancing translational research is also required, including forging strategic partnerships with clinical enterprises. The Director is expected to have excellent administrative and interpersonal skills, exhibiting trust and self-awareness in their interactions with others. They are expected to be a charismatic leader and function as the external face for the Cancer Center’s fundraising activities, business development opportunities, and media/PR events.

Required experience:

Faculty positions require a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. and an outstanding record of research accomplishments relevant to the focus area,

Compensation:

The Expected Hiring Range for this role is $350K - $450K commensurate with skills and experience.

To apply for consideration:

Interested applicants should APPLY HERE and upload their CV, together with a cover letter, a summary of past accomplishments, an outline of future research plans, a diversity statement*, and contact information for three references. Applications will be reviewed as received. More information about the Cancer Center and can be found here.

*As an NCI-designated Cancer Center, we are committed to advancing the agency’s goals—as well as Sanford Burnham Prebys’ strategic institutional goals—for “ensuring that all Americans share equally in the medical advances that result from cancer research, and that current disparities in the burden of cancer are reduced or eliminated” (PAR-21-321). Additionally, we affirm that diversity creates more robust cancer science and recognize the Center’s responsibility and unique opportunities to enhance the diversity of our trainees, membership, and leadership.

Please provide a brief statement (no more than one page) of your experiences, contributions, and/or scholarship related to diversity and inclusion in cancer research. Additionally, please outline how you would effectively lead the various components of the Center’s Plan to Enhance Diversity as required by the NCI:

Enhance participation of women, minorities, and individuals from groups nationally under-represented in the research workforce, center leadership, and advisory boards Use special opportunities, if available, within the center’s catchment area to enhance the diversity of the research workforce and center leadership of CCSG-supported components (Senior Leadership, Research Programs, Shared Resources, Community Outreach, and Engagement, etc.) Support career-enhancing research opportunities for junior, early- and mid-career researchers, including those from diverse backgrounds, to prepare them for center leadership Establish infrastructure and utilize institutional resources to expand the pipeline of members of diverse backgrounds through training or mentoring opportunities to encourage participation of students, postdoctoral researchers, and co-investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those groups shown to be nationally underrepresented in the research workforce Leverage institutional commitment and infrastructure to enhance the diversity of the center's membership and leadership Establish criteria for monitoring and evaluating the progress of diversity

Questions may be directed to recruiter@sbpdiscovery.org.

Sanford Burnham Prebys celebrates the rich diversity of our scientists, students and staff, who hail from more than 30 countries. Our diverse and inclusive environment catalyzes innovation and fuels discovery, enhancing the value and impact of our research.

We welcome talented individuals of all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

For additional information about your rights as an applicant, click HERE.

As part of this commitment, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our HR Partners at 858 646 3100 Ext 5127 or via e-mail at accomodations@sbpdiscovery.org.