University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) seeks its next Director to lead the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC). This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a nationally recognized diabetes, obesity, and metabolism-focused research center within one of the largest university-owned teaching hospitals in the United States. This pivotal leadership position presents the opportunity to shape the center’s scientific vision and drive transformative innovation and will have a lasting impact on the FOEDRC and beyond.

The FOEDRC was established in 2008 with a founding philanthropic gift from the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the FOEDRC’s relationship with the FOE remains strong. Located within the Carver College of Medicine, the FOEDRC has a distinguished record in research and education that relates to obesity, metabolism, and diabetes, with demonstrated excellence in connecting the biological relationships of diabetes and obesity with neuroscience, immunology, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The center has over 90 faculty actively collaborating to advance fundamental biological, translational, and clinical research and education. The FOEDRC supports state-of-art metabolomic and metabolic phenotyping cores, pilot grant funding mechanism, a NIH T32 training program, and a weekly seminar series inviting nationally recognized speakers. 

The successful candidate for director will be an outstanding biomedical scientist, creative leader and an accomplished administrator who understands the changing biomedical research environment and is able to leverage the center’s strengths to advance and support excellence in metabolic research, education, clinical care, and community engagement. This individual will foster excellent relationships across the institution and build innovative research programs. A national research presence, a record of effective administrative and fiscal leadership, a visionary leadership style, and exceptional interpersonal skills are all important attributes sought in the next director.

Candidates could become a member of one or more of several academic departments upon appointment.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any misconduct history or pending research misconduct investigation including but not limited to sexual misconduct in prior employment and provide a related release and will be subject to a criminal background and credential check.

• MD, MD/PhD, or PhD with a track record of accomplishments in diabetes, obesity, or metabolism research and a deep understanding of basic, translational, clinical, and/or population-based science.

• National recognition for achievement in clinical, educational, and/or research pursuits that would warrant a tenured appointment.


• Record of accomplishment for developing a research infrastructure and extramural funding.


• Excellent strategic skills, administrative experience, and financial acumen.


• Demonstrated leadership achievement in a high-performing, contemporary, academic research center with comparable complexity to the University of Iowa Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center.


• Demonstrated knowledge of effective strategies for working with faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. 


• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated interpersonal skills, allowing for transparency, respect, effective problem resolution, and ethical decision-making. 

• Previous experience overseeing or growing a high functioning related research program within an academic medical center.


• An open and direct communication style with a collegial presence that encourages consensus building, collaboration, and cooperation.


• Comfortable in the public domain with the ability to engage the community through philanthropy to support research, education, clinical, and service missions. 


• A leadership style that assists others before oneself and holds others accountable to agreed upon objectives.


• A strong advocate for the center who negotiates well across all levels of the organization to support the center's objectives.