Division Chief - Cancer Data and AI

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative, mission-oriented academic environment

Access to rich datasets and advanced computational infrastructure

Competitive compensation and benefits

Leadership support for a center of excellence

Job summary

A prominent US university is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Chief of the new Division of Cancer Data and Artificial Intelligence. The role includes defining a strategic vision and leading research in AI-driven cancer biology and diagnostics. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree and a strong record in data science applications within healthcare. This position promotes collaboration with local universities and tech partners, ensuring advancements in cancer research and care in the Mountain West region.

Qualifications

• Exceptional communication and team-building skills.
• Proven leadership in AI or data science with healthcare research applications.
• Strong publication and funding record.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategic vision for the CDAI Division.
• Help recruit faculty to the CDAI Division.
• Lead an innovative research program in AI-driven cancer biology, diagnostics, and/or therapeutics.
• Foster collaborations with academic institutions and tech partners.
• Secure extramural funding and oversee large-scale research initiatives.

Skills

AI-driven cancer biology

Data science

Communication

Team-building

Leadership in healthcare research

Education

PhD, MD, or equivalent in computational biology, data science, computer science, engineering, oncology, or related fields

Tools

Machine learning

Generative AI

Large Language Models (LLMs)

Job description

The Opportunity

The University of Utah's Department of Oncological Sciences (OncSci), in conjunction with Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), invites applications for a visionary and mission‑driven leader to serve as a senior faculty member and Chief of the new Division of Cancer Data and Artificial Intelligence (CDAI).

HCI includes over 300 cancer‑focused research teams and has established outstanding programs in laboratory research, clinical cancer research, and cancer control and population sciences. It is the only NCI‑designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West, has been rated in the “exceptional” range at its past two reviews, and serves five states—Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With over 1 million square feet dedicated to research and clinical care, HCI provides patient and prevention education to more than one million residents worldwide.

HCI Vineyard Campus

The new HCI center in Vineyard, Utah, supported by the state of Utah and extraordinary philanthropic contributions, will provide access to patients in central and southern Utah and foster collaborations with regional partners such as Utah Valley University (UVU), Brigham Young University (BYU), and technology companies on Silicon Slopes. It will implement HCI’s top clinical trial portfolio and house national cancer research leaders.

In its first phase, the campus will advance four key areas of focus:

• Health Care Transformation – redesigning cancer care delivery to improve access over distance, quality, efficiency, and patient experience.
• AI, Data Science & Digital Oncology – leveraging technology for innovative discovery research and for serving communities and patients through precision prevention and treatment.
• Innovation in Clinical Trials – providing state‑of‑the‑art oncology care and increasing access for rural and underserved populations.
• Community Outreach & Engagement – partnering with communities across the Mountain West to close gaps in prevention, screening, and survivorship.

These areas are designed to work in concert, creating a powerful ecosystem where innovations in one area fuel progress in others. Together, this synergy will enable Vineyard to pioneer new models that deliver a cancer‑free frontier across the Mountain West.

The CDAI Division supports HCI Vineyard’s second area of focus and will be central to the Department’s strategic focus on harnessing data science, machine learning, and AI to transform cancer research. The Division Chief will lead efforts to integrate computational oncology with basic and translational research and collaborate across the three other focus areas at both the Vineyard and Salt Lake City campuses.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategic vision for the CDAI Division, in collaboration with aligned leaders.
• Help recruit faculty to the CDAI Division and, if applicable, to the Vineyard campus.
• Build and manage transdisciplinary teams between the two campuses and across oncological sciences, bioinformatics, and computer science.
• Lead an innovative research program in AI‑driven cancer biology, diagnostics, and/or therapeutics.
• Provide mentorship for early‑career faculty in the CDAI Division and participate in education of the next generation of cancer data scientists.
• Foster collaborations with academic institutions (e.g., UVU, BYU) and Silicon Slopes tech partners.
• Secure extramural funding and oversee large‑scale research initiatives.
• Translate data science innovations into real‑world clinical applications.
• Represent the CDAI Division on national and international platforms.

Qualifications

• Associate or Full Professor with a PhD, MD, or equivalent in computational biology, data science, computer science, engineering, oncology, or related fields.
• Exceptional communication and team‑building skills.
• Proven leadership in AI or data science with healthcare research applications.
• Strong publication and funding record.

Preferred Expertise

• Machine learning, generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and data integration.
• Oncology data types: molecular data (genetics, genomics, epigenomics, spatial omics, systems biology, molecular epidemiology), EHRs, imaging, digital health, and real‑world evidence.
• Bridging research with clinical and population data.

What We Offer

• A collaborative, mission‑oriented academic environment. HCI and the University of Utah are known for their highly collaborative and collegial culture, where faculty work across disciplines to solve the most pressing challenges in cancer care.
• Access to rich datasets and advanced computational infrastructure, with a new $50 million pledge to advance AI for cancer research.
• Synergy with Scientific Computing Institute (SCI), the Data Exploration and Learning for Precision Health Intelligence (DELPHI), Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI), and other University initiatives.
• Strategic partnerships with federal agencies and regional health systems.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Leadership support to establish a nationally recognized center of excellence in cancer data and AI.

To Apply

Please submit a CV, cover letter, a research/vision statement for how you envision data science and AI will advance cancer research at HCI, and contact information for three references to https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/195296 (Huntsman Cancer Institute, Attn: Recruitment). The University of Utah is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Office: 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112‑5550

Email: [e-mail]

The University of Utah is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or to report discrimination or sexual misconduct, contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office Of Equal Opportunity And Affitive Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/. Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu.

Values and Culture

The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient‑focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission.