The Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU) is a major clinical and basic science research program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine. Located on the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus, the program has focused on behavioral pharmacology and behavioral neuroscience research as these relate to drug abuse and dependence. It has also been the home for a highly successful postdoctoral training program in this field. The BPRU has been in existence for over 40 years, and is widely recognized for the high quality of its scientific productivity and contributions to the understanding of all classes of abused drugs as well as assessments of novel centrally acting compounds. The program consists of 10-12 full-time faculty, a number of affiliate faculty who work in other Johns Hopkins addictions programs and support staff. It is supported primarily by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and pharmaceutical company contracts. George Bigelow, PhD, the BPRU's scientific director, has announced that he is stepping down from this position, and JHU is conducting a national search for a new director to lead the BPRU.

Potential candidates should be either at the rank of professor at their current institution or qualified for appointment as a professor in the JHU School of Medicine. Candidates are expected to have demonstrated a strong, multi-year record of independent funding as a principal investigator on NIH grants (or the equivalent), a record of international recognition for their work, as well as a record of exceptional leadership and mentoring. Candidates with research backgrounds in any areas of behavioral pharmacology and the addictions/substance abuse field (e.g., pharmacology, psychology, basic science, brain imaging and clinical trials) are welcome to apply. Critical to the selection of the next leader of BPRU will be the ability to demonstrate a clear vision for the direction of behavioral pharmacology and addictions research per se and the role that the BPRU should play in leading such research at the national and international level.

To apply: Interested and qualified candidates should forward a copy of their curriculum vitae, along with a cover letter summarizing their experience and background. Applications should be sent to: 

Eric C. Strain, MD
Chair, BPRU SD Search Committee
c/o Barbara Cross
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Meyer 131
600 N. Wolfe St. 
Baltimore, MD 21287
Email