Position Description

Managing Director – Materials in Medicine Center (MIMC)

Position Overview

Duke University is seeking an Executive Director to lead the launch and growth of the Materials in Medicine Center (MIMC), a new interdisciplinary initiative at the intersection of biomaterials, data science, and human health. MIMC brings together faculty across engineering, medicine, and computational sciences to develop biomaterials that actively drive therapeutic outcomes. The Center is building a digital core (including the LOVAMAP platform), experimental testbeds, and a collaborative research network to accelerate biomaterials discovery and translation. This is a build-phase leadership role. The Executive Director will work closely with the Center Director (Prof. Tatiana Segura) to operationalize MIMC’s vision, activate its research community, and establish the Center as a visible, functioning platform for collaboration and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Center Launch & Operations

- Lead day-to-day operations during the Center’s early growth phase

- Establish operational structure, priorities, and timelines

- Coordinate activities across faculty, staff, and core functions

- Track progress and ensure execution of key milestones

Digital Core & Platform Activation

- Oversee operational deployment of MIMC’s digital core, including the LOVAMAP platform

- Develop and implement workflows for internal and external users

- Coordinate with software and data teams to support platform scaling

- Monitor usage, engagement, and performance metrics

Community Building & Program Development

- Build and manage an active network of faculty, trainees, and collaborators

- Organize seminars, workshops, and collaborative working groups

- Facilitate development of interdisciplinary pilot projects

- Support outreach to external users and partners

Strategic Growth & Funding Development

- Identify and coordinate opportunities for center-scale funding

- Support development of multi-investigator proposals and large grants

- Develop materials to communicate MIMC capabilities and impact

- Contribute to long-term sustainability planning

External Partnerships & Visibility

- Represent MIMC to institutional leadership and external stakeholders

- Build partnerships with academic, clinical, and industry collaborators

- Expand the Center’s visibility and user base

Required Qualifications

- PhD, MD, or equivalent in a relevant field or comparable experience in scientific program leadership

- Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder research or technical programs

- Strong project management and organizational skills with a track record of execution

- Excellent communication skills and ability to work across disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with interdisciplinary research centers or large collaborative initiatives

- Familiarity with biomaterials, biotechnology, or data-driven research

- Experience launching or managing research platforms, shared resources, or infrastructure

- Experience supporting large grant proposals (NIH, NSF, or similar)

About MIMC

The Materials in Medicine Center (MIMC) is a new initiative at Duke University focused on advancing biomaterials as active therapeutic systems. The Center integrates experimental and computational approaches to understand how material properties drive biological responses and to accelerate discovery in regeneration, drug delivery, and immune modulation.

Core capabilities include:

- A digital platform for microstructure analysis and data integration (LOVAMAP)

- Experimental testbeds for biomaterial evaluation

- An interdisciplinary network spanning engineering, medicine, and data science

Why This Role

This is a unique opportunity to help build a new center from the ground up, shape its trajectory, and contribute to a growing effort at the intersection of materials science, biology, and data-driven discovery.

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