Ignite Scholar

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Rootstown Township (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ignite Scholar program at NEOMED is designed for recent biomedical PhDs pursuing a mentored path toward a tenure-track faculty position in biomedical sciences.

The program offers two tracks: a research track with protected research time and a graduate education track focusing on educational scholarship and teaching. A senior mentor will guide the development of an independent research program and grant activity.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in biomedical sciences completed before appointment starts.
• Early postdoctoral experience preferred.
• Eligible to submit NIH or NSF proposals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct collaborative scholarly inquiry and publish in high-impact journals.
• Develop a personalized research development plan with mentor milestones.
• Publish findings and present at relevant conferences.
• Write and submit at least one extramural grant application.
• Engage in teaching activities for graduate or medical students as assigned.
• Meet regularly with mentor to review progress and adjust plans.
• Collaborate with researchers across the institution for interdisciplinary work.
• Participate in lab meetings and contributions to collaborative projects.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Collaboration

Analytical skills

Grant writing

Education

PhD in Biomedical Sciences

Postdoctoral experience preferred

Job description

Ignite Scholar

Position Type: Faculty

Department: Biomedical Sciences

Full or Part Time: Full Time

Pay Grade: 2

Summary

The Ignite Scholar role is ideal for talented biomedical researchers who have recently completed their doctoral degree and seek a mentored pathway toward a tenure track faculty position. The program has two tracks, (1) research and (2) graduate education in biomedical science and innovation. The research track is designed to provide a platform for building a robust research program with minimal initial teaching responsibilities. The graduate education in biomedical science and innovation track aims to establish a strong foundation for a successful career in educational scholarship and faculty teaching. The successful candidate will work closely with a senior mentor at NEOMED to develop an independent research career. Fields of study include: neuroscience, cancer biology, cardiovascular biology, tissue regeneration, motor control, bioinformatics, and graduate biomedical science, data science, and innovation. After successful completion of the two-to-three-year program, including meeting productivity criteria and demonstration of teaching competence, the scholar will automatically be appointed to a tenure track assistant professor position.

Principal Functional Responsibilities

Scholarly Pursuits and Research:

• At least 90% of the Ignite Scholar’s time in the research track will be protected for research.
• At least 50% of the Ignite Scholar’s time in the graduate education track will be protected for educational research, dissemination, and grant writing.
• Conduct collaborative scholarly inquiry, write and publish quality papers, and participate in scholarly activities within the laboratory.
• Conduct innovative research within the mentor’s lab, developing a new research initiative that melds the candidate’s previous experience with the expertise of the research mentor.
• Collaborate with the mentor to formulate a personalized research development plan with clear milestones toward achieving research independence.
• Publish research findings in high-impact journals and present at relevant conferences.
• Write and submit at least one extramural grant application.

Mentorship and Career Development:

• Work closely with the assigned mentor to receive guidance on research strategies, grant applications, and career development.
• Participate in regular meetings with the mentor to review progress and adjust the research development plan as needed.
• Engage in professional development opportunities and networking to enhance research skills and career prospects.

Teaching:

• The candidate may participate in graduate or medical student education and lab personnel training. Previous teaching experience is not required.
• For the Research Track: Perform approximately 5 hours of teaching per year, which may include guest lectures or seminar presentations. Upon successful transition to tenure track assistant professor, teaching duties will be those of any full‑time tenure‑track faculty.
• For the Graduate Education in Biomedical Science & Innovation Track: Perform approximately 15 hours of mentored teaching and student advisement per week including course preparation, content delivery, assessment, and student mentoring. A faculty educational mentor will provide peer‑review of performance and offer supportive resources for curriculum development.

Service:

• No service requirement during participation in the Ignite Scholars program. Service requirements upon transition to tenure track assistant professor will be consistent with those for others of similar rank at NEOMED.

Administrative and Collaborative Duties:

• Collaborate in preparation of grant proposals and research reports.
• Collaborate with other researchers, both within the laboratory and across the institution, to foster interdisciplinary research opportunities.
• Contribute to the research environment by participating in lab meetings and contributing to collaborative projects.

Miscellaneous Duties: Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• PhD or equivalent in biomedical sciences or a closely related discipline, with the degree requirements expected to be completed before appointment starts.
• Early postdoctoral experience preferred.

Requirements:

• Must be eligible to submit NIH or NSF proposals.

Experience:

• Demonstrated research experience with a track record of first‑author publications in high impact peer‑reviewed journals.
• Evidence of strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

Skills:

• Proficiency in relevant techniques for the candidate’s research area.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research setting.

Personal Attributes:

• Strong motivation and ambition to build a research career.
• Openness to mentorship and guidance.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Physical Requirements

Ability to collect and analyze experimental data and handle animals. Must be able to utilize applicable laboratory equipment necessary for the job, as well as a phone, computer and other office equipment.

NEOMED is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants without discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, status as a parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child, status as a parent of a young child, status as a foster parent, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable state or federal law. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, NEOMED also affirms its commitment to nondiscrimination in its employment policies and practices. In compliance with Title IX (20 U.S.C Sec. 1681 et seq.), NEOMED prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment.