Open Rank Physician Scientist for MPS

Department :

Peds-Genetics and Metabolism - 412010

Posting Open Date : 07 / 01 / 2025

Open Until Filled : Yes

Position Type : Permanent Faculty

Working Title :

Open Rank Physician Scientist for MPS

Appointment Type : Open Rank

Vacancy ID : FAC0005554

Full-time / Part-time :

Full-Time Permanent

Hours per week : 40

FTE : Position Location :

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range :

Dependent on Experience and / or Qualifications

Proposed Start Date :

10 / 01 / 2025

Be a Tar Heel! :

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work / life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit :

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care : We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education : We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research : We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

Position Summary :

The Division of Genetics and Metabolism in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a Physician Scientist to join the Dr. Joseph Muenzer MPS Research and Treatment Center (Muenzer MPS Center). This position is full-time, fixed term, variable track and / or tenure / tenure track. Rank will be determined at a level commensurate with the applicant’s experience and accomplishments.

Responsibilities will include an 80% effort dedicated to translational research being conducted through the Muenzer MPS Center, with some teaching and scholarly activities and 20% time devoted to clinical genetic activities in the Division. The Muenzer MPS Center is focused on improving the outcomes of individuals with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and their families. The Muenzer MPS Center team is dedicated to developing new avenues of treatment for children and adults with MPS, a group of ultra rare genetic disorders, including clinical trials to test new forms of intravenous enzyme replacement therapy as well as alternative therapies, such as gene therapy and intrathecal drug delivery. The candidate will join an established team to become the principal investigator for ongoing and new clinical research studies in MPS, assist in the clinical management of MPS patients and the diagnosis / management of patients with genetic disorders. This is a highly rewarding job working with our interdisciplinary and highly collaborative team of physicians, advanced practice providers, research staff, and dedicated health professionals, who love working with children and adults with rare genetic disorders and are dedicated to improving their health and quality of life.

The candidate must have excellent clinical skills, demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The interested candidate should have a strong interest in translational research or ideally have a track record with longitudinal research projects. There will be opportunities to apply for extramural funding to achieve research support in an area of special interest to the candidate.

The clinical genetic activities will involve evaluation and management of patients with congenital abnormalities, connective tissue disorders, skeletal dysplasias, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic disorders in both outpatient and inpatient settings. They will be expected to take some inpatient call with the Pediatric Genetics / Metabolism team.

The Muenzer MPS Center team includes two physicians, two advanced practice providers, three nurse coordinators, five research coordinators, one research assistant, one behavioral assessor, an executive director and an administrative assistant. Dr. Joseph Muenzer is the Director of the MPS Center. The Muenzer MPS Center is currently conducting seven phase I / II or phase II / III MPS clinical trials. The Muenzer MPS Center will be adding at least two more MPS clinical trials in the near future.

The Pediatric Genetics / Metabolism team includes physicians, genetic counselors, metabolic dieticians, and nurse practitioners, who work collaboratively in caring for their patients and families with compassion and evidence-based care. The Division of Genetics and Metabolism also has an active accredited fellowship training program. Our Pediatric Genetics / Metabolism team works closely with colleagues from across the medical center, including Adult Medical and Cancer Genetics, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and the Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetic Laboratories. Faculty members in the Division of Genetics and Metabolism are also actively involved in hearing-loss research, Angelman syndrome clinical trials, translational research for other lysosomal storage disorders, clinical studies evaluating the utility of using next generation sequencing for newborn screening, quality improvement projects and with the state birth defects registry.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements :

MD, board certified / board eligible in Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics / Biochemical Genetics and interested in an academic position.

The candidate must have excellent teaching skills and demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience :

The candidate should have some track record with longitudinal research projects and exposure to MPS patients.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities :

Not Applicable.