General Introduction
The Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist will work closely with the Founding Director to advance the academic and strategic development of the NYU Shanghai Global Institute for Longevity and Resilience. The Institute is a university-wide, interdisciplinary platform that brings together expertise across public health, social science, urban and environmental studies, computer and data science, engineering, business, economics, finance, and policy to promote healthy longevity and resilient societies.
The Executive Director will provide both intellectual and executive leadership for the Institute, working with the Founding Director, Hub Leads, faculty, and external partners to advance high-impact interdisciplinary research, secure external research funding, and maximize the Institute’s scientific and policy impact. The role will also focus on integrating research expertise and resources across NYU Shanghai, developing strategic partnerships, supporting faculty and research talent, managing the Institute’s pilot research program, and strengthening its connections across Shanghai, China, Asia, and the NYU global network.
The position has a flexible start date, with a preference for candidates who can begin in Spring 2027. The appointment start date is subject to immigration regulations for the country of employment.
Terms of employment at NYU Shanghai are comparable to those at NYU New York and other U.S. institutions.
Main Responsibilities
Research and Funding Development
- Work with the Founding Director and Hub Leads to develop and implement the Institute’s research strategy and interdisciplinary research initiatives.
- Identify and connect existing faculty and staff expertise, research facilities, and ongoing research programs across NYU Shanghai to facilitate resource sharing, strengthen collaboration across the four Hubs, and develop competitive joint research initiatives and funding proposals.
- Work closely with faculty to identify funding opportunities, develop interdisciplinary collaborations, and lead or support the preparation of competitive domestic and international grant proposals to secure external research funding.
- Develop and administer the Institute’s pilot research funding program and help translate promising pilot projects into external grants, publications, partnerships, and larger-scale initiatives.
- Build a sustained pipeline of interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research proposals and projects.
Faculty and Research Talent Development
- Support faculty, particularly junior faculty and early-career researchers, in developing research programs, collaborative networks, and external funding.
- Help recruit and engage faculty and researchers whose expertise strengthens the Institute and NYU Shanghai’s research priorities.
- Develop opportunities for postdoctoral researchers, visiting scholars, students, and faculty exchanges across NYU and partner institutions.
Strategic Partnerships and Resource Development
- Develop strategic relationships with universities, government agencies, healthcare organizations, foundations, industry, and other external partners.
- Work closely with the Founding Director and relevant University offices to identify, cultivate, and engage prospective donors and philanthropic partners.
- Help develop funding opportunities and materials for prospective donors and support philanthropic gifts, sponsored research, and other external resources.
- Strengthen partnerships across Shanghai, China, and Asia while leveraging the NYU global network.
Research Translation and External Engagement
- Maximize the scientific, policy, and societal impact of the Institute’s research by promoting high-quality scholarly publications, translating research findings into policy and practice, and engaging relevant academic, government, industry, and community stakeholders.
- Develop the Institute’s annual conference and other scholarly convenings as platforms for research collaboration, partnership development, and broader impact.
- Represent the Institute, as appropriate, and strengthen its academic visibility and reputation in China and internationally.
Institute Leadership and Operations
- Work with the Founding Director to develop annual priorities, work plans, budgets, and measures of progress.
- Coordinate Institute staff and resources and work with relevant NYU Shanghai offices to support research, grants, partnerships, communications, and operations.
- Support the Founding Director in coordinating the Advisory Board and track and report on the Institute’s major activities and outcomes.
Qualifications
Required Education
- PhD or other advanced degree in a field relevant to the Institute’s mission.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 8–10 years of research experience
- Significant experience in academic research, research leadership, research program development, or leadership of a university-based research institute or center.
- Demonstrated excellence in independent research, as evidenced by a strong record of scholarly publications, research impact, and other significant research accomplishments.
- Demonstrated success in securing external research funding, developing competitive grant proposals, and building interdisciplinary research collaborations.
- Experience working closely with faculty and supporting research and talent development.
- Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with academic institutions, government agencies, foundations and donors, healthcare organizations, industry, and other external partners.
- Experience working across disciplines and institutions; experience with China and international research partnerships is highly desirable.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong research-development, grant-writing, strategic planning, and project-management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work effectively with faculty and diverse external stakeholders.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; professional proficiency in Chinese strongly preferred.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international academic environment.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae and personal statement via Interfolio. The personal statement should outline the candidate’s vision for advancing the Institute’s research, external funding, and impact, including how they would leverage NYU Shanghai’s existing strengths and the NYU global network, and navigate the opportunities and challenges of operating within a Sino-US joint venture university.
Additionally, applicants will be prompted to enter the names and email addresses of three referees. Each referee will be contacted to upload a reference letter through Interfolio.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, follow this link: https://apply.interfolio.com/195963. If you have any questions on the application process, please email the NYU Shanghai NY Office of Faculty Recruitment at shanghai.faculty.recruitment@nyu.edu. For further questions on the position details, please contact Yvonne Liu at yvonne.j.liu@nyu.edu.
About NYU Shanghai
NYU Shanghai is the third degree-granting campus within New York University’s Global Network. It is the first higher education joint venture in China authorized to grant degrees that are accredited in the U.S. as well as in China. All teaching is conducted in English. A research university with liberal arts and science at its core, NYU Shanghai resides in one of the world's great cities with a vibrant intellectual community. NYU Shanghai recruits scholars of the highest caliber who are committed to NYU's global vision of transformative teaching and innovative research and who embody the global society in which we live.
NYU’s Global Network includes degree-granting campuses in New York, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi, complemented by thirteen additional academic centers across the world. Faculty and students may circulate within the Network in pursuit of common research interests and cross-cultural, interdisciplinary endeavors, both local and global.
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About the Institute
NYU Shanghai Global Institute for Longevity and Resilience is a university-wide, interdisciplinary, and globally connected platform that brings together NYU Shanghai’s strengths in public health, the social sciences, psychology, neuroscience, urban and environmental studies, computer and data science, engineering, business, economics, finance, and public policy. Its mission is to generate interdisciplinary knowledge, support talent development, advance and evaluate responsible technologies, inform policy and practice, and build strategic partnerships that promote healthy longevity and resilience across the life course.
Anchored in Shanghai, rooted in China, focused on Asia as a key region for comparative research and training, and globally connected through NYU, the Institute will organize its work through four interconnected research Hubs: Healthy Longevity and Life-course Resilience; Earth Systems and Urban Resilience; Longevity Finance, Silver Economy, and Social Resilience; and Health Technology. Through shared research questions, responsibly governed data and methods, real-world research settings in Pudong, Shanghai, and China, comparative work across Asia and the NYU global network, and translation into policy and practice, the four Hubs will jointly explore how people can live longer and healthier lives and how societies can become more inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and resilient.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
For people in the EU, click here for information on your privacy rights under GDPR: www.nyu.edu/it/gdpr
NYU Shanghai is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from all interested persons. NYU Shanghai affirms the value of differing perspectives on the world as we strive to build the strongest possible university with the widest reach.
Sustainability Statement
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability
