Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah is seeking a skilled and innovative leader who desires to conduct research in data sciences to serve as Director of the Utah Population Database (UPDB) Shared Resource. Candidates may also be appointed to the faculty, in an appropriate department within the University of Utah in alignment with their expertise and interests.

The UPDB Director will have the opportunity to shape a unique and preeminent resource at the cutting edge of health sciences  research through the UPDB Shared Resource. Ideal candidates will have a strong track record in developing and/or using complex data systems for research along the cancer prevention, control, and precision medicine continuum, and will be well-positioned to lead the UPDB in a manner reflecting innovative, agile, and state-of-the-art data enterprises. The candidate will have a willingness to engage in cross-institutional collaborations and initiatives to serve a broad base of scientific advancement, with a focus in cancer, and other health sciences. The Director will develop a strategic vision for the UPDB, in partnership with other leaders, and will be a strong advocate for team science, data stewardship, and continuous improvement.

The UPDB, with over 42 million records representing >11 million individuals, has gained distinction nationally as an unparalleled database for clinical and population studies, gene discovery for cancer and other diseases, epidemiologic investigation, and outcomes research, located at HCI at the University of Utah (see: https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/huntsman/utah-population-database/). The UPDB Director will manage the rich and comprehensive population-based medical/epidemiological/genealogical/geospatial database; interact with investigators of more than 250  currently approved projects as well as the broader research community which use the database; and oversee a large team (~20 FTE) of computer, data management, and analytic professionals in support  of the mission of HCI and the University. The UPDB Director will report directly to the HCI Senior Director of Population Sciences and will have a key role in strategic development of the shared resource.

HCI at the University of Utah is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center   and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), supporting and fostering a vibrant research enterprise in a highly collegial environment. HCI has a strong history of academic achievement and impact as well as a commitment to excellence in patient care, research, teaching and service. Please visit http://www.huntsmancancer.org, to learn more about HCI’s broad scope.

HCI provides an exceptional opportunity for research innovation and leadership in cancer population sciences. Data contributors to the UPDB include the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Cancer Registry (UCR), which is a founding member of the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and provides a powerful  resource for cancer research studies. Affiliations with University of Utah Health and Intermountain Healthcare permit the UPDB to link the clinical records for 85% of the cancer patients in Utah to genealogical, cancer registry, and demographic records. Through these linkages, HCI investigators have unprecedented opportunities to advance knowledge in cancer genetics, risk assessment, early detection/prevention, and health outcomes. Tremendous institutional shared resources support research across the University of Utah Health Sciences, including a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported Clinical and Translational Science Center (https://hsc.unm.edu/ctsc/) which provides specialized support for clinical/translational/community   research and faculty development. In addition to world-class research infrastructure, HCI has an exceptional  clinical program with a 100-bed cancer specialty hospital, extensively characterized high risk populations, and actively engaged patients.