The University of Tennessee (UT) Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) invites applications for the position of Governor’s Chair in Nuclear Medicine with a focus on precision radiopharmaceutical theranostics (RPT). Strong candidates will have track records of distinguished contributions to advancing radiopharmaceutical development through new approaches to: a) the production of medically relevant radionuclides to image, and treat cancer and other diseases, b) the design of novel chelators and nanocarriers to attach and retain radionuclides for targeted delivery to cancer cells, c) the development of novel targeting agents to detect cancer and metastatic disease, and d) the development and use of theranostics for combination imaging, and treatment modalities, e) radiation dosimetry, optimizing radiation dose treatment and delivery, including with the use of computational and artificial intelligence tools, and/or f) combination therapies. 

The prestigious Governor’s Chair (GC) Program was established in 2006 and funded by the State of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the nation’s largest multiprogram science laboratory supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The Program is administered by UT-ORII, and supports world-class scientists and engineers who have joint appointments at universities in the UT System and ORNL. Today, twelve Governor’s Chairs play a leadership role in strengthening the strategic research partnership between UT and ORNL.

The successful GC in Nuclear Medicine will have an international reputation and demonstrated excellence in research and education, and will have a record of developing and leading multidisciplinary, translational programs and teams.

The GC will lead high-profile research and work collaboratively with a growing network of radioisotope and radiochemists, including through the UT-ORII convergent research initiative titled "Development and Advancement of Radiopharmaceutical Therapies (DART)". The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the DART initiative leadership, which includes supporting the recruitment and professional growth of ten new research faculty hires at UT and nine new research scientist hires at ORNL. In addition to advancing science- and technology-based solutions for RPT leading to the more effective diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other debilitating disease, the DART initiative also aims to engage up to 100 graduate student researchers over five years to prepare future generations of RPT scientists and practitioners.

The successful candidate and the larger DART team will draw upon significant DOE investments already being made in the Stable Isotope Production and Research Facility and the Radioisotope Processing Facility at ORNL and in the Nuclear Pharmacy Program in the UTHSC College of Pharmacy.  

Governor’s Chair Expectations

Strategic Leadership: Lead the collaborative development of RPT programs at UT, UTMC and ORNL to advance nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceuticals and oversee critically important activities such as staffing, student recruitment, and stakeholder relationship management.  

Academic Quality: Pursue leading research and support ongoing efforts to create an environment of simultaneous excellence in research, innovation, translation, education, and workforce development.  

Collaborations: Expand collaborations between UT, UTMC, ORNL and other regional, national and international partners. 

Funding: Leverage all relevant assets at UT, UTMC, and ORNL to lead the management of stakeholder relationships and capture significant extramural funds, building a sustainable portfolio of well-funded activities in nuclear medicine.  

Community Relations: Support meaningful engagements with Tennessee communities and community organizations to amplify the translational impact of RPT in enhancing patient outcomes

Education: Develop new curricular offerings in the area of nuclear medicine and RPT and provide training for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

The primary employer may be selected as either UTK or ORNL, with a joint appointment at the other institution. Affiliations will be part of the Tickle College of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center (UTHSC), and at the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC).

• Candidates for the Governor?s Chair in Nuclear Medicine will hold a PhD in Chemistry, Nuclear Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology or closely related fields, or an MD or MD/PhD in Radiology, Radiation Oncology or Nuclear Medicine or closely related fields, and be tenured professors or senior researchers at research institutions, industry or national labs. 
• Experience with clinical trials associated with diagnostic imaging, including PET/CT, SPECT, or radionuclide therapy is beneficial. They will have established an exemplary record of research demonstrated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, citation statistics, the number and significance of invited talks, leadership roles and success in both individual and larger extramural grants.  
• Their research strengths will be in one or more of the following areas: 
  • the production of medically relevant radionuclides to image, and/or treat cancer and other diseases, 
  • the design of novel chelators and nanocarriers to attach and retain radionuclides for targeted delivery to cancer cells,
  • the development of novel targeting agents to detect cancer and metastatic disease, and 
  • the development and use of theranostics for combination imaging, and treatment modalities, 
  • radiation dosimetry, optimizing radiation dose treatment and delivery, including with the use of computational and artificial intelligence tools,  and/or combination therapies. 
• They will be committed to educating the next generation experts in these areas and have a track record of successful mentoring of junior researchers.   
• This position requires the ability to be granted a site-access badge for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Interested applicants should send inquiries to Prof. Brian Wirth (UTK Nuclear Engineering Department Head and Governor?s Chair Professor in Computational Nuclear Engineering) at bdwirth@utk.edu and Dr. Susan Hogle (Director of the ORNL Radioisotope Science and Technology Division) at hoglesl@ornl.gov.

All application materials should be submitted in Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/XXXXX.

Applications must include:

• Cover letter: The applicants should describe how they embody the goals of the Governor?s Chair program and their expertise in the area of nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceuticals, and/or clinical and translational experience, as well as experience with clinical trials.
• Comprehensive curriculum vitae.
• Research Statement: The applicant should articulate a plan for transitioning their research program to UT and ORNL.
• Teaching & Mentoring Statement: The applicant should discuss prior teaching and mentoring experience and how they will enhance the education mission of the relevant UT academic departments.

Resources and Facilities

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII)

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) was launched by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2021, in response to? America?s need for a stronger pool of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent.

UT-ORII is leveraging its joint UT-ORNL resources to foster an earlier interest in STEM in Tennessee schools, grow its interdisciplinary graduate programs, and accelerate collaborative discovery and innovation in convergent research initiatives of critical importance to the nation and to Tennessee. 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Since its establishment in 1943, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been delivering scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs needed to realize energy and national security solutions and provide economic benefit to the nation. More than 5,800 employees representing 60 nations apply unique facilities, sophisticated tools, and signature strengths in neutron science, high-performance computing, advanced materials, biology, and environmental science, clean energy, fission and fusion science and engineering, isotopes, and national security research to benefit science and society. In addition, ORNL?s wide range of partnerships with other US Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories and programs, universities, and industry have enabled outstanding contributions to science. Over the years, ORNL researchers have received Nobel Prizes, contributed to the discovery of elements, received hundreds of R&D 100 Awards, and more.

The University of Tennessee System

The University of Tennessee System includes five universities, the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK), Tennessee?s premier land-grant university, the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center (UTHSC) with campuses in Tennessee?s four major cities, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC), the University of Tennessee Martin (UTM) and the University of Tennessee Southern (UTS), as well as the Institute for Public Service (IPS). UTK and UTHSC are very high research activity (R1) universities. The University of Tennessee System enrolled over 62,000 students in Fall 2024, and over $480 million in R&D expenditures in the academic year ending in June 2023.

The University of Tennessee Medical Center

The University of Tennessee Medical Center is part of University Health System, Inc., a regional health system that comprises The University of Tennessee Medical Center, University Health System Ventures, Inc., and various partnerships and joint ventures with physicians and health care companies. The University Health System is affiliated with the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and numerous regional hospitals and physician organizations. 

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.

About University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Our primary mission is to move forward the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate the citizens of the state of Tennessee, the nation, and the world. As the preeminent research-based, land-grant university in the state, UT embodies the spirit of excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, outreach, and engagement attained by the nation’s finest public research institutions.

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