Associate Dean Research

As a member of the Dean’s Executive Leadership Team, the Associate Dean for Research serves as the Dean’s principal advisor and accountable leader for advancing Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine’s (CMED) research strategy, strengthening faculty and trainee research capacity, supporting growth in extramural funding, and integrating the research mission with the school’s clinical, educational, and service missions.

This role is designed to complement, not duplicate, the broader Central Michigan University research administration structure. Serves as a strategic liaison and advocate for CMED investigators by fostering transparency, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and promoting alignment among administrative units throughout the grant lifecycle. The position collaborates closely with Central Michigan University (CMU) research administration leaders to ensure alignment with enterprise research strategy, sponsored programs processes, compliance requirements, research infrastructure, and cross-institutional opportunities.

The Associate Dean for Research will provide leadership across the continuum of medical school research, including basic science, translational research, clinical research, population health, community-engaged research, clinical trials, and student and trainee scholarship. The role will also support a disciplined governance structure for setting research priorities, monitoring key performance indicators, identifying barriers to research growth, and advising the Dean on resource needs and strategic investments.

The position will collaborate on oversight of research, research facilities, research administration, legal and risk management programs as they relate to research, and information technology programs as they relate to research. Assure alignment with the university’s mission, assure responsiveness to the needs of the state, and assure a program of superior quality meeting the standards of the LCME, ACGME, HLC and other accrediting bodies.

Qualifications

• MD-DO, PhD, PharmD, DVM or other terminal degree.
• Understanding of both basic sciences and translational research.
• Meets criteria for Associate Professor or Professor rank at CMU College of Medicine.
• Five years’ experience in a university-based medical or public health school or research institution overseeing and conducting research.
• Five years of leadership experience overseeing university-based medical or public health or research institutional research.
• Demonstrated experience of securing extramural funding.
• Demonstrated understanding of clinical, translational, and basic science research.
• Experience in building/growing new research programs, ideally multi- disciplinary and/or multi-organizational research collaborations.
• Demonstrated creativity in building research partnerships and identifying research funding opportunities within their own.
• Positive interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple and diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to ensuring that members of the university community can thrive.
• Experience in mentoring junior faculty to help them obtain research funding to pursue meaningful lines or inquiry.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Company Description:

The Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University prepares physicians committed to improving access to high-quality health care across Michigan, with a particular focus on rural and medically underserved communities. The College emphasizes patient-centered, evidence-based care that supports both individual patients and the broader community. Learners are engaged in leading health care transformation through innovative practice and scholarship. The institution promotes lifelong learning, team-based education, and collaborative approaches to addressing complex health challenges.

EEO Statement:

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.