Center Director

MED Center—managed by the Ri.MED Foundation with the support of UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) and the University of Pittsburgh—will be established in Carini, Palermo (Italy) and become an international hub of excellence for biomedical research. The research will focus on areas relevant to human morbidity, including neurobiology and aging-related disorders, infectious diseases and immunology, oncology, and cardiovascular diseases. The Center will attract and retain talent, generate high‑impact discoveries, and foster intellectual property development, with a priority on research translation into patients and progressive integration with IRCCS ISMETT ( Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione ), an adjacent research intensive specialty hospital.

The successful candidate will lead the Center’s scientific strategy from the pre‑opening stage through full operational status, ensuring excellence in scientific output, the development of technological platforms, and national and international collaborations, in line with the guidance of a Scientific Committee and with a business plan approved by the Board of Directors.

Establish a visionary multi-year scientific plan for the Center. Establish an integration and ramp‑up plan for the development of joint Ri.MED–ISMETT research platforms (GMP Facility, Biobank, ISPEMI - Preclinical Experimentation and Molecular Imaging Institute - BSL3 biocontainment platforms, etc.) that include pathways for regulatory compliance and certification/accreditation milestones.

Promote high‑profile collaborations with academic institutions and industrial partners. Identify competitive funding opportunities and oversee grant preparation, promoting participation in national/international grant applications, European calls for proposals, and public‑private partnerships (with strategic priority given to IRCCS ISMETT and CNR (Italian National Research Council). MED Center through presentations and participation in scientific networks. Develop career‑growth pathways and mentorship programs for researchers, scientific staff, post-doctoral fellows and students. Recruitment and retention of both regional talent and outstanding international researchers.

Demonstrated leadership in managing biomedical research programs or centers. Excellent scientific track record in academia or industry. Excellent networking and collaboration skills with universities, funding bodies, and industry.

Language skills

English: Fluent. Italian: Italian language skills desirable or, alternatively, a willingness to learn the Italian language.