Search for the Director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging

UC San Diego is pleased to invite nominations and applications for the position of Director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging. Judy Pa, Ph.D., Professor of Neurosciences, has agreed to chair the Search Advisory Committee, whose members are listed below.

UC San Diego seeks in its next Stein Institute for Research on Aging Director. This position serves as an inspirational scientific leader with a deep background in aging, including both research and administrative experience, to work closely with faculty, staff, and administrators within the Stein Institute and beyond, fostering excellence in research and discovery, training, and community outreach to promote healthy aging. The director will work closely with staff, fellows, trainees, and faculty members to ensure the mission of the Institute, which is to advance lifelong health and well-being through innovative healthy aging research, aging training, and community outreach. The director leads the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, providing overall strategic and intellectual direction for the Institute’s research programs, administrative structure, training programs and community outreach.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences, the director partners with academic leaders to guide and promote healthy aging research and provides advice and counsel to campus- and University-level committees, as appropriate. The director chairs the Stein Institute Steering Committee, which is charged with developing and implementing plans that foster interdisciplinary collaborations focused on healthy aging. The director manages the day-to-day operations of the Stein Institute, including its scientific and education programs and community outreach. The director oversees the dedicated space in the Stein building, including authority over space assignments in alignment with Health Sciences Space Policy guidelines.

Interested candidates must provide a letter of interest, current CV, vision statement (3-5 bullet points), and leadership statement (500 words or less) to the Search Advisory Committee via Kareen Escobedo at kaescobedo@health.ucsd.edu. Materials must be submitted by Monday, March 20, 2023. The committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately thereafter, and will continue until the position is filled.

John M. Carethers, MD
Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences

MEMBERS OF THE SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE STEIN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON AGING:

Judy Pa, Professor, Neurosciences, Chair
Eliah Aronoff-Spencer, Assistant Professor, Medicine; Director, Center for Health Design
James Brewer, Professor and Chair, Neurosciences
Kyle Edmonds, Associate Clinical Professor, Medicine
Danielle Glorioso, Executive Director, Stein Institute for Research on Aging, Staff consultant
Laura Hart, Assistant Clinical Professor, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Aladdin Shadyab, Assistant Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science

Position Description

Strategic Planning

Set the overarching vision for the Stein Institute to lead aging research, training, and community engagement.
Lead long-range strategic planning efforts, including implementation and evaluation processes, in alignment with UC San Diego Health Sciences.
Identify areas of strategic investment that advance the Institute’s strengths in healthy aging research discovery and aging training.
Establish partnerships with key external academic, industry, research, clinical and community organizations, both locally and nationally, to expand the Stein Institute global presence as a leader in healthy aging.
Lead efforts to launch new programs and/or initiatives to advance UC San Diego Health Sciences’ national and international prominence in education and research.
Identify areas of synergy between the Institute and campus units to foster academic excellence and scientific creativity.

Administrative Management

In partnership with the Stein Institute Scientific Director and Executive Director, oversee and determine the appropriate resources to create an effective and efficient operational model.
Partner with academic leaders across the Health Sciences and UC San Diego campus to implement new aging programs, coordinate and evaluate the outcomes, and support aging research cross campus.
In partnership with the Stein Institute Scientific Director, develop and foster innovative research strategies and methodologies and lead multidisciplinary groups in healthy aging research.
Oversee the Stein Institute pilot program and set the annual goals for the program.
Serve as primary fundraiser for Stein Institute, building relationships with the philanthropic community and working with the Office of Advancement team to secure gifts toward aging education and research.
Maintain overall accountability for the development and management of and adherence to the Stein Institute budget to ensure organizational fiscal standards and expectations are met.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated dynamic leadership skills with a high level of conceptual and strategic thinking.
Proven track record in the field of aging, including extensive experience leading aging research and aging training programs.
Demonstrated collaborations with leading aging and aging research organizations (e.g., American Geriatrics Society; Gerontological Society of America; National Institute on Aging; American Federation for Aging Research).
Candidate has appointment as Associate or Full Professor at UC San Diego.
Demonstrated commitment to contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a commitment to advancing these principles within Health Sciences.
Terminal doctoral degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, DrPH, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates must have a broad set of important skills to be successful as director. While no one person is expected to possess them all, the successful candidate will embody many of the following qualifications and attributes:

Outstanding academic record with experience as an effective senior administrator in an academic center environment.
Demonstrated success in managing a complex unit in a heavily matrixed organization.
National recognition as a leader in aging research, education, and/or clinical care.
Demonstrated ability to create innovative educational and/or research programs, particularly in the disciplines of healthy aging, geriatrics and gerontology, longevity science, neuroscience, or other age-related areas.
Demonstrated collaborations with academic units, including those with aging research and/or training expertise.
Demonstrated interest, ability and proven success in generating extramural funding, including private fundraising.
Demonstrated ability to build a sense of community and to actively engage faculty, staff, and learners in support of a shared strategic vision.
Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills; the ability to listen attentively to varied perspectives and foster a supportive and collaborative working environment.
A collegial, consultative management style, with the ability to be strong and decisive while also considering the needs and perspectives of faculty, staff, fellows, and students. The ability to collaborate and to delegate along with the ability to make difficult and timely decisions based on well-considered input.
A history of fostering career development for early and mid-career faculty across multiple disciplines.
A proven track record of mentoring students and trainees in the field of aging and healthy aging. This includes but is not limited to high school, undergraduate, medical, graduate/doctoral students, and/or post-doctoral fellows.
The ability to represent the Stein Institute and UC San Diego effectively; to build strong relationships with internal and external constituents; to be an effective advocate for the Stein Institute; and to advance research on healthy aging.
A high level of integrity and professionalism, and a commitment to support the professional development of faculty, staff, and fellows.