Faculty position, Chief of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology

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 institutional mentorship and infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence:
The department is deeply engaged in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and quantitative imaging to improve both patient care and research. Some clinician scientists are also members of Intelligent Imaging Informatics (I3), an expanding section that harnesses the power of imaging informatics and AI to accelerate research, clinical care, and translational efforts in pediatric radiology, advancing the St. Jude Mission. The Image Quantification and Artificial Intelligence (IQAI) Co-Laboratory is a dedicated research and development team for biomedical informatics and AI. This interdisciplinary team serves the Department of Radiology by building and maintaining the advanced data infrastructure that fuels faculty-led research, performing collaborative projects with clinicians and scientists and conducting core biomedical informatics research. The IQAI team recently developed a Radiology Data Center (RDC) for data science that supports de-identified radiologic and pathology data, electronic medical records, and other institutional datasets. These resources collectively position St. Jude as a leader in the ethical and impactful application of AI in pediatric imaging and provide a strong foundation for developing and validating AI-driven molecular imaging and theranostic tools.

Education:

Education is an important component of our mission. Faculty have the opportunity to teach and mentor radiology fellows, radiology residents, medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. St. Jude supports professional development by providing travel funds for faculty presentations at national and international conferences. The department hosts an annual international educational conference and a separate scientific symposium, including dedicated courses for molecular imaging and therapeutics. In February 2026, St. Jude will co-host a Pediatric Oncologic Imaging Course with the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), including a session for nuclear medicine. Faculty actively participate in institutional and national educational initiatives.

Compensation and Environment:

St. Jude offers competitive compensation determined by faculty rank and fair market value, as well as comprehensive benefits and programs that support wellness, work-life balance, and career growth. The department fosters a culture of impact, excellence, collaboration, innovation, and mutual respect, where faculty elevate one another to achieve their maximum potential.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer. St. Jude does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex, genetic information, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, veteran's status or disabled veteran's status with respect to employment opportunities. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment.

We value different perspectives and intellectual discourse. We are committed to building an intellectually diverse community.

Academic rank and institutional resources will be commensurate with experience and qualification.

Requirements:
Candidates must have an MD, DO or equivalent degree, be board certified by the American Board of Radiology and/or American Board of Nuclear Medicine and have experience in nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and theranostics. Applicants must qualify for medical licensure in the State of Tennessee.

To apply:

Interested candidates should submit a CV directly online .

For more information, contact

Andrew D. Smith, MD PhD
Chair of the Department Radiology and Body Radiologist
Endowed Chair of Diagnostic Imaging
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
View email address on nature.com

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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