Assistant Dean Research Support Facilities

Position Summary
The Assistant Dean for Research Support Facilities serves as the principal advisor to the Vice Provost and Dean of Basic Research and other institutional leaders on core facilities, and as a liaison between Core Directors and institutional leadership.  The Assistant Dean provides a broad overview of investigator needs for core facilities and ways to fulfill those needs; the quality and value of services provided; core facility equipment and staffing needs, and the appropriate allocation of institutional support for core facilities.  The role also evaluates and provides advice on proposals and plans for new cores to sponsoring departments, Vice Provost and Dean of Basic Research, and Provost’s Office. 

Experience and Education

Ph.D. in a field related to biomedical research, such as Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biophysics, Computational Biology, or a related discipline.  Individuals with an M.D. or other doctoral degree and the requisite experience may be considered.

Five (5) years’ experience as a principal investigator/research group leader, or in core facility leadership, or a related field preferred.  Previous experience in a leadership role within a university or research institution, and demonstrated experience managing research support facilities and infrastructure preferred.

Job Duties

• Chair the UT Southwestern Core Facilities Committee
  • Organize annual review meetings with Institutionally Support Core (ISC) Directors
  • Review and help organize progress reports from ISC Directors
  • Organize and edit Annual Committee Review Reports
  • Work with Core Directors, Provost’s Office, and Committee to review and, where needed, revise current procedures related to core lab functions.
  • Inform Core Directors and Committee members of current procedures related to core lab functions.
  • Advise Provost’s Office on administrative support and other needs of ISCs.
  • Mediate interactions between Cores, the Provost’s Office, and departmental administrative staff as needed.
  • With administrative support from the Provost’s Office, initiate, maintain, and evaluate Core facility user surveys.
• Participate in ad hoc Core Governance Committee. The Committee
  • Oversees operation and operational needs of ISC and department-supported cores.
  • Recommends strategies for financial monitoring and support of cores.
• Core Facilities Budgets
  • Work with Core Directors and the Provost’s Office Financial Team to develop annual budgets for ISC and departmentally-sponsored cores.
    • Advise Directors about current rules and expectations for core lab finances.
    • Facilitate regular review of recharge rates, staffing, and other expenses to ensure core revenue and expenses are aligned.
    • Serve as a liaison between financial staff in Provost’s Office and core directors to facilitate accounting practices consistent both with compliance requirements and with realistic functioning of core laboratory activities.
• Core Facilities Equipment.
  • Evaluate proposals from core directors and core facility advisory committees for new equipment purchases.
  • Advise core directors on the timing and mechanisms for de-accessioning under-used or obsolete equipment.
• Provide advice and support for submission of applications for NIH S10 grants, CPRIT core grants and other core lab support grants.
• Provide information on core lab services to the research community.      
  • Oversee organization of the monthly core lab seminars.
  • Provide information on core services during recruitment of new faculty, fellows, and students.
  • May present information talks to faculty, staff, students and recruits on availability of core services.
  • Advise core directors, Provost’s Office staff, and CMPA on improvements to and maintenance of core lab web pages.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding needs and challenges faced by researchers in various disciplines.
• Knowledge of academic and research policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Familiarity with the latest trends and advancements in research support facilities.
• Budget management and financial acumen.
• Ability to develop and implement a strategic vision for research support facilities in alignment with the institution’s goals and priorities.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in general office and/or laboratory areas.

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

Salary

Salary Negotiable

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.