Heersink School of Medicine-Chief Research Informatics Officer (CRIO)-Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Job Description

Position Overview

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks an innovative and visionary leader to serve as Chief Research Informatics Officer (CRIO). This dual-role position offers a unique opportunity to lead the development and integration of research information systems across UAB Medicine and the Heersink School of Medicine, advancing UABs commitment to excellence in clinical care, research, education, and operations.

Reporting to both the Chief Information Officer of the UAB Health System and the Chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, the CRIO will serve as the senior leader responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive Research IT strategic plan, with a focus on integrating data, digital tools, and computing platforms across the research lifecycle.

The CRIO will be a core leader in clinical research informatics, supporting the implementation and evolution of the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system to enable embedded clinical trials, research patient portals, and advanced analytics for trial recruitment and outcomes monitoring. The CRIO will hold a faculty appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level and participate in the scholarly, service, and educational missions of the Heersink School of Medicine.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement an enterprise-wide Research Informatics strategy aligned with UAB Medicines clinical and translational research mission.
• Serve as a key advisor to health system and medical school leadership on digital trends, investments, and innovation opportunities that advance research and learning health system goals.
• Lead the integration of research, clinical care, education, and operational data systems to enable seamless knowledge management across the enterprise.
• Represent UAB in local, regional, and national research informatics initiatives, including CTSA activities and health data collaboratives.

Research Infrastructure and Innovation

• Direct the design, deployment, and optimization of informatics tools to support cohort discovery, trial eligibility, recruitment, study management, and research data analytics.
• Serve as the technical and strategic lead for UABs use of Epic for Research, including governance, customization, and user support.
• Lead implementation and governance of platforms such as REDCap, i2b2, and OMOP-based data marts, and explore integration with next-generation technologies (e.g., generative AI, digital phenotyping).
• Identify and translate emerging informatics innovations (e.g., FHIR, SMART apps, AI/ML) into scalable research infrastructure.

Academic and Community Engagement

• Mentor and collaborate with investigators, trainees, biostatisticians, and IT professionals to advance research projects and promote workforce development in clinical informatics.
• Contribute to research grant proposals and serve as a PI or co-investigator on externally funded informatics initiatives.
• Serve on health information governance committees to ensure research needs are represented in data policy and compliance decisions.
• Promote inclusivity in research design and engagement, particularly in support of UABs commitment to health equity.

Organizational Development

• Lead, recruit, and develop a high-performing team of IT professionals with expertise in research computing, data management, and analytics.
• Foster a culture of service, innovation, transparency, and accountability across the Research IT organization.

Ensure efficient use of resources and alignment with enterprise project management and cybersecurity standards


Qualifications

Required:

• MD, PhD, or MD/PhD in biomedical informatics, computer science, clinical research, epidemiology, data science, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience leading research informatics initiatives in an academic health system or translational research environment.
• Record of scholarly productivity and leadership in clinical research informatics, evidenced by publications, grants, or national roles.
• Experience with Epic and other electronic health records as used in research and clinical trials.

Preferred:

• Experience with CTSA programs or large-scale collaborative research initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in developing enterprise-wide informatics tools or platforms.
• Ability to work collaboratively across institutional boundaries with academic, clinical, and operational leaders.
• Familiarity with federal regulations and ethical standards governing human subjects research and health information privacy (e.g., HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11).

Application Instructions

Applications should include a letter of interest, a CV, a statement of informatics vision and leadership philosophy, and the names and contact information for three references.

Required Qualifications

• MD, PhD, or MD/PhD in biomedical informatics, computer science, clinical research, epidemiology, data science, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience leading research informatics initiatives in an academic health system or translational research environment.
• Record of scholarly productivity and leadership in clinical research informatics, evidenced by publications, grants, or national roles.
• Experience with Epic and other electronic health records as used in research and clinical trials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CTSA programs or large-scale collaborative research initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in developing enterprise-wide informatics tools or platforms.
• Ability to work collaboratively across institutional boundaries with academic, clinical, and operational leaders.
• Familiarity with federal regulations and ethical standards governing human subjects research and health information privacy (e.g., HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11).