Job Posting: Director, Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias

Summary

The Intramural Research Programs (IRPs) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), both major research components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), seek a Director (Senior Investigator – Research/Center Director) of the Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD) on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

CARD, which organizationally falls within the NIA/IRP, is a translational science-centered research program that seeks to initiate, stimulate, accelerate, and support research in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD related dementias (ADRD), leading to the development of improved understanding, treatments, and cures.

Duties

The CARD Director is expected to lead a diverse group of intramural investigators and to recruit individuals who will actively engage in cutting-edge research on and development of therapeutic approaches to AD/ADRD. The successful applicant will coordinate and implement collaborative, multidisciplinary research projects and would have demonstrated the ability to stimulate and lead collaborative interactions amongst scientists at multiple institutions, nationally, and internationally. The CARD Director will oversee an annual budget of approximately $26 million and staff of approximately 86 (11 Full Time Equivalent - FTEs and 75 non-FTEs), with staffing and budget expected to grow with future recruitments. Experience in scientific leadership, personnel management, and complex budgets is required.

Who Can Apply

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

The tenure-eligible position requires a Ph.D. or M.D. (or M.D., Ph.D.) or equivalent doctoral degree in Neuroscience or related fields, with longstanding research experience studying the pathogenesis and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including AD/ADRD via genetics, molecular and cellular biology, animal models, neuropathology, neuroimaging biomarkers, or patient-oriented research and clinical trials. Candidates should have a strong track record in developing testable hypotheses about biological pathways for causal associations in neurodegenerative diseases, with emphasis on AD/ADRD. Experience in the use of genetic, genomic, and large-scale clinical data, especially data available in public domain is highly desirable. Applicants should have a strong record of peer-reviewed funding in the aforementioned areas and an outstanding publication record that includes articles in fields relevant to this position.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

The National Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles. NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the NIH Ethics Website. We encourage you to review this information. The position is subject to a background investigation and requires the incumbent to complete a public financial disclosure report prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Foreign Education

Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is equivalent to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. We will only accept the completed foreign education evaluation. For more information on foreign education verification, visit the https://www.naces.org website. Verification must be received prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Reasonable Accommodation

NIH provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation during any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials electronically to the NIH Specialized Scientific Jobs portal:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum vitae (CV) and bibliography
• List of former mentees, and a description of mentoring and outreach activities
• Statement of Research Interests (3-4 pages)

Please note: Letters of reference are not required at the time of application but will be required from candidates identified as finalists and/or prior to selection.

Appointees may be a US citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or non-US citizen who are eligible for a valid work authorization. Salary is commensurate with experience and accomplishments. A full Civil Service package of benefits (including retirement, health and life insurance, Thrift Savings Plan participation, etc.) may be available. NIA may be able to offer relocation expenses.

Applications will be accepted from September 14, 2026, through 11:59 PM ET on October 13, 2026, for first-round review. If no selection is made, applications received after this deadline will be considered in subsequent review rounds. Additional information regarding CARD is available at the following websites: CARD Homepage | CARD (https://card.nih.gov/) or National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (https://www.nih.gov/). Questions should be directed to Jamie Hertzfelt, Chief of Staff, Office of the Scientific Director, NIA via email at [email protected], noting Vacancy #CARD-26-01-T42-JH.