🚀 Associate Dean for Research

About Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we are UNCOMMON and UNLIKE any other university. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers in Virginia. VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity where your success is supported and your career can thrive.

Work Life @ VCU

• UNSTOPPABLE commitment to growth and development – we want to help you take your career to the next level!


• UNDERSTANDING culture of care and appreciation – the university is dedicated to providing you with the resources and support you need to achieve a healthy work‑life integration!


• UNEQUALED resolve to help employees thrive – from health plans and retirement savings, to tuition benefits and employee discounts, to short‑term and long‑term disability and maternity leave, our benefits support VCU employees with a wide range of needs and lifestyles!

Research @ VCU

VCU is a leading public research institution committed to serving both its students and the broader community. Energized by its urban setting in Richmond, VCU is a hub of innovation—pushing boundaries, challenging convention, and embracing bold, forward‑thinking ideas. As a Carnegie ranked – R1 institution ranked among the top 50 public research universities nationwide, VCU secured more than $506 million in sponsored research funding from federal and other sources in FY2024, a nearly 50% increase since FY2020. We strive to provide research opportunities at all levels of learning as One VCU with opportunities in undergraduate and graduate programming – we believe that every VCU Ram is a Researcher!

The central heart of research innovation and infrastructure at VCU is the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation (OVPRI), whose mission is to foster transformative research, discovery and innovation through excellence in service. In addition to supporting schools and departments throughout the research lifecycle, OVPRI leads the Research Development Advisory Council (ReDAC), which brings together Associate Deans for Research across the University to ensure strong communication about research related infrastructure and needs, as well as to make policy recommendations to the VP for Research and Innovation, Dr. Srirama Rao.

Community Engagement @ VCU

As a Carnegie Classified Community Engaged University since 2005, VCU fosters a deeply collaborative environment, leveraging cross‑disciplinary partnerships across its schools and departments to drive discovery and deliver real‑world impact. Through our Division of Community Engagement, led by Vice Provost and School of Public Health faculty member Dr. Maghboeba Mosavel, we strive to build collaborative community partnerships that support shared goals and contribute to transformative learning, impactful research, and mutually beneficial outcomes for the community. As part of VCU’s engaged mission, the division supports two place‑based sites: the Mary and Frances Youth Center providing programming and training to enhance the lives of youth in the Richmond metro area, and the VCU Health Hub at 25th, an education and wellness and activity center located in the East End of Richmond with the goal of providing activities that promote community health and well‑being while learning together.

About the School of Public Health

The School of Public Health at VCU was established in July 2023 and offers four doctoral degrees in biostatistics, epidemiology, healthcare policy, and social and behavioral sciences, as well as a Master’s of Public Health (in‑person & online), and a Master’s of Science in Biostatistics. Our 54 full‑time faculty provide our 138 students with the opportunity to engage in developing real‑world solutions to overcome long‑standing local, regional and national health inequities. Faculty and students conduct research focused on improving the quality of life among populations in Virginia, the broader region and also internationally.

The School of Public Health is a member of the thriving academic and research communities within VCU and is tied to an academic health system with a teaching hospital, children’s hospital, NCI‑designated comprehensive cancer center and an NIH‑funded center for clinical translational science. VCU Health is also the largest safety net health system in Virginia, and its robust health sciences campus – with programs in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and health professions – offers an ideal setting for the School of Public Health’s commitment to interdisciplinary public health education and scholarship.

The School of Public Health supports VCU’s mission of “research that promotes translational applications to improve the quality of human life” by strengthening and expanding academic programming and collaborative research in public health.

Vision: Health, well‑being, and longevity for all.

Mission: VCU School of Public Health is committed to improving health, well‑being and longevity for all populations through education, discovery, dissemination and co‑learning with the communities we serve.

Position Summary

The Associate Dean for Research is a senior academic leader charged with advancing the School of Public Health’s research mission and promoting a dynamic culture of inquiry and innovation, and supporting high‑impact research initiatives across disciplines. This position provides strategic vision and operational leadership, and oversight of research administration, faculty development, compliance, external funding, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Working in close partnership with the Dean, academic leadership, faculty, and external stakeholders, the Associate Dean plays a central role in shaping the institution’s research enterprise and elevating its national and international reputation. This role also leads efforts to mentor and support faculty, especially early‑career researchers, and to build institutional systems that promote research excellence, innovation, and equitable impact across varied communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  
  
  
  • Develop and implement a long‑term vision and strategic plan for research across all academic units.
  
  
  • Promote a collaborative research environment that supports faculty, staff, and student participation.
  
  
  • Champion interdisciplinary, translational, and community‑engaged research efforts.
  
  
  
  


• Research Development & Support:
  
  
  
  • Provide leadership in identifying and securing external funding from federal, state, industry, and philanthropic sources.
  
  
  • Develop and oversee internal grant programs and seed funding initiatives.
  
  
  • Establish mentoring programs for faculty and researchers to enhance grant writing and research productivity.
  
  
  
  


• Research Compliance & Integrity:
  
  
  
  • Ensure institutional compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including IRB and COI.
  
  
  • Promote ethical standards and responsible conduct in research.
  
  
  
  


• Infrastructure & Administration:
  
  
  
  • Collaborate with the Director of Research Administration to guide the development of research infrastructure and provide strategic direction for pre‑award, grant management, contracts, and post‑award support.
  
  
  • Collaborate with IT, finance, legal, and facilities to support research infrastructure, research facilities and needs.
  
  
  
  


• External Engagement:
  
  
  
  • Build strategic partnerships with industry, government, non‑profit, and academic institutions.
  
  
  • Represent the institution at research‑related conferences, consortia, and advocacy events.
  
  
  • Engage with communities and build connections that strengthen the school’s philanthropic efforts.
  
  
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. or terminal degree in a relevant field


• Demonstrated record of scholarly achievement and a strong record of externally funded research at a level commensurate with a tenured Associate or Full Professor in disciplines represented within the School of Public Health.


• Proven ability to lead complex initiatives and foster collaboration across varied disciplines


• Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills


• Strong knowledge of a variety of funding sources, research compliance, and institutional research processes


• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in research administration, research centers, or academic leadership


• Experience building and scaling research programs at a college or university


• Experience with technology transfer, innovation, and/or commercialization of research


• Experience in community‑engaged research and/or behavioral clinical trials


• Strong knowledge of and experience working with federal funding agencies (e.g. NIH, NSF, DOE) as well as alternative funding streams including foundations (e.g. PCORI, RWJF, AHA) and industry.

Salary Range

Commensurate

FLSA Exemption Status

Exempt

Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid

Restricted Position

No

ORP Eligible

Yes

Rank

Professor

Tenure

Tenure Track

Months

12

Contact Information

• Contact Name: Jessica G. LaRose, PhD


• Contact Email:

Benefits

All full‑time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax‑deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

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