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 join or apply to start their own Research Interest Group, which receive OBI funding. This program currently includes 11 separate groups that bring together more than 200 members from 16 different departments. These groups are focused on topics spanning from Autism to Dopamine to Pain. 

The OBI has invested in the latest technology to enable its researchers to be at the cutting edge of directly visualizing brain function and structure, and to have the computing power to analyze increasingly massive data sets. Highlights include investments into advanced microscopy (e.g., STED) and spatial transcriptomics (both Xenium and Merscope). 

Beyond the OBI, scientists at UT Southwestern participate in a vibrant, interdisciplinary, interdepartmental, and highly collaborative research community, and enjoy access to state-of-art research cores including imaging, metabolic phenotyping, behavioral phenotyping, protein chemistry, structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy, genomics, genetics and transgenic technology. Human subject capabilities include magnetoencephalography and a high intensity focused ultrasound machine capable of both discrete lesioning as well as opening the blood brain barrier for drug and gene delivery. 

UT Southwestern ranks among the top academic medical centers in the world. Our distinguished faculty currently includes 4 Nobel Laureates, 3 Lasker awardees, 25 National Academy of Sciences members and 24 members of the National Academy of Medicine., Nearly 4,200 medical, graduate and allied health students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows are trained each year. Faculty and residents oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits annually.

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. 

To apply, please submit the following application materials:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. A cover letter briefly describing the research area and future goals.
3. A two-page summary of research accomplishments and future research direction. If you are already an independent investigator, highlight your laboratory’s discoveries. Individuals who are further along in their independent career will be expected to demonstrate impactful discovery and have secured independent funding. 
4. Three letters of recommendation

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.

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

Appointment rank will be commensurate with academic accomplishment and experience. Consideration may be given to applicants seeking less than a full-time schedule.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/