Overview
Director, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health
University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) seeks applications for the position of Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Public Health (SPH). We seek a visionary and strategic leader who will champion a culture of scholarly excellence, collaboration, and public health impact. The Director will support faculty, staff, and students while advancing the Division’s mission through impactful research, exceptional educational programs, and meaningful engagement with communities and partners across the public health landscape.
The successful candidate will possess demonstrated leadership experience, a national and international reputation for scholarly excellence, and a strong scientific foundation in epidemiology, biostatistics, or both. The ideal candidate will have strong methodologic expertise and a proven record of interdisciplinary collaboration between epidemiology and biostatistics. We welcome applicants with research interests spanning biostatistical methods and epidemiology, including analytical, computational, and population-based approaches to understanding the determinants, prevention, and outcomes of health and disease. Candidates must maintain an active, externally funded research program and a record of scholarship commensurate with appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure. Additional desired qualifications include outstanding communication, faculty mentorship, team-building, and administrative skills; a demonstrated commitment to advancing public health research and practice; and an entrepreneurial approach to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the Division.
The Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is a nationally recognized academic unit committed to improving population health through innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and excellence in education. Our faculty engage in diverse and impactful research that spans public health, clinical, and quantitative disciplines. Faculty research areas include: (in Biostatistics) Bayesian modeling and inference, causal inference, longitudinal and clustered data, cancer clinical trials and data modeling, survival analysis, high dimensional data analysis, mediation analysis, EHR data, and neuroimaging data; and (in Epidemiology) chronic diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, environmental and occupational health epidemiology, maternal and child health and global health. The Division offers a comprehensive portfolio of graduate degree programs, including the Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, preparing the next generation of public health leaders, researchers, and quantitative scientists through advanced training in study design, statistical methods, data analysis, and translational public health research.
The Division Director is the academic officer directly responsible for:
- Providing leadership and vision to the Division, setting strategic priorities and advancing the goals of the mission in research, teaching, service and outreach activities.
- Developing and communicating the division’s policy guidelines in consultation with the faculty.
- Supporting the division’s educational mission and promoting student professional development.
- Mentoring and facilitating the career advancement of faculty, staff, and students in the division.
- Promoting a collaborative environment that fosters success through strong leadership and shared governance.
- Managing the division’s budget, resources and personnel for the maximal benefit of the division and school.
- Providing leadership, with school support, for development and fundraising activities.
- Representing the division at the school and university levels, government, other universities, public groups, and professional societies.
- Collaborating with School of Public Health’s (SPH) director of marketing and communications, developing a proactive recruitment and marketing campaign for the division.
- Serving as a member of the SPH leadership team, engaging in meaningful discussions with the dean, senior associate dean and associate deans concerning division priorities, School level funding initiatives and inter or transdisciplinary efforts intended to advance the missions of the division, school, and university.
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 37,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate, and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. In 2026, UIC was awarded nearly $500 million in sponsored research funding, including $208 million from NIH. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. UIC is ranked #1 in the state of Illinois for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal and top 10 for social mobility nationally according to the U.S. News & World Report. UIC has 366,000 alumni and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
The UIC School of Public Health is the only Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited school of public health in Illinois. UIC SPH is dedicated to enhancing quality of life by improving public health and plays a vital role in educating the nation’s public health workforce. UIC SPH consistently ranks among the top 10% of all schools and programs of public health nationally (ranked 22nd nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report). For more than 55 years, UIC SPH has been the state’s principal educator of public health professionals as well as researchers, academic faculty, policymakers, and activists whose work positively affects health and well-being in communities that are diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, and religion. UIC SPH is one of seven health science colleges that comprise UI Health, the only academic public health center in Chicago. UIC SPH had the second highest research funding of all UI Health Science colleges, with $38 million in fiscal year 2026.
Application Information and Instructions:
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents. The budgeted salary range for this position is $180,000 to $240,000 (9-month service basis). The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Applications received by December 18, 2026 will receive full consideration; the search will close on January 8, 2027. The anticipated start date for this position is August 2027. A completed online application that includes the following attachments is required for consideration and must be submitted here: uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/21147?c=uic.
1. A cover letter specifying qualifications for the role.
2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
3. One-page research statement, specifying current and future plans for extramural research funding.
4. Contact information for three professional references.
For specific questions about the application process, please contact Kamil Czarnowski (kczarn4@uic.edu). For questions regarding the position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Kristen Malecki (kmalecki@uic.edu).
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation.
