Chief, NCI Laboratory of Pathology

Review begins: September 13, 2026

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is seeking an outstanding, internationally recognized, and visionary leader in pathology to direct its Laboratory of Pathology (LP) in the NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR). This position is part of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) world-class Intramural Research Program and is equivalent to a tenured academic department chair.

The LP combines clinical excellence, cutting-edge research, and educational leadership to advance cancer diagnostics and treatment. It serves as a resource for NIH clinicians, external researchers, and the broader scientific community, providing specialized pathology services, molecular diagnostics, and innovative research tools.

The Chief of the LP will oversee anatomic pathology services for all NIH Institutes. For the NCI, this includes services for all patients undergoing clinical trials in the NIH Clinical Center, for all patients being considered for entry into clinical trials, and for epidemiologic and case studies of disease pathophysiology. Clinical diagnostic services include methylation profiling, molecular pathology, surgical pathology, cytogenetics, cytopathology, postmortem, hematopathology, pediatric pathology, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and specialized histology and molecular diagnostics. In addition, the Laboratory provides expert consultation for extramural requests in the fields of hematopathology, OB/GYN pathology, cytopathology, and pediatric pathology.

The Chief of the LP will also oversee an active research program and will provide the vision for future areas of emphasis, which should be highly integrated into ongoing programs within the CCR. The CCR is the largest intramural program at NIH and a major user of the NIH Clinical Center, a state-of-the-art hospital. The CCR provides an environment in which interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary translational research is encouraged and supported. Areas of emphasis within the CCR that interface strongly with the clinical program include molecular targets and oncology, immunology and immunotherapy, advanced imaging and biomarkers, systems biology, and genetics and genomics, all of which benefit from a strong foundation in advanced biomedical technologies. These program areas enhance and enable collaborations, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, and a dynamic translational research process in which discovery, development, and delivery flow seamlessly.

In addition to this broad research program, the Chief will also provide leadership for the establishment of an initiative to develop science-based evidence for the procurement and processing of clinical research specimens. The quality of data obtained from endpoint assays that apply advanced technologies, such as genomics and proteomics, is directly related to the quality of the clinical material and associated annotation. Science-based rationale for biospecimen handling is a high priority for the NCI. This aspect of the position will require close interaction and collaboration with the major clinical services as well as the Clinical Molecular Profiling Core and Biospecimen Procurement and Processing Facility.

The Chief will also oversee an acclaimed Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited three-year residency program in anatomic pathology.

The Chief will also be eligible to be appointed as a tenured senior investigator and may lead, if they wish, their own individual world-class research program, supported by generous, stable resources, including access to a wide range of technology platforms and interdisciplinary collaborations within NCI, as well as at NIH and its Clinical Center. NCI intramural investigators are not expected to support their research via grants.

The CCR is home to nearly 220 basic and clinical research groups located on two campuses just outside of Washington, D.C. CCR is part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and makes up the largest component of the research effort at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Centrally supported by long-term funding, no need for grant support, and a culture of complete intellectual freedom, CCR scientists pursue the most important and challenging problems in cancer research. We collaborate with academic and commercial partners and advocacy groups across the world in efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. The CCR research portfolio seamlessly covers the full spectrum of biological and biomedical research from basic science to our extensive clinical activities, including our clinical trials conducted in the NIH Clinical Center, the world’s largest hospital dedicated to clinical research. The success of CCR is grounded in an exceptionally strong discovery research program that provides the foundation for the seamless translation of insights from bench to bedside. For an overview of CCR, please visit http://ccr.cancer.gov/.

The ideal candidate will be a board-certified pathologist possessing an M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or a comparable doctoral qualification. Additionally, the successful candidate must have an established record in the field, demonstrated leadership ability, and proven effectiveness in mentoring. This position is located at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD and requires significant in-person on-site presence.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Candidates may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or possess (or be eligible for) an appropriate work visa. A full package of government benefits (including health insurance, life insurance, and retirement) is available. This position is subject to a background investigation. 

Candidates must provide the following documents to be considered:

• A letter of interest, including a career synopsis
• A forward-looking statement of research interests and vision statement for the LP (four-page limit)
• A current curriculum vitae and complete bibliography

Applications must be submitted to: https://specializedscientificjobs.nih.gov/nih-ssj.do#/.

E-mailed or paper applications will not be accepted. Applications will be accepted between September 4, 2026, and September 13, 2026, with initial review of applications anticipated to begin immediately after the closing date. Applications will be treated as confidential. For more information, please contact Lori Holliday, CCR Faculty Recruitment Coordinator at hollidal@mail.nih.gov.

DHHS, NIH, and NCI are Equal Opportunity Employers