Faculty Position- Center for Childhood Cancer Research and Scientific Director of Brain Tumor Program

Overview

The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital seeks an outstanding faculty candidate for recruitment at the tenure-track Associate, or Full Professor rank in the Center for Childhood Cancer Research with a research program focused on pediatric central nervous system tumors to act as the Scientific Director of the Brain Tumor Program.

The mission of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research is to revolutionize the treatment of children and young adults with cancer through scientific discovery and translation to the clinic.

The Center for Childhood Cancer Research is actively expanding from its current complement of 12 principal investigators. Principal Investigators are appointed as faculty of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and members of OSUCCC. Most faculty maintain appointments within the graduate programs of the University. Researchers have access to colleagues and resources at both NCH and OSU campuses. Our faculty members also have strong ties to clinical colleagues in the Hematology, Oncology, and BMT at NCH.

The new faculty member will have a PhD or MD/PhD (with up to 20% clinical effort for physician-scientists) and be expected to lead and advance the program’s scientific mission by establishing an impactful, independently-funded research program focused on the biological underpinnings of high-risk pediatric central nervous system tumors. The role includes conducting cutting-edge, extramurally supported research, fostering collaborative basic and translational science, as well as training and mentoring the next generation of investigators.

The successful candidate will join an exceptional and uniquely rich ecosystem for pediatric neuro‑oncology basic science research and translation. Our Neuro‑Oncology Translational Program includes six dedicated pediatric neuro‑oncologists and cares for approximately 600 children and young adults with CNS tumors, with 130 new patients entering our program each year, providing unparalleled access to clinical material, expertise, and collaborative bench-to-bedside research opportunities.

In addition, the position is deeply integrated with CONNECT (Collaborative Network for Neuro‑oncology Clinical Trials) a 24‑center international consortium headquartered at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and spanning the US, Canada, Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. CONNECT has enrolled 250+ patients across 12 innovative clinical trials and offers comprehensive trial development and execution support.

Its parallel preclinical consortium unites leading laboratories at NCH and worldwide to generate rapid, rigorous, multi‑model preclinical data that accelerates translation to innovative clinical trials focused on improving outcome and generating robust biological correlative studies.

These programs are further strengthened by our Brain Tumor Repository and Registry, as well as close collaboration with the Institute for Genomic Medicine and the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC)-creating an unparalleled environment for discovery, innovation, and impact in pediatric brain tumor research.

All research areas relevant to central nervous system in pediatric cancer will be considered, with a particular emphasis on scientific discovery and rapid translation to the clinic. Candidates must demonstrate a strong track record of extramural funding and high-quality first- or senior-author publications relevant to central nervous system tumors. Faculty will have broad opportunities for collaboration across the Research Institute.

The Division is consistently ranked among the top ten pediatric cancer programs by U.S. News & World Report.

The Abigail Wexner Research Institute is ranked top ten nationally in NIH funding to free-standing children's hospitals. Research programs are organized into 13 centers of emphasis and 2 institutes structured to encourage collaboration, facilitate team science and foster creativity with strengths in genomics, gene therapy, pediatric cancer, and the integration of basic science and clinical care.

Nationwide Children’s is consistently ranked among the top 10 children's hospitals, having been named to U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll” for 11 consecutive years. It is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit pediatric healthcare networks, providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative care for infants, children, and adolescents, as well as adults with congenital diseases.

The OSU James Comprehensive Cancer Center is the third-largest cancer hospital in the nation. Over 1,700 cancer researchers operate active laboratory-based and clinical research programs, with collaborations that bridge many programs spanning the OSU and NCH campuses.

Columbus is a thriving, diverse, technologically sophisticated metropolitan city with a population of over 2 million. The quality of life and cost of living in Columbus are outstanding. Recently, Columbus was recognized by Forbes magazine as the #1 rising city for startups.

Inquiries are encouraged. Please send correspondence, including curriculum vitae, a brief statement of research interests (2-3 pages), and contact information for three references to in Faculty Recruitment.

Application review to begin on a rolling basis with a final deadline of December 1, 2026.

Job Description Summary

Designs experiment and develop protocols required to conduct meaningful research in a specific area of scientific research. Trains and guides technical staff involved in specific projects and performing techniques. Plans future directions and seeks sources of funding for a research group. Records, collects, and analyzes data from research studies, and publishes results in appropriate refereed scientific journals.

Presents study results to Research Institute (RI) staff as well as at national scientific conferences. Collaborates with other RI investigators in a manner that will enrich the overall institutional research effort. Prepares for seeking and obtaining external research funding. Serves as a mentor to RI post-doctoral research fellows (Research Scientists).

Essential Functions

• Designs experiments and develops protocols necessary to conduct meaningful research in a specific scientific area. Does “hands-on” performance of techniques as needed to complete projects. Ensures that research projects are conducted efficiently, correctly, and in a timely manner.
• Trains subordinate research staff such as technicians, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, etc. so that they can perform techniques required for conducting the studies.
• Records, collects, and analyzes study data to be able to reach valid conclusions. With the results in mind, plans for future research directions and studies.
• When study data has been analyzed statistically, prepares papers and publishes results in appropriate scientific journals. Presents results and conclusions to scientists at the weekly CRI research meetings and at national conferences.
• Collaborates with other RI and OSU investigators to mutually benefit research efforts. Serves as a resource in a particular area of scientific expertise.
• Provides mentorship to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows (Research Scientists) in preparing them to be independent researchers.
• Performs appropriate duties as a member of the faculty of the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
• Prepares scientific proposals to seek external research funding whenever possible.
• Prepares and monitors capital budget for the area of responsibility. Responsible for authorizing expenditures from approved grant funds.
• Recruits, hires, terminates and trains assigned staff. Trains staff for compliance to hospital policies, RI, NIH, NRC, AALAC requirements and OSHA standards and regulations. Also conducts training on animal care and use as appropriate.

Education Requirement

Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. or equivalent degree and having completed a post-doctoral fellowship in a pertinent area of scientific expertise.

Licensure Requirement

• (not specified)
• Certifications: (not specified)

Skills

• Good communication skills, and ability to prepare scientific publications, presentations and proposals.
• Technical skills in an appropriate area of research.
• Ability to teach and train junior scientists.
• Desire to pursue a career in biomedical research, and knowledge of the research process.

Experience: (not specified)

Physical Requirements

• OCCASIONALLY: (none specified)
• FREQUENTLY: (none specified)
• CONTINUOUSLY: (none specified)

Additional Physical Requirements performed but not listed above

• Pressure in this position will vary depending on the workload.
• The workload will be heavy but manageable most of the time.
• Pressure may arise in the face of deadlines associated with grants, required documentation related to the physician’s OSU faculty appointment, etc.

"The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the individuals so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under their supervision. EOE M/F/Disability/Vet"