Health Scientist Administrator (Program Director), Neuroethics

Job Contact
Division/Office/Branch
TBD

The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease, for all people. 

Neuroethics

At NINDS, the neuroethics program mission is to work closely with NINDS, NIH, and NIH stakeholders to identify and navigate ethical, legal, and societal implications of neuroscience research programs and discoveries and to facilitate neuroscience progress. Neuroethics is a field that studies the ethical, legal, and societal implications of neuroscience. Advances in our understanding of the brain and nervous system and ability to monitor and modulate brain function can raise unresolved ethical questions, such as those related to appropriate informed consent, off target effects of investigational therapies, potential alterations in personal identity and autonomy, clinically meaningful benefit in severely disabling conditions, consciousness and many others.  These and other ethical considerations are intrinsic to the responsible conduct of neuroscience research and the translation of neuroscience advances (scientific and technological) into practice.

NINDS is recruiting a Program Director / Health Scientist Administrator who will be responsible for overseeing a neuroethics-focused portfolio of grants and helping to ensure that the Institute funds research that meets the highest ethical standards. This position offers a unique leadership opportunity for an exceptional scientist to have a national impact on shaping the growing field of neuroethics. The individual will have opportunities to collaborate closely with other NIH Institutes and Centers for whom neuroethical questions may be relevant to their respective missions.

This recruitment is part of an ongoing, multi-part NIH strategy to achieve proactive, ongoing assessment and management of the ethical considerations associated with neuroscience research and/or biomedical application of its findings. Interested candidates may have the opportunity to establish their own cutting-edge independent research program within the Department of Bioethics of the NIH Clinical Center, supported by resources commensurate with the size and scope of their program.

The NINDS neuroethics program also collaborates heavily with the NIH BRAIN Initiative, a trans-NIH effort to accelerate the development and application of novel neurotechnologies, to ensure that NIH keeps pace with rapid technological development and to help clinicians and researchers ethically fit these new tools into practice. This effort is informed, in part, by the BRAIN 2025 report, and updated and enhanced by the BRAIN 2.0 reports (The Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative 2.0: From Cells to Circuits, Toward Cures and The BRAIN Initiative® and Neuroethics: Enabling and Enhancing Neuroscience Advances for Society).

Qualifications


 NINDS is seeking candidates with:

  • Doctoral degree and post-doctoral training are strongly preferred.
  • Expertise in conceptual and/or empirical research in bioethics and/or neuroethics-related research.
  •  Strong background in some aspect of neuroscience research
  • Applicants must demonstrate that they have worked independently in planning, organizing, and conducting bioethics and/or neuroethics research, and/or served effectively in research program administration in these fields.

A diverse pool of applicants is sought, so qualified individuals from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

As a Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer), you will perform the following tasks:

  • Perform scientific and administrative reviews and analyses of applications/proposals from a programmatic viewpoint.
  • Consult with and advise grantees/contractors during preparation of applications/proposals and provide guidance on program issues.
  • Develop, coordinate and administer grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts established to fulfill the mission of the Division.
  • Visit universities, research institutions, commercial organizations, other government agencies, entrepreneur/innovation centers, and public and private organizations to promote and explain the objectives of the program.
  • Interact with the grantee community to assess research needs and opportunities.
  • Develop research concepts and requests for applications and program announcements.
  • Serve as a lead subject matter expert and as a principal extramural advisor on neuroethics to NINDS Divisions and to Office of the Director.
  • Establish programmatic goals and priorities for neuroethics, both within NINDS and across other NIH Institutes and Centers that express interest in integrating ethical considerations as is relevant to their respective missions.
  • Develop and implement strategies for facilitating neuroscience progress through the identification and navigation of ethical challenges and implications of neuroscience research programs and discoveries.

How to Apply


Interested candidates should send the following to Dr. Amy Bany Adams, Acting Deputy Director, NINDS amy.adams2@nih.gov:

  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Letter of introduction describing experience and interest in this position

Additional Application Information

Who May Apply:  

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National to be considered for this position. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.  

All information provided by candidates will remain strictly confidential and will not be released outside the search process without a signed release from candidates. 

Related Information

Equal Opportunity Employment

HHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers. Individuals with diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.  

 

To stay up to date with all the exciting career opportunities with NINDS, please subscribe to our Job Announcements listserv.  Email listserv@list.nih.gov and include this language (without quotes) in the body of your email: "Subscribe NINDS-job-announcements your name".