VP, Research

The Team

Our immune cell reprogramming team integrates foundational research on immunology and disease biology with AI-modeling to develop engineered cells that harness our own immune system to detect and treat early signs of age-related diseases, like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. These technologies will enable precise, context-dependent therapeutic responses only when and where it is needed. You can learn more about our work here. 

Our work brings together three powerhouse universities - Columbia University, The Rockefeller University, and Yale University - into a single collaborative technology and discovery engine.

Our Vision

• Pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments
• Enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas
• Facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond

We are a team of passionate individuals powered by technology, guided by scientific research, and driven by collaboration, working toward a mission to cure or prevent all disease.

The Opportunity

The Biohub in New York is looking for the Vice President of Research (VP, Research) to work in close partnership with the Biohub New York President and, more broadly, with the Biohub leadership to provide critical scientific and organizational leadership to the investigators in both the intramural and extramural programs. The objective is to streamline, monitor, and help direct research activities contributing to our grand challenge: reprogramming the immune system for the early detection and treatment of disease. This role will lead the development of a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research program that integrates artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and advanced cell engineering to create technologies that enable immune cells to sense their environment, report on tissue health, and respond with precision when needed.

The VP, Research will be responsible for coordinating the Biohub’s large-scale science and technology development programs, translating scientific vision into high-impact research, and ensuring excellence in execution across a diverse portfolio of fundamental and applied science. This will require broad vision and expertise across multiple fields, including experimental biology, immunology, and computer science, with special focus on artificial intelligence. 

As a key member of the leadership team, the VP, Research partner closely with the Biohub’s executive team and scientific leaders (Principal Investigators) to foster a deeply collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment that accelerates discovery and enables translational impact.

What You'll Do

• Monitor, lead, and advise on the execution of Biohub NY research strategy across discovery science and technology development programs for both intramural and extramural programs.
• Oversee all research activities, ensuring scientific rigor, innovation, progress against defined milestones, and effective project management and evaluation.
• Guide program prioritization, progress, resource allocation, and portfolio balance in partnership with the President. 
• Enable and strengthen deep scientific collaboration across Biohub Grand Challenge teams, and other academic partners, ensuring integration between AI and bench science research.
• Act as primary point for review and triage of external and internal collaboration requests and identifying opportunities which will enable the grand challenge.  
• Support cross-institutional research teams, shared platforms, and open-science approaches.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of research leaders.
• Foster a culture of scholarly excellence, inclusiveness, curiosity, and hands-on scientific engagement.
• Support the recruitment, development, and retention of diverse scientific talent.
• Translate scientific priorities into executable research plans, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Partner with operations and infrastructure teams to ensure efficient, scalable, and compliant research execution.
• Identify risks and gaps and proactively implement solutions to keep programs on track.
• Communicate research progress and impact to internal leadership, governance bodies, and external stakeholders.
• Represent Biohub in scientific forums, reviews, and strategic discussions, as appropriate.
• Assist with the development of scientific programming for local Biohub community. 
• Engage and collaborate with the Scientific Advisory Board, as appropriate. 
• Contribute to reporting, fundraising narratives, and strategic planning efforts.

What You'll Bring

Essential - 

• PhD, MD, or equivalent degree with critical expertise in immunology, systems biology, experimental biology or a closely related scientific discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in academic research, nonprofit research institutes, or related environments, with significant leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, interdisciplinary research programs.
• Strong commitment to collaborative, open, and inclusive science.
• Experience working across academic institutions or within multi-partner research models.
• Proven ability to mentor scientific leaders and build high-performing teams in growing organizations.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
• Demonstrated alignment with Biohub’s mission, values, and commitment to open science.

Nice to have - 

• Background in technology-enabled biology, engineering-driven research, or data-intensive science.
• Understanding of the latest progress in artificial intelligence and machine learning

Compensation

The  New York City, NY base pay range for a new hire in this role is $297,000.00 - $320,000.00 
. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. 

Better Together

As we grow, we’re excited to strengthen in-person connections and cultivate a collaborative, team-oriented environment. This role is a hybrid position requiring you to be onsite for at least 60% of the working month, approximately 3 days a week, with specific in-office days determined by the team’s manager. The exact schedule will be at the hiring manager's discretion and communicated during the interview process.

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• Provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-Onsite