Vice Dean of Research and Scholarship

The Columbia University School of Nursing (Columbia Nursing or the School), one of the nation's premier schools of nursing and a recognized leader in research, education, clinical practice, and health equity, invites nominations and applications for its next Vice Dean of Research and Scholarship. Guided by its mission of "Advancing Nursing to Advance Health for All," Columbia Nursing combines academic rigor, scientific discovery, clinical excellence, and community engagement to address some of society's most pressing health challenges. With a strong tradition of innovation and an expanding research enterprise, the School is uniquely positioned to lead the future of nursing science, healthcare delivery, and health equity in New York City, across the United States, and around the globe.

Reporting directly to the Dean, the Vice Dean serves as the School's chief research officer and a member of the School’s senior leadership team, providing strategic leadership for a dynamic and growing research enterprise that advances scientific discovery, innovation, and scholarly impact. Working closely with faculty, university leadership, and external partners, the Vice Dean will help shape the future of nursing science at Columbia, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and further elevating the School's influence in research, scholarship, and innovation.

As the School's senior research leader, the Vice Dean will champion faculty success, strengthen mentorship and research support systems, and cultivate the next generation of nurse scientists and research leaders. The Vice Dean will possess exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, engaging effectively with faculty, students, staff, university leadership, funding agencies, and national scientific organizations while serving as a visible advocate for Columbia Nursing's research mission. Most importantly, the Vice Dean will build on the School's strong momentum and national prominence to expand its research impact, advance a culture of scientific excellence, and reinforce its position as a global leader in nursing science and scholarship.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished and internationally recognized scholar with a distinguished record of scientific achievement, sustained extramural funding, and leadership within complex research environments. They will bring a compelling vision for advancing nursing science and interdisciplinary scholarship, along with a demonstrated ability to foster collaboration across Columbia University, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and external partners. The Vice Dean will champion innovative research that addresses pressing health challenges, informs policy and practice, and translates scientific discovery into meaningful improvements in health outcomes.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING

The Columbia University School of Nursing (Columbia Nursing) is one of the nation's leading schools of nursing and a recognized innovator in nursing education, research, clinical practice, and health policy. Founded in 1892, the School is among the oldest nursing schools in the United States and has played a pioneering role in shaping the nursing profession, including establishing the nation's first clinical nursing specialty master's degree program and the first university-based midwifery program. Today, Columbia Nursing advances its mission through world-class education, groundbreaking research, and clinical innovation aimed at improving health outcomes and advancing health equity locally and globally.

Situated within Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) in Washington Heights, the School benefits from close collaboration with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian, and a broad network of academic, clinical, and community partners. Columbia Nursing's location within one of the world's premier academic health centers creates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary scholarship, education, and clinical care.

Columbia Nursing offers a comprehensive portfolio of graduate and professional programs, including the Master's Direct Entry (MDE) program, Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Online Prerequisites for Entry to Nursing (OPEN) program, and subspecialty programs in Oncology and Women's Health. With more than 600 students enrolled across its graduate degree programs, the School prepares future clinicians, scientists, educators, and healthcare leaders through rigorous academic training grounded in scientific inquiry, innovation, and clinical excellence.

With 68 full-time faculty members, alongside part-time, attending, and clinical preceptor staff, the School is home to an accomplished faculty of scholars, clinicians, and innovators whose work spans nursing science, health informatics, healthcare delivery, health policy, community and population health, implementation science, and clinical research. Columbia Nursing faculty include members of the National Academy of Medicine, Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, Fellows of the New York Academy of Medicine, and other nationally and internationally recognized leaders whose scholarship continues to shape healthcare practice, policy, and education.

Research

Research is a defining strength of the Columbia University School of Nursing and a central pillar of its mission to advance health for all. Columbia Nursing has earned international recognition for innovative, rigorous scholarship and currently ranks among the nation's leading recipients of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among schools of nursing, including ranking first nationally in NIH funding for three consecutive years. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students also secure support from a broad range of federal agencies, foundations, and healthcare organizations, reflecting the depth and impact of the School's research enterprise.

Integrated within Columbia University and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia Nursing's research enterprise is distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach and its commitment to translating scientific discovery into meaningful improvements in health and healthcare. Faculty collaborate across academic, clinical, and community settings to address complex challenges facing individuals, families, communities, and health systems in the United States and around the world.

The School's research portfolio spans a broad range of scientific disciplines and methodologies, including artificial intelligence, biobehavioral and omics research, data science and informatics, healthcare delivery innovation, primary and comprehensive care, symptom science, patient safety and quality, palliative care, prevention science, urban and global health, and research focused on underserved and vulnerable populations. A hallmark of Columbia Nursing's scholarship is its commitment to understanding and addressing the biological, social, behavioral, and structural factors that shape health outcomes and healthcare access.

Research centers and programs serve as hubs for innovation and collaboration across the School. These include the Center for Health Policy, the Center for Community-Engaged Health Informatics and Data Science, the Center for Healthcare Delivery Research and Innovations, the Center for Research on People of Color, and the Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research. Together, these centers advance discovery, support interdisciplinary partnerships, and generate knowledge that informs policy, improves care delivery, and promotes health and well-being across diverse populations. Building on this strong foundation, the next Vice Dean of Research and Scholarship will have the opportunity to further elevate Columbia Nursing's national and global influence in nursing science, healthcare innovation, and research excellence.

ROLE OF THE VICE DEAN

The next Vice Dean of Research and Scholarship has a remarkable opportunity to shape the future of nursing science at one of the nation's leading schools of nursing. Building on Columbia Nursing's strong foundation of research excellence, the Vice Dean will provide strategic leadership for a vibrant and growing research enterprise while helping advance the School's missions of research, education, clinical practice, and innovation. Working across Columbia University, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and a broad network of external partners, the Vice Dean will be positioned to expand interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen the School's research infrastructure, foster faculty and trainee success, and elevate the impact of nursing science on policy, practice, and health outcomes. As the School's chief research officer and senior advocate for its research mission, the Vice Dean will have the opportunity to build on Columbia Nursing's national and global reputation while navigating a rapidly evolving research landscape.

KEY PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT VICE DEAN

The successful candidate will cultivate a culture of scientific excellence, mentorship, collaboration, and innovation; support the growth of externally funded research; and prepare the next generation of nurse scientists and research leaders. To realize this vision, the Vice Dean will address the following opportunities and challenges:

Lead the next phase of growth for Columbia Nursing’s research enterprise.

With a strong foundation of research excellence and a distinguished international reputation, the next Vice Dean will have the opportunity to provide vision and strategy that shapes the future of scholarship at Columbia Nursing, advances the School's scientific influence, expands its research impact, and strengthens its position as a leader in nursing science and healthcare innovation. The Vice Dean will foster and advance a culture of discovery, innovation, and scientific excellence while championing future research in alignment with the School’s mission.

Expand interdisciplinary collaboration and research impact across Columbia's ecosystem.

The Vice Dean will be uniquely positioned to leverage Columbia University's vast academic and clinical environment to foster new partnerships, catalyze innovative areas of inquiry, and strengthen the School's role in university-wide research initiatives. Working across disciplines and stakeholders, the Vice Dean will represent the School on key university bodies and research groups and serve as the primary advocate for the School’s research mission to advance high-impact scholarship that addresses society's most pressing health challenges. To foster collaboration within the School’s research enterprise, the Vice Dean will serve as the central communications leader and maintain close collaboration with the Dean, Vice Deans, Dean’s Council, Dean’s Leadership Council, Grants Management Office, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, and research staff.

Grow sponsored research in an increasingly competitive funding landscape.

Building on Columbia Nursing's established research strengths, the next Vice Dean will have the opportunity to expand the School's portfolio of externally funded research by supporting faculty competitiveness, fostering collaborative grant activity, and identifying new opportunities for strategic growth and investment. The Vice Dean will maintain a discerning eye on the national landscape and represent the School in partnerships with federal agencies, foundations, and other stakeholders, including identifying opportunities and fostering connections between external stakeholders and Columbia researchers.

Strengthen the pipeline of nurse scientists and research leaders.

The next Vice Dean will play a central role in developing the next generation of nurse scientists and research leaders. Through leadership of the School’s research centers, doctoral education, postdoctoral training, and faculty development efforts, the Vice Dean will ensure that scholars at every stage of their careers are positioned to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of nursing science. This important work includes the oversight of faculty promotion processes and annual evaluations for the 23 faculty within the research division, as well as overall mentorship of faculty around their research initiatives.

Enhance research infrastructure and operational excellence.

As the School's research enterprise continues to evolve, the next Vice Dean will have the opportunity to strengthen the systems, resources, and support structures that enable faculty success. By providing strategic leadership for the Office of Scholarship and Research, the Vice Dean will ensure that research administration, data resources, and faculty support services effectively meet the needs of a dynamic and growing scholarly community.

Foster a culture of research excellence, collaboration, and faculty success.

The next Vice Dean will help cultivate an environment in which faculty, trainees, and research staff can thrive. By strengthening mentorship, supporting career development and advancement, and promoting a collaborative culture of discovery and innovation, the Vice Dean will build on the School's tradition of excellence while helping to attract, develop, and retain outstanding scholars.

The successful candidate for the Vice Dean of Research and Scholarship at Columbia University School of Nursing will possess:

•An earned Ph.D, Ed.D, Sc.D, or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field.

•Credentials commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor at Columbia University.

•An internationally recognized record of scholarly achievement and scientific leadership, including a sustained history of impactful research and publication.

•A strong record of securing and leading externally funded research programs, including significant federal, foundation, and/or industry support.

•Demonstrated success leading complex research enterprises, academic units, centers, institutes, or interdisciplinary programs.

•The ability to develop and execute a compelling vision for research and scholarship that advances scientific excellence, innovation, and improved health outcomes.

•A demonstrated commitment to mentorship, faculty development, and supporting facultysuccess across all career stages while cultivating the next generation of nurse scientists andacademic leaders.

•Experience fostering and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration across academic, clinical,community, and research settings.

•Success in building collaborative relationships and productive partnerships across diverseinternal and external constituencies, including faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, researchstaff, university leadership, healthcare organizations, funding agencies, and communitypartners.

•The ability to lead and strengthen research infrastructure, including research administration,data resources, and faculty support systems that enable scholarly productivity and growth.

•Demonstrated skill in navigating complex organizational environments and achieving resultsthrough collaboration, influence, and consensus-building.

•A commitment to advancing research that addresses society's most pressing health challenges,improves health outcomes, and informs practice and policy.

•Familiarity with artificial intelligence and its integration into nursing academics and research.

•A demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and high-performingacademic community where faculty, trainees, and staff can thrive and contribute their bestwork.

•Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills, with the ability to serveas an effective advocate for the School's research mission within Columbia University andnationally.

•Strategic, collaborative, and intellectually curious leadership characterized by integrity, soundjudgment, transparency, and a commitment to excellence.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/columbia-university-school-nursing/vice-dean-research-and-scholarship.

Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.