Open call for the CLARA Director

The International Neurodegenerative Disorders Research Center (INDRC) invites applications for the position of CLARA Director at the rank of senior R&D manager, senior researcher, associate professor, or professor in the areas Brain Research, Neurodegenerative Disorders, Alzheimer´s Disease, Molecular Biology, Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing and related areas.

The position is established and co-funded by the EU Center of Excellence CLARA - Center for Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing in System Brain Research. CLARA is hosted at INDRC, founded as a result of flagship Horizon Europe project (Widespread – Teaming for Excellence program), and is supported by the European Commission and the Czech Republic.

Job Description

CLARA Director is the full-time position acting as the main executive body of CLARA. The director has the right to control CLARA performance, manage the leading positions, decide about the employment conditions and recruitment procedure within the CLARA unit, resolve conflicts, and make any executive decisions at the operational level. The director will manage CLARA and create and lead a team of researchers and technicians in developing and implementing CLARA's research plan. The director will develop, review, and implement plans for strategic growth, financial plans, operational procedures, human resource management, and other duties related to the successful operations of the institute and implementation of the CLARA project. The director will report to the CLARA Supervisory Board (the supervisory body of the Centre), will cooperate closely with the INDRC Director, and will act in line with the mid-term framework set within the CLARA project. The CLARA Director is advised by the CLARA Scientific Advisory Board and supported by sound administration and its secretariat.

CLARA Director leads the Center of Excellence towards the implementation of the CLARA ambition:

“CLARA will provide a natural bridge between different disciplines and research organizations, ensuring flexible, transparent, and innovative governance, and will provide a role model for other private non-profit research organizations. The scientific ambition of the project is to push the frontier of neurodegeneration (ND) research, particularly focused on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), by examining nonlinear interactions between the molecular, behavioral, and clinical features of NDs through the integration of quantum computing (QC) and high-performance computing (HPC), together as hybrid computing (HPCQC) with Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML). In addition, the project seeks deep field knowledge and processing of large-scale biological and clinical data that will enrich collective understanding of these emerging technologies to solve real-world challenges, thus accelerating innovations of computing for the benefit of society. This new knowledge will allow us to address innovative hypotheses, understand critical factors in NDs pathophysiology, and progression, and provide novel targets for therapeutic interventions.”

Candidates are expected to:

• Take the responsibility for the scientific, financial, and operational management of CLARA and to represent CLARA;
• Manage the administrative and professional work and operations of the Centre;
• Organize and coordinate the work process and implement the decisions and advices of the CLARA Supervisory Board;
• Hire personnel and make personnel decisions;
• Define roles and positions as necessary to ensure the successful operation of the Centre and, if necessary, propose modifications of the Act on the organization of positions;
• To set and evolve the relations with national and pan-European networks in the respective field;
• Adopt the internal rules of the institution;
• Acquire external funding and collaborate with other researchers and specialists in academia or industry;
• Be an inspiring contribution to our staff. 

Candidates are offered:

• Competitive salary with possible performance-based raises;
• Opportunity to lead prestigious European project;
• Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Requirements for the position: Applicants should have the following qualifications:

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, SSH or related disciplines;
• At least 10 years of professional experience in a field related to the CLARA areas of research and/or R&D management
• Excellent record of scientific results and/or innovations in relevant fields and/or experience in managing large scale scientific research and development projects;
• Experience and proven ability to lead, coordinate, and organize international and interdisciplinary projects and teams;
• Experience in serving on the international boards of organizations;
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English;
• High motivation for implementing own visions;
• Team player with the ability to communicate and eager to look for and exploit synergies INDRC and its network provides.

Working environment:

The International Neurodegenerative Disorders Research Center (INDRC) is a private, not-for-profit research institute bringing together leading experts in neurodegeneration and artificial intelligence to achieve breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. INDRC was established in 2021 as an international institute with a transparent governance model and a new research organization within an ecosystem of committed partners, including universities, research institutes, clinical centers and collaborating companies. For more information about the research institute, please visit the website https://indrc.cz/ and the social network LinkedIn.

The prestigious European CLARA grant - Center for Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing in System Brain Research, which is an interdisciplinary centre of excellence focused on the use of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and supercomputing to push the boundaries of research on the human brain, its structure, and neurodegeneration, in particular Alzheimer's disease. Through breakthrough technologies and scientific research design, the project aims to bring together fragmented disciplinary knowledge, large-scale biological and clinical data to contribute to a better understanding of the origins and prevention of these diseases.

CLARA is a project of European significance and will be funded by Horizon Europe and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic in the amount of EUR 43 mil. from 2024 to 2030. CLARA is hosted by INDRC which is located in Prague. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has the highest Quality of Living Worldwide ranking among the eastern European cities and over 160,000 foreign residents. It boasts a rich history and culture, a long tradition of university education and scientific research, and a dynamic economy. The cost of living in Prague is about one-half of the living costs in Amsterdam, Paris, or New York. Based on the 2024 Global Peace Index, the Czech Republic is the 12th most peaceful and safe country in the world.

Information and application

Employment opportunities, admission policies, activities, services, and the facilities of INDRC and CLARA do not exclude any person on the basis of race, colour, age, sex, religion, national origin, or disability. All candidates that meet criteria in the target profile will be invited to the second round for the personal interview.

To apply, please send an application with subject “CLARA Director”, including a detailed CV, a motivation letter, information on strategic R&D vision, electronic copies of your top five achievements, e.g. publications, innovations, projects or awards, and contact data of at least three references, to info@indrc.cz by January 6, 2025.

For further information about this position, please contact Lenka Uldrijanova, the INDRC Director – lenka.uldrijanova@indrc.cz.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101136607.