Description

Arkansas Children’s, in partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is seeking up to three faculty positions at the National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR), a first-of-its-kind, state-launched national research center focused on transforming prevention and treatment of the opioid crisis for infants, children, adolescents and families.

These positions are backed by an unprecedented public investment and anchored in maternal and child health within Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI). This is a rare opportunity to build, lead and shape a new national research enterprise from the ground up.

Program Info & Highlights:

NCOR was launched in 2024 through a $75 million investment from Arkansas opioid and vaping settlement funds, with additional substantial support from Arkansas Children’s. This unprecedented investment reflects a long-term, statewide commitment to building a national leader in opioid and substance-use research focused on maternal and child health, clinical effectiveness and community impact.

A new 65,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art research facility is currently under construction on the Arkansas Children’s Golisano’s campus in Little Rock, with occupancy anticipated in early spring of 2027. The facility will house advanced research infrastructure, collaborative team science spaces and cutting-edge technology, while also offering flexible areas designed to support convenings, workshops and community-engaged activities. This space is dedicated to NCOR’s mission and has been purposefully designed to accelerate discovery and translation.

NCOR is a collaborative program within the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI), a not-for-profit corporation that is a nationally recognized pediatric research institute where children are at the center of every discovery. Researchers at ACRI span the full continuum of science from basic and translational research to clinical trials and community-based implementation addressing in-utero development through young adulthood. ACRI includes the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit (PCRU), a dedicated research unit embedded in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as dedicated pre- and post-award grant services, specialized expertise in biostatistics, informatics, community-based participatory research, and dissemination and implementation science. ACRI is located in Little Rock on the campus of Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). ACH is a full-service, state-of-the-art medical facility, offering a complete array of clinical services ranging from well-child care to the medical management of critically ill and injured children.

We welcome applicants whose research aligns with NCOR’s mission, particularly as it relates to opioid and/or other substance misuse among children, adolescents, families and rural communities.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
Prevention and/or treatment of opioid and other substance misuse
Expansion of recovery support services and systems of care
Community-level and population-based interventions
Technology-enabled and digital health interventions
Health policy, implementation science and systems-level approaches

Interdisciplinary, translational and community-engaged researchers are especially encouraged.

NCOR: Transforming prevention and treatment of substance misuse

Opening in Spring 2027, the NCOR building will serve as a hub for groundbreaking research that empowers children and families to prevent, address, and overcome substance misuse.

Link: https://www.archildrens.org/research/ncor

ACRI: On the forefront of innovation: Arkansas Children's Research Institute

Established in 1989 and opened in 1992, ACRI is located one block south of the main hospital building. ACRI's total research grant base in 1997 was $7.5 million. Today its researchers bring in over $21 million yearly in grants and contracts from federal and private agencies and industry and from philanthropic donations and professional organizations.

Link: https://www.archildrens.org/research

About University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

UAMS is an academic health science campus with Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, Health Professions, and Graduate School. UAMS is Arkansas’s only academic health center and research-intensive university, offering an exceptional environment for translational science. The campus is anchored by the NIH-funded Translational Research Institute (CTSA), which provides a robust bench-to-bedside ecosystem, statewide telemedicine capacity, and regional clinical campuses that enhance clinical research reach and impact into rural areas of the state. Faculty enjoy close collaboration among colleagues from seven research institutes, eight regional clinical centers across the state, the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, and Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Translational Research Institute (TRI) where Research Comes to Life:

The UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI), established in 2009 under the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), has built a rich environment that supports and stimulates research discovery and its rapid transfer to interventions that improve the health of individuals and communities.

Link: https://tri.uams.edu/

Requirements

These open-rank faculty positions will be filled at a level commensurate with experience and accomplishments.

Early career candidates are expected to hold, or be competitive for, appointment at the Assistant Professor level; exceptional candidates without a prior faculty appointment will also be considered.

Mid-career and senior candidates should demonstrate an active, externally funded research program and a scholarly record appropriate for appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level.

Opportunities for NCOR leadership roles, as well as cluster hiring of research teams (including senior and early-career investigators), may be available based on interest and qualifications. Faculty will hold primary academic appointments at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and receive generous start-up packages.

Each successful candidate will be expected to provide expertise in their respective research field and to develop an independent and extramurally funded research program at NCOR within a few years, including:

•         Actively collaborating with multidisciplinary research teams, clinical partners, and community organizations
•         Designing and conducting rigorous research, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation
•         Disseminating findings through peer-reviewed publications, academic conferences, and community-facing venues
•         Training and mentoring trainees at multiple career stages while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity

Qualifications:

Required:

• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., public health, nursing, social work, medicine or related field)
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications
• History of securing competitive research funding
• Strong foundational expertise in rigorous research methods and/or substance use and addiction science
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred:

• Sustained history of federal funding (e.g., NIH, PCORI, SAMHSA)
• Proven success in multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations, including community partnerships
• Demonstrated excellence in dissemination to both scientific audiences and lay or community stakeholders
• Track record of effective mentorship and trainee development