Vice Dean for Research

University of Minnesota Medical School

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Medical School (UMN Medical School), part of the University of Minnesota, a comprehensive, public, land-grant research university and member of the Association of American Universities, seeks an accomplished scientific leader and research enterprise builder to serve as its next Vice Dean for Research. The Vice Dean will join the Medical School at an important moment of opportunity, with a mandate to shape an ambitious, forward-looking research strategy, strengthen the environment for discovery and innovation, and position the School for sustained scientific impact in a rapidly changing biomedical research landscape.

Founded in 1888, UMN Medical School is one of the largest medical schools in the country, with campuses in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud, 27 academic departments, and more than 20 centers and institutes. In fiscal year 2025, its investigators received more than $293 million in NIH funding, placing the School 25th nationally in the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings; overall extramural funding reached $557 million in FY26. Signature strengths include the Masonic Cancer Center, an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, home to the world’s first 10.5 Tesla human MRI scanner; and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, an NIH CTSA hub. As part of one of the nation’s few academic health environments uniting medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and veterinary medicine within a single research university, and located in a region with an internationally recognized medical-technology sector, the Medical School is well-positioned to advance interdisciplinary and translational science.

Reporting to the Dean of the Medical School and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, the Vice Dean for Research serves as the Medical School’s senior leader for research strategy and enterprise development and leads the Office of Research. Working closely with department chairs, center and institute directors, senior faculty, University research leadership, the health sciences, and clinical partners, the Vice Dean will help establish research priorities and investment strategies; advise on major faculty recruitment and retention; strengthen shared resources, core infrastructure, and the environment for clinical and translational research; and serve as a principal advocate for research faculty. The Vice Dean will represent the research mission to University leadership, policymakers, donors, foundations, and industry partners, and will help broaden and diversify support for the School’s science in an evolving federal funding environment.

The successful candidate will bring nationally recognized scientific stature and a distinguished record of research accomplishment, including a strong history of competitive external funding; an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree, with qualifications for appointment at the rank of professor; and significant experience in a senior research leadership role within a complex academic medical center, medical school, university, institute, or comparable organization. Candidates should demonstrate a transition from leading an individual research program to building research capacity at the institutional level; success fostering interdisciplinary, team-based, and center-level science; a strong record of recruiting, retaining, and developing research faculty; a sophisticated understanding of the federal biomedical research environment; and experience building a diversified funding portfolio spanning industry, foundations, philanthropy, and public entities. A collaborative, transparent, and highly credible leadership style and a strong commitment to faculty success, scientific excellence, and the University’s land-grant mission are essential. An active research program is preferred but not required.

The Vice Dean will hold a full-time faculty appointment in the Medical School, with a negotiable share of effort dedicated to the Vice Dean role, a 12-month professional and administrative appointment based in Minneapolis. The anticipated salary range is $345,000 – $585,000, commensurate with education and experience.

The University of Minnesota has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications (CV and cover letter) should be submitted in confidence via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-minnesota-medical-school/vice-dean-research. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Rebecca Kennedy, Managing Partner

Samuel Ruth, Senior Associate

Mig Bautista, Associate

Cortnee Bollard, Managing Search Coordinator

Isaacson, Miller

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.