Associate Professor or Professor

Oregon Health & Science University; Oregon; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

OHSU's Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The successful candidate will lead a translational infectious disease/immunology research program using human cohorts and clinical data to accelerate vaccines and therapeutics.

We seek an outstanding, independent investigator with a strong extramural funding record, experience mentoring diverse trainees, and a commitment to rigorous, ethical, collaborative

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, D.V.M., or equivalent terminal degree.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead an independent research program focused on human translational infectious disease or immunology.
• Sustain a strong portfolio of peer‑reviewed extramural funding and pursue collaborative opportunities.
• Connect human cohorts and clinical data with mechanistic studies and animal models where relevant.
• Build collaborations across VGTI, OHSU, and external partners.
• Publish influential scholarship and communicate findings to scientific, clinical, and public audiences.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high‑performing research team.
• Contribute to graduate, professional, or medical education and to the intellectual life of VGTI.
• Foster an inclusive, rigorous research environment and participate in service.

Job description

Department Overview
The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of

Department Overview
The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. Academic rank, faculty track, tenure status, departmental appointment, and compensation will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience and determined in accordance with OHSU policy.
VGTI brings together multidisciplinary investigators to address serious infectious disease threats and to move discoveries from molecular and cellular studies through animal models and ultimately into clinical testing. Current strengths include HIV/AIDS, herpesvirus biology, tuberculosis, malaria, emerging viruses with pandemic potential, viral pathogenesis, vaccine development, host–pathogen interactions, and the immunology of aging.
Located on OHSU’s West Campus adjacent to ONPRC, VGTI provides access to biosafety level 3 laboratories and advanced technologies that include spatial profiling, single-cell transcriptomics, flow cytometry, genomics, virology, advanced imaging, quantitative PCR, and proteomics. OHSU’s clinical programs and statewide partnerships create significant opportunities to expand human-focused investigation.
The Division of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics and Internal Medicine links clinical care and translational research across HIV, mycobacterial disease, infections in immunocompromised hosts, viral immunology, antimicrobial resistance, fungal and parasitic infections, and related fields, while the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) supports recruitment, biospecimen access, study coordination, and community engagement.

Function/Duties of Position
VGTI seeks an accomplished, collaborative scientist whose research is centered on human translational infectious disease or immunology. The successful candidate will lead an innovative, externally funded research program that uses human populations, clinical cohorts, biospecimens, or patient-linked data to define mechanisms of infection and immunity and accelerate the development or evaluation of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, biomarkers, or curative strategies. The VGTI is particularly interested in investigators who can create durable connections among human disease, mechanistic discovery, experimental models, and clinical translation.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Establish, maintain, and grow an independent, nationally or internationally recognized research program in human translational infectious disease or immunology.
• Sustain a strong portfolio of peer-reviewed extramural funding and pursue collaborative, multi-investigator, programmatic, or center-level opportunities when appropriate.
• Develop research that connects human cohorts, clinical specimens, or patient-derived data with mechanistic studies and, where relevant, small‑animal or nonhuman‑primate models.
• Build productive collaborations across VGTI, ONPRC, OHSU clinical and basic‑science units, and external academic, community, government, nonprofit, and industry partners.
• Publish influential scholarship and communicate findings to scientific, clinical, and public audiences.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop a high‑performing research team, including staff scientists, research staff, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early‑career investigators.
• Contribute to graduate, professional, or medical education and to the intellectual life of VGTI through seminars, working groups, team science, and service.
• Foster a rigorous, ethical, collegial, and inclusive research and training environment.
• Participate in Institute and University service appropriate to rank and experience.
  

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., D.V.M., or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant discipline.
• Academic accomplishments appropriate for appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level.
• Established record of high‑impact scholarship in infectious disease, immunology, or a closely related field.
• Sustained record of peer‑reviewed extramural research support as a principal investigator or equivalent scientific lead.
• Demonstrated independence in developing and directing a productive research program.
• Substantive experience with human translational research involving cohorts, clinical samples, patient‑linked data, clinical studies, or closely related approaches.
• Record of effective collaboration across scientific or clinical disciplines.
• Demonstrated excellence in mentoring trainees and research staff.
• Commitment to research rigor, responsible conduct, collegiality, and an environment in which people with varied backgrounds and perspectives can thrive.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multi‑investigator grants, research networks, clinical‑translational programs, or cross‑institutional collaborations.
• Research that complements VGTI strengths while adding new human‑focused capabilities, cohorts, technologies, or disease areas.
• Experience translating mechanistic findings into vaccines, diagnostics, biomarkers, therapeutics, clinical studies, or public‑health applications.
• Established collaborations with clinical investigators, health systems, communities, industry, government agencies, or international research partners.
• For physician‑scientists, relevant specialty training and eligibility for Oregon licensure if clinical effort will be included.
  

Additional Details
Appointment and support
The appointment will include competitive start‑up support, research and office space, access to OHSU and VGTI shared resources, and opportunities for joint or secondary appointments aligned with the successful candidate’s expertise. The final distribution of research, teaching, service, and