Job Description

Details
The Opportunity:
The University of Utah’s Department of Oncological Sciences (OncSci), in conjunction with Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), invites applications for a visionary and mission-driven leader to serve as a senior faculty member and Chief of the new Division of Cancer Data and Artificial Intelligence (CDAI).
Part of the University of Utah located in Salt Lake City, UT, HCI includes over 300 cancer-focused research teams and has established outstanding programs in laboratory research, clinical cancer research, and cancer control and population sciences and cross-disciplinary disease centers. HCI is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West, has been rated in the ‘exceptional’ range at its past two reviews, and serves five states through, research, clinical care, and community outreach and engagement: Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. With over 1 million square feet dedicated to research and clinical care, it provides patient and prevention education to more than one million residents globally. HCI uniquely integrates cancer hospitals with research buildings, enhancing the connection between cutting-edge research and clinical care. HCI is establishing a new state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer campus in Vineyard, Utah to be completed by 2028. This tenure-track faculty position will be hired immediately, yet is anticipated to be based at the new HCI Vineyard Campus in the future.

HCI Vineyard Campus
The new HCI center in Vineyard has been supported by the state of Utah and extraordinary philanthropic contributions. HCI Vineyard will provide important access to patients in central and southern Utah, and exciting opportunities for new collaborations with academic and entrepreneurial partners in the area, including Utah Valley University (UVU), Brigham Young University (BYU), a leader in education in computational methods, and numerous technology/AI companies (Silicon Slopes). The new HCI Vineyard Campus will implement HCI’s top clinical trial portfolio and house national cancer research leaders.
The Vineyard Campus is HCI’s first major expansion beyond Salt Lake City and will serve as a hub for innovation in cancer care and research. In its first phase, the campus will advance four key areas of focus:

1. Health Care Transformation – redesigning cancer care delivery to improve access over distance, quality, efficiency, and patient experience.

2. AI, Data Science & Digital Oncology – leveraging technology for innovative discovery research, and/or to serve communities and patients through innovation, overcome distance as a barrier, and enable precision prevention and treatment.

3. Innovation in Clinical Trials – providing state-of-the-art oncology care and increasing access for rural and underserved populations.

4. Community Outreach & Engagement – partnering with communities across the Mountain West to close gaps in prevention, screening, and survivorship.

These four areas are designed to work in concert, creating a powerful ecosystem where innovations in one area fuel progress in others. Together, this synergy will enable Vineyard to pioneer new models that deliver a cancer free frontier across the Mountain West.
The CDAI Division supports HCI Vineyard’s second area of focus (above) and will be central to the Department’s strategic focus on harnessing data science, machine learning, and AI to transform cancer research. The Division Chief will lead efforts to integrate computational oncology with basic and translational research in the Department of Oncological Sciences and will work closely with leaders in the other three areas at Vineyard and at the Salt Lake City campus to collaborate and synergize to transform cancer care for the Mountain West and beyond.

Key Responsibilities:
· Define and execute the strategic vision for the CDAI Division, in collaboration with aligned leaders.
· Help recruit faculty to the CDAI Division and, if applicable, to the Vineyard campus.
· Build and manage transdisciplinary teams between the two campuses and across oncological sciences, bioinformatics, and computer science.
· Lead an innovative research program in AI-driven cancer biology, diagnostics, and/or therapeutics.
· Provide mentorship for early career faculty in the CDAI Division and participate in education of the next generation of cancer data scientists by participating in training programs and research mentorship.
· Foster collaborations with academic institutions (e.g., UVU, BYU) and Silicon Slopes tech partners.
· Secure extramural funding and oversee large-scale research initiatives.
· Translate data science innovations into real-world clinical applications.
· Represent the CDAI Division on national and international platforms.

Qualifications:
· Associate or Full Professor with a PhD, MD, or equivalent in computational biology, data science, computer science, engineering, oncology, or related fields.
· Exceptional communication and team-building skills.
· Proven leadership in AI or data science with healthcare research applications.
· Strong publication and funding record.
Preferred Expertise:
· Machine learning, generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and data integration.
· Oncology data types: Molecular data (genetics, genomics and epigenomics, spatial -omics, systems biology, molecular epidemiology), EHRs, imaging, digital health, and real-world evidence.
· Bridging research with clinical and population data.

What We Offer:
· A collaborative, mission-oriented academic environment. HCI and the University of Utah are known for their highly collaborative and collegial culture, where faculty work across disciplines to solve the most pressing challenges in cancer care. The successful candidate will thrive in this environment, building bridges between clinical, research, and community teams to deliver measurable impact.
· Access to rich datasets and advanced computational infrastructure, with a new $50 million pledge to advance AI for cancer research
· Synergy with Scientific Computing Institute (SCI), the Data Exploration and Learning for Precision Health Intelligence (DELPHI), Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI), and other University initiatives
· Strategic partnerships with federal agencies and regional health systems.
· Competitive compensation and benefits.
· Leadership support to establish a nationally recognized center of excellence in cancer data and AI.

To Apply:
Please submit a CV, cover letter, a research/vision statement for how you envision data science and AI will advance cancer research at HCI, and contact information for three references to:
https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/195296 Huntsman Cancer Institute Attn: Recruitment
Office 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5550 Email: [email protected]
The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Values and Culture
The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by
collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Information
All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:
https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

Notice
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

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