Research Faculty

The Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery at Tulane University is recruiting PhD-level investigators to join our collaborative and growing research enterprise. The research portfolio of the Department of Surgery has expanded significantly in recent years, and the Division is looking to increase its translational research. The Division has a strong publication record and is supported by core research services and facilities within the School of Medicine (SOM). There is ample opportunity for cross-collaboration with other departments within SOM as well as cross-campus. Dual appointments in the SOM are also available based on candidate's experience. Our mission is to expand our work in the translational space, leveraging Tulane's strong clinical programs in trauma, surgical critical care, and emergency general surgery to create meaningful advancements in patient care.

We are seeking investigators whose work focuses on any of the following topics:

• Hemorrhagic shock, resuscitation, and ischemia-reperfusion injury
• Inflammation and immune response to injury
• Acute lung injury/ARDS/Lung infection
• Acute Kidney Injury

Core Responsibilities

• Lead an independent, extramurally funded research program (NIH R01 or equivalent).
• Develop and write grant proposals to seek and maintain extramural funding
• Work with surgeon-scientists on grant proposals and publications
• Publish in impactful peer-reviewed journals and present at medical or scientific meetings nationally and internationally; develop or strengthen national and international reputation.
• Mentor medical students, residents, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral fellows and teach best practices in research methodology.
• Exhibit citizenship by participating in departmental, school, and university-wide committees.
• Collaborate across disciplines to drive translational science that impacts patient care.

· What We Offer 

• 1660 square feet of dedicated lab space is immediately available
• A strong vivarium with state-of-the-art veterinary care that can support small and large animal injury models
• Collaboration with surgeon-scientists with expertise in translational animal models
• A Division with a strong culture of mentorship and a track record of high-quality, impactful publications that advance trauma & critical care.
• Collaborative opportunities with clinicians, clinician-scientists, and basic scientists across Tulane and the Gulf South region, particularly as part of the UAB-led CCTS, of which Tulane is an active member
• State of the art, core research facilities and services within the School of Medicine

About Tulane School of Medicine & the Department of Surgery

Celebrating its 190th anniversary in 2024, Tulane University School of Medicine (SOM) is the second-oldest medical school in the Deep South and the 15th oldest medical school in the United States. The school was founded in 1834 as the Medical College of Louisiana and has continued to thrive and expand into the 21st century. Tulane SOM recruits top faculty, researchers and students from around the world, and pushes the boundaries of medicine with groundbreaking medical research and surgical advances. From invention of the binocular microscope to robotic surgeries, SOM remains at the forefront of modern medical innovation and is comprised of 20 academic departments. Tulane University School of Medicine has been fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education since 1942 with the most recent accreditation valid through 2027.

Today, the medical school is but one part of the Tulane University Health Sciences Center, which includes the School of Medicine, the Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the University Health Service, the Tulane National Primate Research Center, the US-Japan Biomedical Research Laboratories, and the Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research. Most components of the Health Sciences Center are located in the heart of New Orleans, in the medical district that comprises Tulane facilities and the LSU/Charity Hospital center just north of the New Orleans Central Business District. Among the strengths of the Tulane research enterprise are several collaborative efforts housed in the recently renovated J. Bennett Johnston Health and Environmental Research Building (JBJ) which fosters interdisciplinary and translational research among faculty in the School of Medicine, School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, and School of Science and Engineering. The seven-story, 184,000 ft2 building with ballroom-style laboratories and modular design is configured for flexible reconfiguration as research activities and needs evolve. The research laboratories occupy six floors of the building, and the seventh floor houses a state-of-the-art vivarium.

Likewise, the Department of Surgery boasts its own rich history, one that is deeply intertwined with the evolution of the School of Medicine and Charity Hospital, which was founded in 1736. The department is known for its pioneering figures like Rudolph Matas (the "Father of Vascular Surgery"), Alton Ochsner (pioneering surgeon in lung cancer and established the link between smoking and lung cancer), and Michael DeBakey (a world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon), and its strong ties to Charity Hospital, where much of its early training and practice occurred. 

About New Orleans

Few cities match the vibrancy of New Orleans, where historic charm meets cultural innovation. Here you'll find world-class music, food, and festivals — from jazz on Frenchmen Street to the traditions of Mardi Gras. There is a rich cultural heritage blending French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, and a growing biomedical research corridor and thriving academic community. Here you will find a lifestyle that balances professional achievement with the joys of living in a city famous for its creativity and unique joie de vivre. This is an exciting opportunity to advance basic and translational science within a renowned academic surgery department while living in one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the country.

Apply now to join Tulane's Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery and help shape the future of translational science in trauma and critical care — at one of the nation's oldest medical schools, in one of America's most extraordinary and unique cities.

·       PhD or MD/PhD in applicable field and postdoctoral training in basic science

·       Current, active extramural funding (NIH R01 level or equivalent preferred). Exceptional candidates without funding will also be considered.

·       Demonstrated track record of impactful publications in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals

·       Experience in an academic medical center a plus

·       Academic appointment at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level and salary will be determined based on experience.