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The ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) is the focal point for biomedical research that addresses health issues for the predominately Hispanic population of the El Paso/Juarez region on the Texas-Mexico border. The BBRC has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program since 1992.  For many years, a key BBRC area of research has focused on basic science aspects of cancer biology, as evidenced by the strategic hiring of investigators who developed active cancer-related basic science research programs funded by the NIH, Department of Defense, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, and other funding mechanisms. In recent years, BBRC cancer research areas have been expanded to include programs that demonstrate substantial translational potential, with initiatives designed to discover treatment strategies for Hispanic patients based on precision medicine and early detection platforms.

The Recruitment Core supports the vision of the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ BBRC to transform the understanding of Hispanic cancer-related health disparities by maximizing resources and expertise through the implementation of an aggressive hiring plan. The overall goal of the Recruitment Core is to identify, recruit, hire, and successfully integrate faculty and Clinical Coordinators who will strengthen, extend and diversify the research capacity and infrastructure of the BBRC and the institution. Proposed new hires will fill existing gaps in expertise and strategically drive the development and implementation of new research directions focused on addressing behavioral and clinical indices of Hispanic cancer health disparities. Collectively, these research endeavors will foster the long-term success of investigators, research projects, and the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ BBRC, and will contribute to optimizing the inclusion of individuals in early screening and prevention programs, as well as in clinical regimens based on personalized approaches, thereby reducing the substantial cancer-related health disparities in Mexican origin individuals.

Leadership

Dr. Michael Kenney is the Recruitment Core Lead. He is the Associate Dean for Research in the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ College of Science, has been an independent, extramurally-funded investigator for over 25 years, and has extensive mentoring experiences (e.g., previously PI or co-PI on two NIH training grants and currently the research mentor for K01 and F99 awards). Dr. Kenney previously served as the Head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at Kansas State University. As Department Head, he hired 10 new faculty members, highlighted by the addition of the university’s first member of the National Academy of Sciences. He coordinated and facilitated numerous processes related to this hire, assisted in the development of two new Centers of Excellence, and completed the first “Cluster Hire” at Kansas State University. These opportunities have provided him with extensive experience with faculty recruitment, space allocation, facilities expertise, and capacity building. The combination of his scientific, administrative, and recruitment experiences uniquely positions him as a Director who can provide guidance and oversight to the dynamic processes required for the implementation of the Recruitment Core.

The BBRC is currently recruiting for the following faculty positions:

Position #1: 

The Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ (³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ), invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor Faculty position in Cancer Public Health. The new faculty member will join investigators in the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) to improve population health through research on cancer health disparities, epidemiology, and prevention through community engagement, with emphasis on reducing cancer health disparities among Mexican origin Hispanics. Expertise in interdisciplinary scholarship, community engagement, and a commitment to translating research into practice is of particular interest. The new hire will be expected to develop community-based research efforts in collaboration with cancer researchers in the BBRC, and secure external funding. Researchers will have access to state-of-the-art BBRC core facilities and the expertise of BBRC faculty and staff to facilitate innovative and cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and to promote a translational research program. (Please see attachment for the full position description and job responsibilities). It is anticipated that the selected applicant will begin in the Fall of 2022.

Position #2: 

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science, at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ (³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ), invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor Faculty position in the Biochemistry of Cancer. The new faculty member will join investigators in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) to develop a program focused on developing basic cancer initiatives as well as the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to reduce Hispanic cancer disparities using genetic, molecular, and physiological markers from Mexican origin cancer patients. The successful candidate is expected to attract extramural funding and will have access to state-of-the-art BBRC core facilities and the expertise of BBRC faculty and staff to facilitate innovative and cutting-edge research. (Please see attachment for the full position description and job responsibilities). It is anticipated that the selected applicant will begin in the Fall of 2022.

Position #3: 

The Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ (³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ), invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor Faculty position focused on various aspects of Cancer Biology including the genesis, progression, prevention and treatment of cancer. Preference will be afforded to candidates whose research investigates human cancer with an emphasis on health disparities in the majority Hispanic population within the United States-Mexico border region. The successful candidate is expected to establish an extramurally funded research program and will have access to state-of-the-art BBRC core facilities and the expertise of BBRC faculty and staff to facilitate innovative and cutting-edge research. (Please see attachment for the full position description and job responsibilities). It is anticipated that the selected applicant will begin in the Fall of 2022.