Ri.MED Center Scientific Director

JOB DESCRIPTION The Ri.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.

Role We are seeking an exceptional scientist-leader to serve as Scientific Director of the Ri.MED Center. 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.

Key Responsibilities – Ri.MED Center Pre-opening Phase Establish a visionary multi-year scientific plan for the Center. Propose the phase in of specific research programs in conjunction with the Scientific Committee. Establish the Center’s scientific directives and guidelines. Participate in the selection and onboarding processes for researchers, in coordination with HR and in accordance with the Foundation’s budget and policies. Provide periodic reporting on scientific progress to the Scientific Committee and governing bodies.

Define (subject to approval by the Scientific Committee) targets and objectives that align with national and international benchmarks to be submitted to the Board of Directors. Ensure compliance with policy and financial milestones. 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.

Key Responsibilities – Ri-MED Center Operational Phase Lead and coordinate Principal Investigators and their research teams. Establish the Center’s scientific priorities and technology roadmaps consistent with the strategic priorities for the integration with IRCCS ISMETT. Ensure the rigor, reproducibility, and impact of the scientific output. 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).

Introduce and maintain cutting‑edge technologies and core facility infrastructures. Encourage publication in high‑impact journals and the dissemination of results. Increase the visibility of the Ri.MED Center through presentations and participation in scientific networks. Ensure research integrity and manage conflicts of interest. 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.

Profile – About You Demonstrated leadership in managing biomedical research programs or centers. Excellent scientific track record in academia or industry. Experience establishing and developing research centers/programs and technological platforms. Ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and operate within complex, international ecosystems. General knowledge of research advances in neurobiology, aging-related disorders, infectious diseases, immunology, oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and deep knowledge and expertise in at least one of these areas.

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.
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