Careers

Sanford Health – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sanford Health, the nation’s largest rural health system, invites applications and nominations for the position of President, Sanford Research—a visionary physician-scientist leader who will shape the future of biomedical and healthcare- related research across a rapidly growing, multi-state academic health enterprise.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a vibrant, discovery-driven research environment embedded within an integrated health system that spans more than 320,000 square miles and serves over 2 million patients across the Upper Midwest. Sanford Research is home to nearly 500 scientists and research professionals across Sanford Research Institute (SRI) and Marshfield Clinic Research Institute (MCRI), supporting approximately1,100 clinical trials and a robust portfolio in biomedical, biobehavioral, population health, and translational science.

About Sanford Research
Sanford Research’s mission is rooted in Sanford Health’s long-standing commitment to care, comfort, and cure. The research enterprise includes nationally competitive Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBREs) in cancer, pediatrics, and eating disorders; robust affiliation with a number of in clinical research program including NCI Connect or NCOR, extensive technical core facilities to support our scientist in genomics, advanced imaging, proteomics, and translational platforms; an accredited AAALAC animal research center and AAHRPP accredited human subject research program; and one of the largest clinical research footprints in the rural United States.

Sanford Research integrates:

• Biomedical discovery focused on cancer biology, pediatrics, rare diseases, and cellular/molecular mechanisms of disease.
• Translational research supported by the Sanford BioBank, population genetics resources, disease-specific registries, and precision-medicine biorepositories.
• Clinical research with strong early-phase capabilities and a systemwide commitment to decentralizing clinical trials.
• Biobehavioral and mental health research, including nationally recognized programs in eating disorders, obesity and bariatric surgery.
• Population health & epidemiology, precision health, and multispecialty clinical trials through MCRI.

The President of Sanford Research will steward and elevate these strengths to advance discovery, implementation, and innovation across the enterprise.

Position Overview
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer of Sanford Health, the President of Sanford Research serves as the senior executive responsible for the strategic direction, scientific vision, operational leadership, and long-range planning of research across the Sanford Health system.

The President will:

• Support the discovery, clinical, translational, and implementation research programs aligned with Sanford’s strategic priorities.
• Work with leadership to develop and execute strategic, financial, and operational plans for a high-performing research enterprise.
• Strengthen collaboration across Sanford Health’s clinical service lines, academic partners, government agencies, and external stakeholders.
• Advance a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, and integrity.
• Oversee research funding models; ensure effectiveness and sustainability of financial structures; and monitor performance relative to key objectives.
• Represent Sanford Research nationally and internationally as a visible thought leader in rural health innovation, clinical trials access, and cutting-edge science.
• Champion team-science models and support the appropriate mentorship of the next generation of researchers and physician-scientists.
• Ensure compliance with research integrity, regulatory standards, and institutional policies.
• Drive partnerships aimed at expanding clinical research access for rural and underserved populations.

The President will be an influential member of a high-functioning executive team and will work closely with system-wide leaders, scientific faculty, clinicians, and community partners to elevate and expand the impact of Sanford Research.

Candidate Profile
Sanford Health seeks an accomplished physician-scientist (MD or DO required) with the experience, credibility, and strategic orientation to lead a complex research ecosystem.

The ideal candidate will bring:

Professional Qualifications

• A distinguished record as a funded investigator with demonstrated excellence in biomedical, clinical, and/or translational research.
• Experience integrating research within a large health system, academic medical center, or similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated success in scientific leadership, administrative management, and strategic planning.
• Ability to cultivate interdisciplinary collaborations and foster team-science environments.
• Evidence of strong decision-making, planning, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Experience navigating federal research landscapes, regulatory frameworks, and funding agencies.
• A leadership philosophy grounded in humility, stewardship, service, and collaborative excellence.

Preferred Attributes

• Visionary leadership with a commitment to innovation and scientific impact.
• Ability to articulate complex concepts clearly to varied audiences—including clinicians, scientists, community stakeholders, and system leadership.
• Demonstrated success building trusting relationships, advancing organizational priorities, and inspiring teams to achieve ambitious goals.
• Experience strengthening clinical trials infrastructure, rural research access, commercial partnerships, and/or public-private collaborations.

Application Process
Sanford Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All application materials should be submitted electronically to: Research Recruitment at researchrecruitment@SanfordHealth.org; Please copy Mike Quick at michael.quick@sanfordhealth.org.

Applications should include:

1. A cover letter outlining interest and relevant leadership experience.
2. A current curriculum vitae.
3. Contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without prior approval).

Nominations and Inquiries Nominations or inquiries may be directed to: michael.quick@sanfordhealth.org.

Sanford Research invites applications for full-time faculty at the rank of Assistant Scientist within Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, SD, with commensurate rank of Assistant Professor at the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota. Sanford Research is the non-profit research branch of Sanford Health.

We seek outstanding scientists with research programs that span areas of biomedical research impacting rare diseases. This could include but is not limited to: 1) understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of rare diseases, including rare cancers, 2) using model organisms/systems to understand disease progression and to test therapeutic interventions, and 3) developing new therapeutic approaches to treat rare diseases. Significant institutional support, including modern laboratory space and state-of-the-art facilities will be provided. A comprehensive benefits package will be tailored to the candidate's qualifications. Successful candidates will join a collaborative team with a well-established infrastructure in rare disease research and faculty mentorship. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to partner with the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford (CoRDS) international rare disease patient registry whose mission is to facilitate the advancement of rare disease research. 

Qualifications
Applicants should hold a PhD, MD or MD/PhD degree and complement the existing strengths and interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of Sanford Research. Candidates will be expected to develop independent research programs and secure extramural funding.

Application
Sanford Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Applicants should submit a single PDF that includes: 1) detailed curriculum vitae, 2) description of research experience and future research plans with specific details on the relevance of their research to the relevance of rare diseases, and 3) contact information for three letters of recommendation. Submit materials via email to: researchrecruitment@sanfordhealth.org.

About Sanford Research
Sanford Research is a vibrant and growing research enterprise focused on driving discovery in rare disease, cancer biology and pediatric health. With more that 250 researchers and staff, Sanford Research has emerged as a national leader in translational science and patient-focused innovation, advancing new diagnostics and therapies that impact lives globally. 

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America's heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves 2.4 million patients and more than 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes 56 hospitals, more than 288 clinics, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies, and five world clinic locations around the globe.

Postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Prof. Pilar de la Puente, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls to study dynamics of dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition in cancer. Dr. de la Puente lab’s mission is focused on the engineering of translational and physiologically relevant preclinical cancer models to advance cancer research. (https://delapuentelab.com/). The de la Puente Lab develops translational and physiologically relevant preclinical cancer models as tools to recapitulate tumor behavior ex vivo (“out of the living”) with an emphasis in cellular crosstalk, extracellular matrix remodeling, and spatial gradients.

We focus on elucidating mechanisms driving chemoresistance and immune evasion in cancer and further developing novel treatment strategies to mitigate their occurrence. Our long-term goal is to accelerate and directly translate our significant insights to aid patients suffering from cancer.

Qualifications
Interested candidate is expected to have recently obtained a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Biology or similar discipline and be a first author on at least 1-2 publications in Cancer, cell-ECM mechanotransduction, and/or biomedical engineering applications.

The main job duty is to perform research to understand the role of tumor extracellular matrix remodeling in cancer chemoresistance and to identify novel therapeutic targets by using patient-derived 3D cultures (Funding already secured). The translational research project leverages multi-disciplinary approach in cancer biology, bio-orthogonal metabolic labeling, biomedical engineering/tissue engineering, mechanotransduction signaling, OMICs, and high-throughput in vitro patient-derived models to probe complex biological processes and to pursue new therapeutic opportunities for cancer.

Experience in 3D tissue cultures, confocal imaging and/or cancer biology is preferred. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required. Our laboratory is an inclusive and supportive environment, and we strongly encourage motivated individuals from historically excluded groups in science to apply.

Application
Please submit cover letter, CV, and contact information for 2-3 references combined into one PDF file by e-mail to: pilar.puente@sanfordhealth.org.