Duke Launches Search for Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS) Director

Executive Summary

Duke University is seeking a visionary leader for the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS). The Director will drive interdisciplinary research, education, and engagement, while helping to shape Duke’s neuroscience priorities. Responsibilities include strategic planning, fostering collaboration, mentoring emerging leaders, and securing funding. This position is acknowledged to require a substantial portion of university effort. Ideal candidates will have a distinguished track record in brain sciences, experience in academic leadership, and a commitment to diversity. Applications, including a CV and letter of interest, are due by September 15, 2024. The target start date for the position is January 1, 2025.

Search Committee

• Cameron McIntyre (Chair), Professor of Biomedical Engineering
• Nita Farahany, Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law
• Jennifer Groh, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
• John Pearson, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology
• Debra Silver, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
• Leonard White, Associate Professor in Neurology
• Nancy Zucker, Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

How to Apply

Applicants should provide an updated CV, as well as a letter of interest that describes leadership experience and lays out a vision for DIBS in its next phase. Applications are due September 15 and should be sent to dibs-director-search@duke.edu.

Contact for Questions

Interested faculty who have questions about the role are encouraged to contact the chair of the search committee, Cameron McIntyre (cameron.mcintyre@duke.edu); or Ed Balleisen, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies (eballeis@duke.edu), and Colin Duckett, Vice Dean for the Basic Sciences in the School of Medicine (colin.duckett@duke.edu).

Opportunities

The DIBS director will contribute to the wider leadership of interdisciplinary research, education, and engagement at Duke, and will play a pivotal role, along with deans and department chairs, in shaping Duke’s priorities in neuroscience.

Responsibilities

• In conjunction with relevant deans, chairs, and DIBS’ faculty advisory committee, and informed by regular communication with the diverse group of scholars in the brain sciences and in fields with an interest in the brain sciences, develop and build consensus around a compelling vision for the institute that contains achievable objectives for research, education, and engagement.  
• Build strong relationships with relevant deans (including the Vice Dean for Basic Science), other UIC directors, and the Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies to advance DIBS’ mission and facilitate a community of practice around interdisciplinary academic leadership. Identify arenas in which DIBS possesses a comparative advantage over schools, whether in catalyzing innovative research, education/training, or engagement.
• Plan, direct, review, and/or otherwise foster new or major interdisciplinary research, and/or engagement initiatives across the fields of the brain sciences, ensuring coordination with other disciplines and divisions, departments, administrators, and personnel throughout the University as appropriate.
• Provide guidance to current DIBS Center directors around strategic direction, leadership development, and opportunities to integrate their activities with DIBS priorities. Work with the new Director of the Cognitive Imaging Research Center, the Director of Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, and other relevant programs across campus to ensure that DIBS also plays a catalytic role in convening and promoting collaboration/communication across the full spectrum of the brain sciences. Assess the overall portfolio of DIBS centers, services, and programs to right-size/restructure, launch, and sunset as appropriate.
• Engage, manage, and motivate an External Advisory Board (EAB) comprised of alumni, parents, and other supporters of DIBS, to foster external visibility and sustainability for the Institute. Explore partnerships with appropriate corporate firms that engage with neuroscience.
• Balance outreach to and service provision for the brain sciences community generally with the facilitation of signature DIBS projects.
• Work with DIBS constituencies, including the Director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and staff and leadership in pivotal departments to provide guidance for key educational undertakings, such as the Graduate Cognitive Neuroscience Admitting Program and Duke’s undergraduate major in Neuroscience, as well as the Consortium of Neuroscience Graduate Programs and the Bass Connections Brain & Society Theme.
• Seek out avenues of external support for DIBS priorities, especially through federal and foundation grants and philanthropy from identified individual donors. Direct and provide leadership in DIBS development and organizational advancement efforts; with University and School of Medicine development offices, corporate relations, and foundation relations, foster new relationships with prospective funders; work with senior staff to prepare proposals, development stewardship, and reports to funders.  
• Work with the Interdisciplinary Finance and Administration team to optimize DIBS administrative operations (communications, IT, administration, finance, HR) and ensure that the current structure is appropriate given shifts in the DIBS landscape and the future needs of the Institute. Supervise and oversee the work of Associate Directors.
• Mentor and advocate for the next generation of leaders in neuroscience. Identify and develop faculty for future leadership roles both in and outside of DIBS. Foster diversity and inclusive excellence throughout the brain sciences at Duke, among graduate students, postdocs, and faculty, as well as staff.
• Work with the Provost and School of Medicine management centers to develop annual and longer-term budget frameworks.

Relevant Experience and Skills

• Track record of innovative, excellent research and teaching in the brain sciences
• Demonstrated interest and effectiveness in mentoring undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff
• Collaborative engagement with strategic planning
• Inclusive management of staff in an academic unit
• Capacity to translate key ideas and findings from the brain sciences for non-scientists
• Engagement with varied types of fund-seeking to support academic projects