Tenure faculty (regardless of rank) - persons with the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor who serve on appointments totaling 50% or more service to the university and who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. Duties and responsibilities are assigned in accordance with the workload guidelines laid out in the pattern of administration of each faculty members tenure initiation unit (TIU) and, as appropriate, regional campus; obligations will include research, service and/or teaching or clinical practice. These faculty will have earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study or possession of equivalent experience.

Open Faculty Search for Tenure Track Faculty with a PhD or MD/DO (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor) in Perioperative Health Care Research in Anesthesiology, Neuroscience, Pain and Addiction

Position Overview

The Department of Anesthesiology at Wexner Medical Center/The Ohio State University College of Medicine is initiating a search for one (or more) Tenure Track faculty position in Basic, Translational and/or Clinical Research. To accelerate our research growth, we have recently recruited 2 NIH funded tenure track faculty and we plan to recruit additional faculty in strategic areas of research to complement our existing strengths and grow our capabilities. We encourage applicants to apply for Assistant, Associate or a Full Professor position. Qualified candidates for the Tenure Track will be focused on research relevant to perioperative care and anesthesiology, in subspecialty areas generally focused on Neuroscience, Pain and Addiction. Applications in other research areas may be considered and should complement ongoing research areas outlined below. Specific target areas of investigation could include, but are not limited to, neuromodulation, neuroimmune regulation, neuroinflammation and reactive glia, in the context of perioperative neural dysfunction, neuroprotection, pain signaling and analgesia, recovery and wound healing, or addiction research. Candidates focused on Womens Health in the specific target areas are encouraged to apply. We are interested in recruiting either PhD or Physician scientists.

Successful applicants will join a growing and dynamic research environment dedicated to translating innovative laboratory discoveries in basic mechanisms to human studies and clinical trials with a long-term goal to improve patients lives. We have an emerging program on ischemic spinal cord injury following TAAA surgery to repair an aneurysm (targeting open surgical repair versus TEVAR), postsurgical delirium, neuromodulation and neuroprotection and perioperative pain management. One of our Tenured Professors is part of a recently funded NIH Blueprint Medtech Award in 2025 in collaboration with CoolSpine LLC (sponsored by NINDS & National Institute of biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering) through a U54 grant mechanism. He will work with his collaborators on an innovative project titled "Intrathecal Cooling Catheter to Provide Neuroprotection to Avoid Paraplegia Resulting from Open and Endovascular Thoracic Aneurysm Repair" (https://blueprintneurotech.org/awardees/). We recently hosted the first international NIH R13 sponsored conference on strategies to combat paraplegia after ischemic spinal cord injury in patients undergoing TAAA surgery. We also hosted an international conference sponsored by NIH to develop consensus guidelines for preventing opioid induced respiratory depression (OIRD).

Our established NIH R01funded program in basic, translational and clinical research is focused on pathogenic mechanisms of postoperative ileus and POGD that costs billions in healthcare costs due to extended hospitalizations, complications and re-admissions. New or ongoing NIH R01 funded studies are investigating Enteric neuropathy, surgical trauma and mechanical stress induced Postoperative ileus (POI), and GPCRs in neuroinflammation and POI. We are interested in developing novel therapeutic targets in postsurgical ileus (i.e. for neuroinflammation associated with glia, neurons and immune cells, purinergic signaling, reactive glia, Ca2+neuroimaging, patch clamp recordings, neuroplasticity, alterations in neural circuit behavior, programmed cell death and ferroptosis). Our efforts are complemented by further development of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols that is a College of Medicine priority The Medical Director of ERAS protocols in the College of Medicine is a physician scientist in our department who implemented over 20 ERAS protocols to date. TheChair of the department is the President of ERAS USA. Tremendous opportunities exist for research and RCTs. A funded multi-institutional Patient Center Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant is investigating new therapeutic strategies to reduce or prevent postoperative delirium, POCD and provide neuroprotection in elderly patients.

An ongoing 5-year FDA/P50 consortium grant between OSU Department of Anesthesiology and Nationwide Childrens Hospital seeks to accelerate implementation of pediatric devices into clinical practice. A multi-center NIH (NHLBI) SBIR grants is focused on Advanced Prediction of Emerging Respiratory Decline with the Linshom Continuous Predictive Respiratory Sensor (CPRS). Recently, we recruited the first NIH-R01 funded woman scientist from the Magee Womens Institute, with a track record of NIH funding as PI on womens postsurgical recovery, immune cell dysregulation and wound healing in women with diabetes. We also recruited an NIH funded Tenured Professor of Anesthesiology, with a focus on neurotoxicity to anesthetics following neonatal exposure and mitochondrial dysfunction. Her research program is at the intersection of neuroscience, stem cell biology, and mitochondrial medicine. Dr. Bais research centers on elucidating mitochondrial, non-coding RNA, and redox-mediated mechanisms underlying anesthetic- and alcohol-induced neurotoxicity using human stem cell based systems and complementary animal models. A central contribution of her program has been the development and application of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived models, particularly three-dimensional cerebral organoids (mini brains) as translational platforms for studying neurodevelopmental injury. Ongoing and new funding through the Office of Naval Research is focused on basic science mechanisms of Mitochondrial Directed Therapy in Oxygen Toxicity and Decompression Sickness.

Our Pain Center is investigating lower back pain mechanisms and neuromodulation therapies in collaboration with the Spine Institute. NIH funded studies are evaluating spine treatment strategies for chronic low back pain, by targeting innovative strategies, including biomarkers, identification of low back pain patient phenotypes to optimize treatment outcomes, combining physical therapy with mindfulness for treatment, and developing a wearable sensor for enabling functional assessment of chronic lower back pain. Other areas of investigation seeking extramural funding for pain research, include acute post-cesarian pain, and an R34 study on opioid use disorder after surgery (OID), industry funded clinical trials or investigator-initiated studies on SCS-Neuromodulation therapy, and development of computational methods/models to better assess pain.

We pride ourselves in supporting our clinical trainees through FAER, MDSR and WSFA that includes medical students, residents, fellows and postdocs. The Department of Anesthesiology is innovating in both basic science and patient-oriented research. On the clinical front, we have a robust clinical research infrastructure and are supporting more than 50 active trials, including multicenter industry funded clinical trials, investigator- initiated studies and trials, including trials on postoperative ileus, postoperative nausea and vomiting, spinal cord stimulation, as well as NIH funded translational studies and studies to test clinical monitoring devices. We are looking to expand these efforts. We have implemented a new Perioperative Outcomes Research Collaborative in Anesthesiology (PORCA), focused on harnessing the power of large database analysis to complement our efforts on original research Hub organized by senior Anesthesia faculty meets regularly and supports over 40 trainees and faculty in scholarly and research activities. We have close collaborations with the Biostatistics Core, Bioinformatics and the Clinical Trial Monitoring Organization (CTMO) in the College of Medicine to meet all our statistical needs, regulatory support, compliance on human subject research, and aid in our budgets and clinical staff recruitment efforts. Potential opportunities also exist for collaborations with the Neurological Institute, Behavioral Institute, Neuroscience Department, Psychiatry and Addiction Center, Neurosurgery, Sarah Ross Soter Womens Health Research Program, Pathology, Gastroenterology and Bioengineering. Topics of discussion at our upcoming Department research retreat include our strategic research plan and vision for the future, research opportunities for trainees, infrastructure and resources to support our research. Team-Science involving PhD and MD investigators is highly valued and encouraged. The CATALYST program (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research) provides a peer group of scholars with a range of interests in health services research and implementation science, mentorship by senior investigators, and training through seminars, didactics, leadership development activities and mentored development of grant applications. Team science and collaborations across our disciplines and departments and our collective efforts have led to significant milestones that advance excellence in education, research and patient care at the Wexner Medical Center (including our department). Research funding at the College of Medicine reached a new record of $477.3 million in 2025.

Overall, we welcome a wide range of applicants from highly motivated early-stage investigators with great potential to succeed in developing an independent research program to established NIH-funded (or equivalent) investigators with a focus in neuroscience, neuromodulation, pain, neuroinflammation, glial pathophysiology, neuroimmune modulation, ischemic spinal cord injury, neuroprotection, postoperative ileus, POCD, delirium, and exploration of therapeutic targets.

Any questions can be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Fievos L. Christofi (fedias.christofi@osumc.edu), or the Chair of Anesthesiology, Dr. Richard Urman (Richard.urman@osumc.edu)

Qualifications

• Ph.D. and/or M.D degree, post-doctoral training, a commitment to basic, translational and/or clinical research and a history of strong research productivity in strategic target areas of investigation.
• The position(s) are for NIH (or equivalent) funded investigators, although a significant funding record from other sources will be considered.
• We highly value Team-Science and individuals who seek opportunities to develop strong extramurally funded collaborations and innovative programs with physicians and basic scientists in and outside the department with existing programs and participate in training grants and program project grants in the future.
• Individuals with innovative applications of Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, bioinformatics and computational models in perioperative medicine in targeted areas with an NIH or equivalent funding record are also encouraged to apply.
• We also encourage highly motivated, ambitious, early-stage investigators to apply with a solid background and track record of productivity, the ability to establish an innovative independent research program, and to secure NIH (or equivalent funding).
• Mindset and track record reflecting adherence to standards of professional ethical conduct
• In aggregate, accomplishments should be sufficiently compelling that the appointee is judged to have significant potential to attain tenure and a distinguished record as a faculty member in the department.
• Salary commensurate with previous training and experience.
• Faculty interested in a tenure track faculty position are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to qualified individuals pursuing a tenure-track faculty position as Assistant Professors if they are highly productive scientists with notable publications in impact journals, who have demonstrated potential to succeed on the tenure track (i.e. with a K Award, K99/R00, R03, or other competitive early-career awards in Anesthesiology such as FAER, IARS, ASA, or Foundation grants, etc.) and develop an independent research program or faculty at advanced rank who have demonstrated a record of sustained NIH R01 funding as Principal Investigators (or equivalent competitive funding such as PCORI, DOD, NSF, ACS, FDA, SBIR/R44-Phase studies).
• Opportunities exist for recruitment of qualified investigators in a leadership position (directorship role) in emerging or new areas of investigation with great potential for growth and collaboration.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of Americas leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

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Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

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