Faculty position, Chief of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology

About this role

SJCRH

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital invites applications for the role of Chief of Nuclear Medicine in the Department of Radiology .We seek an ABNM- or ABR-certified nuclear medicine physician or radiologist with subspecialty training in Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging, and Theranostics to lead a dynamic program central to St. Jude’s mission of advancing cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

The Chief will shape a world-class clinical and research program built around our new extended field-of-view PET/CT, molecular imaging core (cyclotron and radiochemistry lab), expanding molecular imaging research section, and image quantification and artificial intelligence (IQAI) collaboratory. 

Our Mission and Vision : The mission of St. Jude Radiology is to advance cures and understanding of pediatric cancer and catastrophic diseases through excellence in radiology research, innovation, clinical practice, education, and administration. Our vision is to lead the world in radiology for pediatric cancer and catastrophic diseases. 

Department Overview: The Department of Radiology is composed of seven sections: Nuclear Medicine, Neuroradiology, Body Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Intelligent Imaging Informatics (I3), Research, and Physics. Our patients include children with cancer, hematologic, infectious, and rare neurologic diseases, as well as research participants that are cancer survivors. Most of our patients are on clinical trials, providing rich opportunities for collaboration and for developing and validating imaging biomarkers and developing interventions that include theranostics.

Clinician Scientists: Clinician–scientists at St. Jude are provided with exceptional support to build and sustain productive academic careers. Faculty on this track typically receive 50% protected research effort, along with dedicated full-time research staff (one, two, or three permanent staff members for assistant, associate, and full members, respectively). Each clinician scientist is also provided with a recurring research cost center that is renewed annually in perpetuity, ensuring long-term stability for program development. Start-up packages, including equipment and laboratory resources, are available to launch new research programs.

These resources are complemented by robust institutional infrastructure, including access to biostatistics, image processing, data science, software engineering, wet lab space, and grant-writing expertise. Clinician scientists are expected to pursue extramural funding, and St. Jude’s research environment is intentionally designed to promote success through mentorship, collaboration, and strong administrative and technical support.   

Clinical: Clinical responsibilities are designed to be balanced and sustainable, supporting excellence in both patient care and academic productivity. The Nuclear Medicine service is staffed by one faculty member on weekdays and carries no after-hours or weekend call, providing an optimal environment for integration of clinical, research, and educational activities. Nuclear Medicine clinical faculty interpret PET/CT, SPECT/CT, and nuclear scintigraphy studies, primarily serving pediatric oncology patients, while also contributing to innovative research applications for cancer and other catastrophic diseases, including first-in-human imaging agents. The section is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a 148 cm extended field-of-view PET/CT scanner (the first of this caliber installed in North America and the first in a dedicated pediatric hospital) which enables whole-body imaging with exceptional sensitivity and efficiency. The department will also replace its SPECT/CT system within the next year, further strengthening our advanced imaging capabilities and commitment to continuous innovation in pediatric molecular imaging.

Molecular Imaging Core The Molecular Imaging Core (MIC) is a departmental resource that serves investigators across St. Jude by translating cutting-edge radiochemistry into impactful clinical and preclinical research. The MIC supports the production of multiple IND-approved PET tracers, facilitates first-in-human imaging studies, and collaborates closely with molecular imaging research faculty to develop and automate synthesis of novel tracers for infection, inflammation, and oncology. Equipped with a dedicated cyclotron facility, advanced radiosynthesis systems, and exceptional engineering expertise, the MIC enables the seamless transition of discovery science into FDA-compliant production for clinical trials. Recent achievements include the translation of the first-in-human [¹⁸F]fluoromannitol infection tracer and organization of national radiochemistry symposia that position St. Jude as a leader in pediatric molecular imaging innovation.

Research: Research is central to the St. Jude mission, and the Department of Radiology provides an exceptional environment for innovation in molecular imaging, theranostics, and translational science. The molecular imaging section has one NIH-funded PhD faculty member, with two additional faculty hires planned to advance radiopharmaceutical development and translational molecular imaging. Faculty benefit from direct access to departmental resources including the Molecular Imaging Core, the Radiology Data Center, and Image Quantification and Artificial Intelligence (IQAI) collaboratory. Dedicated staff assist with grant writing, IRB management, clinical research coordination, image processing, and biostatistics, ensuring seamless integration of research and clinical activity. Partnerships across Oncology, Surgery, Pathology, the Molecular Imaging Core, and Data Science create fertile ground for developing novel PET tracers, radiopharmaceuticals, and image-guided treatment paradigms. Faculty are encouraged and supported in pursuing extramural funding from the NIH, foundations, and industry partners, building upon strong institutio

Similar jobs

• Faculty Position – Department of Radiology — St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital · Memphis, TN
• Section Chief - Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (Tenure) — University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI
• Assistant Professor of Clinical - Diagnostic Radiology, Nuclear Medicine — Umfaculty · Miami, FL
• Section Chief - Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging — University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI
• Faculty Position, Department of Radiology - Pediatric Body Radiology — St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital · Memphis, TN
• Faculty Position, Department of Radiation Oncology - Medical Physicist — St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital · Memphis, TN
• Assistant Professor of Clinical - Radiation Oncology, Medical Physics — Umfaculty · Miami, FL
• Associate Professor of Clinical - Radiation Oncology — Umfaculty · Miami, FL