Associate Professor or Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology

The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Anna Cheskis Gelman and Murray Charles Gelman Professor and Chair of Epidemiology. The ideal candidate will have a national and global reputation as a top scientist, a leader in epidemiology, a distinguished educator, and a proven administrator and manager. This individual will possess a deep commitment to producing world-class science with real-world impact and training the next generation of epidemiology leaders in research and practice.

Reporting directly to the Dean of the School and serving as a key member of the School’s leadership team, the Chair will set a forward-looking and innovative vision for the Department of Epidemiology, leveraging its historic strengths and pioneering research to address contemporary challenges in public health while at the same time working to prepare and adapt to the future of the field and the scientific and practical needs of the public. The Chair will play a primary role in supporting and expanding a dynamic faculty, many of whom are recognized as leaders or emerging leaders in epidemiology and related fields. This role will also involve fostering innovative educational programs that prepare students to navigate and lead in the intricate landscape of science, public and community health, healthcare, government, and industry. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of academic achievement and reputation, substantial extramural grant support, and significant impact within public health. They will bring expertise in addressing both current and emerging challenges in epidemiology, a clear vision for future advancements, and the ability to quickly cultivate new partnerships. Demonstrable leadership and management capabilities also are essential.

DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

Columbia’s Department of Epidemiology is committed to producing world-class science with real-world impact while training the next generation of epidemiology leaders. As one of the oldest and largest departments of its kind, its scientists, teachers, and trainees address major public health challenges including infectious diseases and pandemics, cancer and chronic disease, gun violence and injury, opioid and substance use, mental health, aging, and the social and environmental conditions that shape health and longevity.

The Department includes 53 full-time faculty and 52 part-time affiliate and adjunct faculty, for a total of 105 faculty in these categories. It also includes approximately 300 employees across faculty, administrative, and research roles, including primary full-time, primary part-time, secondary, and jointly appointed faculty. Department faculty include elected members of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, fellows of the Royal Society, Lasker Award recipients, and members of the American Epidemiological Society.

The Department has a substantial sponsored-research enterprise, with direct financial responsibility for more than 100 extramurally funded projects. Department faculty publish nearly 1,000 scholarly articles each year and conduct research through a worldwide network spanning more than 60 countries. Their work has informed public policy, clinical and public health practice, national and international guidance, and scientific discourse.

A defining feature of the Department is its extensive collaboration across Columbia University. Faculty hold joint appointments and work closely with departments throughout the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as the New York State Psychiatric Institute, the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia Law School, Teachers College, Columbia Engineering, the School of Social Work, Columbia Global Centers, and other University units. Faculty and graduates also maintain strong connections with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York State Department of Health, and public health agencies around the nation and the world.

ROLE OF THE CHAIR

The next Chair of the Department of Epidemiology will have the opportunity to lead a large, highly accomplished, and globally connected department at a time of rapid change in science, public health, higher education, and research funding. The Chair will provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for a department whose faculty, students, staff, and programs contribute to public health knowledge and practice locally, nationally, and globally.

As the Department’s academic leader, the Chair will set and advance a compelling vision for the future of epidemiology at Columbia. The Chair will support and develop outstanding faculty, strengthen the research enterprise, promote innovation in education and training, foster a collaborative and inclusive departmental culture, and ensure that students and trainees receive rigorous preparation for leadership in research and practice. The Chair will oversee departmental operations and resources, including budgets, sponsored research, personnel, space, and strategic investments, while ensuring compliance with institutional and funding requirements.

The Chair will recruit, retain, mentor, and develop faculty and staff; provide leadership and oversight for faculty advancement and promotion processes, including supporting early-stage investigators and guiding faculty progressing from Associate Professor to Full Professor; support principal investigators in securing competitive funding; strengthen interdisciplinary and interprofessional activities across Columbia; and cultivate partnerships with public agencies, communities, funders, alumni, and external organizations. Given the size and career-stage composition of the Department, the Chair will play an important role in ensuring that faculty receive appropriate mentorship, guidance, and support throughout the promotion process.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT CHAIR

Define the next chapter of epidemiologic science.

The Department’s breadth creates an opportunity for the next Chair to articulate a forward-looking scientific vision that builds on longstanding strengths while anticipating emerging public health needs, new methodologies, evolving data environments, and opportunities for intervention and implementation. The Chair will help connect scientific discovery with application and ensure that the Department remains responsive to changing health challenges locally and globally.

Strengthen interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration.

Epidemiology faculty are deeply connected across Columbia University, CUIMC, public agencies, research centers, and global partners. The next Chair will have the opportunity to deepen these relationships, create new interdisciplinary partnerships, and strengthen translational research and training that bridge population health, clinical care, policy, community engagement, and implementation.

Sustain and diversify the research enterprise.

The Department manages a large and complex portfolio of externally funded research. In an evolving funding environment, the next Chair will support faculty success in securing competitive federal funding while identifying opportunities with foundations, philanthropy, industry, and other mission-aligned partners. The Chair will be expected to steward resources carefully, support innovation, and maintain a strong and sustainable operating position.

Advance excellence in education and training.

With 340 enrolled students across MPH, MS, online MS, DrPH, and PhD programs, as well as numerous doctoral and postdoctoral training initiatives, the Department has a substantial educational mission. The next Chair will support curricular innovation, rigorous methodological training, strong mentorship, and pathways that prepare graduates to lead across academia, public health practice, healthcare, government, industry, and community settings.

Recruit, develop, and support an exceptional faculty and staff community.

The next Chair will play a central role in recruiting, mentoring, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty and staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, transparency, intellectual curiosity, and academic excellence. The Chair will support faculty across career stages, strengthen leadership development, provide clear feedback and expectations, and ensure that the Department’s people and organizational structures are positioned for continued success.

The successful candidate for the Anna Cheskis Gelman and Murray Charles Gelman Professor and Chair of Epidemiology will possess:

• A PhD, MD, and/or equivalent terminal degree, with scholarly credentials commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor at Columbia University;
• National and international stature in epidemiology or in a field with a substantial epidemiologic focus, with an exceptional record of scientific achievement and scholarly impact.
• A strong record of securing and leading research and supporting the growth of a rigorous and impactful research enterprise;
• A demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary and translational public health science and the ability to bridge research, practice, policy, healthcare, government, industry, and communities;
• The vision and strategic judgment to articulate and implement a compelling future direction for the Department while aligning departmental priorities with those of Columbia Mailman, CUIMC, and Columbia University;
• Demonstrated administrative and management capability, or clear leadership potential to oversee a large and complex department with substantial faculty, staff, student, financial, and sponsored-research activity;
• A distinguished record as an educator and mentor, with a commitment to preparing the next generation of epidemiology leaders across master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs;
• Demonstrated success recruiting, mentoring, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty and staff and supporting career success across stages;
• A collaborative, transparent, and communicative leadership style characterized by integrity, sound judgment, self-awareness, decisiveness, and respect;
• Demonstrated skill in building consensus, navigating complex organizational environments, and addressing challenges constructively and effectively;
• Strong financial and organizational leadership abilities, including experience with budgets, sponsored research, personnel, space, strategic initiatives, and compliance;
• Exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to cultivate productive partnerships across disciplines, departments, centers, universities, public agencies, communities, funders, and other external organizations;
• A commitment to ethical research and financial practices and to creating an environment that supports excellence, inclusion, mentorship, innovation, and shared purpose;
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills and the ability to represent the Department effectively to academic, public, philanthropic, and community audiences.

Applicants should submit their application materials through Columbia University’s Academic Search and Recruiting website by November 2, 2026. The search will continue until the position is filled.

Questions, confidential inquiries, and nominations may be sent to [email protected]. Nominations should include the nominee’s name, current title and institution, and, when available, contact information and a brief statement regarding the nomination.