Tenure-Track Investigators

Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Aging

Intramural Research Program

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), a major research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is seeking applications from talented and highly motivated individuals for Tenure-Track Investigator positions in the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences (LEPS), https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/labs/leps, located in the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) in Baltimore, MD.  The positions include the opportunity to develop a new epidemiology research group with an attractive start-up package and operating budget, including access to comprehensive NIA core facilities and to the unique and extensive resources of the NIH.

LEPS performs integrative and translational research that bridges biologic, biomarker, and behavioral investigations to answer questions of public health priority that arise in diverse aging populations.  LEPS carries out its research using large established population-based life-course studies, clinical trials, publicly available databases, and experimental approaches.  Current LEPS research interests focus on multi-dimensional approaches to study aging in the whole person. This includes defining genomic and other ‘omics’ signatures of aging processes; describing biologic and life-style risk factor trajectories related to healthy aging; and identifying factors that contribute to the disproportionate health burden in subgroups of the United States population.  The incumbent will have to opportunity to take advantage of active community cohorts such as the SardiNIA Project (https://sardinia.nia.nih.gov), the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES) Reykjavik Study (https://hjarta.is/en/research), The Dynamics of Health, Aging, and Body Composition (https://healthabc.nia.nih.gov) and the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Lifespan (HANDLS) Study (https://handls.nih.gov/).

The successful candidate(s) will develop an independent research program, expanding the current research portfolio of the Laboratory.  Areas of interest may include but are not limited to:

• gene/environment interactions,
• life-course biology and behaviors,
• environmental exposures, including climate change, or
• health-related disparities as they affect healthy aging and disease susceptibility.

The incumbent(s) will also have a major role in training and mentoring the next generation of leaders in the epidemiology of aging, training staff and postdoctoral fellows, and maintaining research continuity within the Laboratory, as well as developing a network of intra- and extramural collaborations.

Eligible candidates must have a Ph.D. or M.D. (or M.D., Ph.D.) or equivalent doctoral degree in Epidemiology, Biomedical, Biometric Sciences, or related fields.  It is preferred that candidates have at least 5 years of experience conducting collaborative epidemiologic research relevant to aging; this may include a postdoctoral fellowship within a research laboratory setting.  An ideal candidate would have a strong record of scientific accomplishments and peer recognition.  Applicants with a broad range of interests will be considered, but preference will be given to those with demonstrated experience in the areas of evaluating biomarkers, novel state-of-the-art assessments of risk exposures and function, gene/environment risk interactions, and relevant causal pathways that moderate the course of aging.  It is preferred that the candidate’s capabilities be demonstrated through publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals in the relevant fields.

Salary is commensurate with experience and accomplishments. A full package of benefits (including retirement, health, life and long-term care insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, etc.) is available.  All employees of the Federal Government are subject to the conflict-of-interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct. Additional information regarding the NIA/IRP is available at the following website: www.irp.nia.nih.gov.

As a condition of employment, all federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  During the onboarding process, if selected, you must provide proof of vaccination.  An official job offer and continued employment is contingent on this requirement.  For more information on this requirement, visit the Safer Federal Workforce page on vaccines. If you need a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit Vaccines.gov. 

To apply, please send cover letter, curriculum vitae and bibliography (including a description of mentoring and outreach activities, especially those involving women and persons from other groups which are underrepresented in biomedical research), statement of research interests and vision (1-2 pages) in a single PDF, and arrange to have three letters of recommendation directly sent to: Angela Prazak, Program Specialist, Office of the Scientific Director, National Institute on Aging; Vacancy #NIA-IRP-22-01-AP; via email: niairpjobs@mail.nih.gov.  Applications, including letters of recommendation (sent directly from the letter writer), must reference the Vacancy #NIA-IRP-22-01-AP for consideration. The first round of reviews is expected to occur on or about March 11, 2022; however, applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

DHHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities