Director of Microbiology at Oregon Health & Science University – Portland, Oregon

Director of Microbiology

US-OR-Portland

Requisition ID: 2026-38218
Position Category: Faculty/Provider
Job Type: Faculty
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Posting FTE: 1.00
HR Mission: School of Medicine
Drug Testable: Yes

Department Overview

Oregon Health & Science University is a nationally prominent research university and Oregon’s only public academic health center. The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has a collegial faculty, AP/CP residency program, a post-sophomore fellowship program, and eight post-graduate fellowship programs. OHSU offers a variety of collaborative research opportunities and is home to the Knight Cancer Institute, an international leader in research and cancer treatment. We are supported by excellent molecular genetic laboratories and state-of-the-art core laboratory.

As a part of a tertiary care academic medical center, the OHSU Microbiology Laboratory integrates advanced clinical diagnostics, translational research, and education to support the care of patients with complex, rare, and life-threatening infections. The laboratory provides comprehensive testing services for hospitalized and immunocompromised populations, including transplant recipients, oncology patients, and those requiring specialized or reference-level diagnostics, while also advancing the understanding, detection, prevention, and management of infectious diseases. In parallel, it serves as a training environment for residents, fellows, students, and laboratory professionals, contributing to the development of the next generation of clinicians, scientists, and healthcare leaders.

This position is under the overall supervision of the Chair of Pathology. The appointee shall provide services, as assigned by the chair, in furtherance of the university’s missions of patient care, research, education, outreach and public service.

Function/Duties of Position

This position will serve as Medical Director of conventional (culture based) clinical microbiology, including bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, and parasitology, utilizing culture, microscopy, and phenotypic methods for organism detection and identification. The Medical Director will be responsible for ensuring high-quality, compliant, and innovative laboratory operations, including test utilization, quality management, regulatory oversight, and clinical consultation. The role includes participation in evening call coverage with backup from other Clinical Pathology faculty. Additional expertise in other areas of Clinical Pathology is welcomed.

As a physician-scientist, the appointee will play a central role in advancing the academic mission of the Department by integrating clinical service with a robust, independent and/or collaborative research programs. The appointee will establish and sustain an independent and/or collaborative, extramurally funded research program aligned with the institution strategic priorities in microbiology and infectious diseases. Responsibilities include designing and conducting clinical, translational, and/or basic science research; securing external funding through grants and contracts; publishing in peer-reviewed journals; and contributing to multidisciplinary research initiatives. The faculty member will collaborate closely with clinical investigators, basic scientists, and public health partners to advance innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in infectious diseases. Participation in research training programs and mentorship of trainees is expected. The position will work closely with the Division of Infectious Diseases to develop novel diagnostic paradigms and with research scientists to expand microbiology research initiatives across the institution.

Educational responsibilities include mentoring and teaching residents and fellows, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and visiting scholars, as well as providing formal didactic instruction at the medical student, graduate, and postgraduate levels, including lectures, course leadership, and curriculum development. Active participation in training physician-scientists and laboratory professionals is expected.

The effort for this position at present is divided: 50% cFTE, 50% rFTE, with adequate time for teaching built into each set of expectations.

Required Qualifications

Board certification in Clinical Pathology, Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology. Microbiology specialty board eligibility/certification. Interest in providing the highest quality medical care and medical education and actively participating in clinical scholar-type research resulting in publication. The best-qualified candidate will be a recognized expert in microbiology and demonstrate interest in enhancing Clinical Pathology services and test offerings, a willingness to build a new laboratory from the ground up, exceptional communication skills, a positive attitude, and demonstrable leadership skills.