Center Deputy Director - Allen Discovery Center

The Allen Discovery Center is dedicated to the advancement of basic biology and biomedicine, and to becoming a leader in an integrated approach to the control of biological structure and function. Through a combination of developmental biophysics, computer science, and cognitive science, the work of the Center seeks a multi-level understanding of natural and synthetic living forms. Exploiting novel mechanisms of cellular decision-making, we seek to understand and augment the information processing, computation, and patterning processes that implement the generation and regenerative repair of anatomical structures. Our goal is to complement the mainstream advances focused on the genetically-specified hardware of life with new approaches to reprogramming the physiological software inherent in living tissues. Technology is being developed to modulate the bioelectric communication that enables cells to coordinate their activities toward specific anatomical and functional outcomes. Using this bioelectric interface, we develop ways to exploit the collective intelligence of cells toward transformative applications in birth defects, regenerative medicine, cancer reprogramming, and synthetic bioengineering.

The Center Deputy Director will work closely with the Principal Investigator / Director, Project Managers, Researchers, and staff throughout Tufts University. This role will serve as a primary point of contact and be one of the public faces of the Institute, representing the lab on multi-disciplinary research discussions and topics. The Center Deputy Director will have a solid understanding of the scientific principles driving the Center's mission, and the ability to have results-driven outcomes for all current and future projects in the lab. The Center Deputy Director will report directly to the PI.

Responsibilities include:

• Reviews, triages, and manages all incoming scientific inquiries both online (large volume of actionable mailbox inquires) and in person
• Responds to industry and academia research requests including vetting potential collaborations aligned with the Centers vision
• Oversees aspects of scientific and technology development operations, facilities, IT and knowledge infrastructure, communications, intellectual property, and business development efforts
• Supervises two Project Managers as direct reports and work closely with the Center Project Administrative Director to align engagements and the evolving scientific needs of the labs to best reflect the overall scientific vision of the PI and effectively advance the Center's mission as reflected in publications, commercialization of IP, and funding

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills as typically acquired by a PhD degree in science or engineering (ideally Biology); demonstrated significant experience managing an academic research center or consortium, or industry research group focused on basic discoveries
• A strong background in biology (ideally, developmental or regenerative biology, cell biology, neuroscience, or bioengineering)
• 10+ years' senior management/leadership experience
• Strong computer and information science skills (including presentation tools, knowledge management, and collaboration technology)
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills are essential, with an emphasis on synthesizing work products from multiple teams and facilitating interaction and accountability; excellent listening and collaboration skills are important especially in linking scientific vision to resource allocation and administrative operations
• Strategic Planning experience with demonstrated success of various stakeholders and constituencies support
• Ability to energize and integrate multidisciplinary groups with multiple priorities

Preferred Qualifications:

• A significant publication record
• Experience in the start-up of new results-focused, research and development organization (academic or industry)
• A degree in business administration
• Expertise in related fields (computer and information science, mathematics, artificial life, engineering)
• Comfortable with computer use sufficient to evaluate new software performance against milestone specs is a plus