Chair, Department of Genetics

University of Pennsylvania; United (PA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania seeks an accomplished scientific leader to serve as Chair of the Department of Genetics in the Perelman School of Medicine. The Chair will provide strategic, educational, and administrative leadership to a growing department across human genetics, genomics, and precision medicine.

The successful candidate will articulate a bold vision for the field, recruit and mentor world-class faculty, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations with Penn CHOP, the Wistar

Responsibilities

• Articulate and execute a bold vision for the future of genetics and genomic medicine.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop exceptional faculty and sustain a rigorous scientific community.
• Advance research excellence from fundamental discovery through translational and precision medicine.
• Strengthen education and training across graduate, medical, postdoctoral, and undergraduate programs.
• Build interdisciplinary partnerships across Penn, CHOP, the Wistar Institute, and affiliated institutions.
• Steward departmental resources and core facilities and expand philanthropic engagement and visibility.

Job description

Chair, Department of Genetics

Location: Philadelpia

Open Date: Sep 28, 2026

Advancing Discovery Defining the Future of GenomicMedicine

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvaniaseeks an accomplished and visionary scientific leader to serve asChair of the Department of Genetics.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The next Chair will lead a highly accomplished, collaborative, andgrowing department and shape its next phase of scientificdistinction, institutional impact, and national prominence. Penn'sextraordinary research ecosystem, including Children's Hospital ofPhiladelphia (CHOP), Penn Engineering, the Wistar Institute, andnumerous interdisciplinary centers and institutes, offers anexceptional platform for advancing genetics and genomicmedicine.

DEPARTMENT AND ROLE

Established in 1965, the Department of Genetics has been a leadingacademic community for discovery and innovation in genetics andgenomics. Today the Department includes more than 30 facultymembers, working across human genetics and genomics, evolutionaryand population genetics, genome engineering, epigenetics, RNAbiology, functional genomics, computational and statisticalgenomics, rare disease genetics, cancer genetics, neurogenetics,and precision medicine.

The Chair will provide strategic, scientific, educational, andadministrative leadership and will:

• Articulate and execute a bold vision for the future of geneticsand genomic medicine.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop exceptional faculty and sustain arigorous scientific community.
• Advance research excellence from fundamental discovery throughtranslational and precision medicine.
• Strengthen education and training across graduate, medical,postdoctoral, and undergraduate programs.
• Build interdisciplinary partnerships across Penn, CHOP, theWistar Institute, and affiliated institutions.
• Steward departmental resources and core facilities and expandphilanthropic engagement and visibility.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Candidates must hold an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent terminaldegree and be eligible for appointment to the Standing Faculty atthe rank of Associate Professor or Professor at the Perelman Schoolof Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. The successfulcandidate will have an internationally respected record ofscholarship, sustained scientific productivity, substantialacademic leadership experience, demonstrated excellence inmentorship and faculty development, and strong operational andfinancial acumen. A collaborative leadership style, the ability tolead change and deliver measurable results, and experience with oraptitude for development and donor relations are essential.

Equal Employment Opportunity StatementThe University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state, or local law.