Job Description

Director of Research and Development 

Women’s Health & Sport Performance (WHSP) Institute | Boston, MA 

About the WHSP Institute

The WHSP Institute, an independent, nonprofit Section 501(c)(3) research institute, opened in Fall 2025. Primarily supported by over $50 million in seed funding from the Flagpole Hill Fund (David and Jane Ott) and the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance (Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation), the Institute is dedicated to advancing female athlete health and performance through independent, peer-reviewed research and education that serves the public interest.

The Institute’s mission is to “uncover the science female athletes have always deserved, and to translate those findings responsibly into evidence-based guidance that improves health, safety, and performance across the lifespan.” To fulfill this mission, the Institute operates a state-of-the-art physiology laboratory, a research-grade strength and conditioning facility, and a teaching and research kitchen to support rigorous clinical, performance, and translational research. Its core research domains include sports endocrinology and hormonal health; sports nutrition and energy availability; performance optimization (exercise training, biomechanics, and recovery); injury prevention and return-to-play; and mental skills and other psychological domains, with a focus on female athletes across the lifespan.

The Institute collaborates with leading universities, sports organizations, and governing bodies to produce peer-reviewed science, disseminate open-access educational resources for clinicians and the public, and develop field-shaping best practices. These collaborations are designed to advance public knowledge and do not confer private benefit. While the Institute is co-located with a separately owned and operated sports medicine practice, WHSP Medical, a for-profit entity, the Institute is legally and operationally independent. All Institute activities are conducted exclusively to further its charitable, educational, and scientific purposes.

The Institute’s research agenda is guided by scientific merit and public benefit, and its findings are disseminated broadly through publications, presentations, and educational programming to ensure that evidence reaches athletes, clinicians, and communities. Through this work, the Institute aims to elevate the standard of care and improve outcomes for female athletes worldwide.

Position Summary

The Director of Research (DR) at WHSP is a key position within the new WHSP organization. The DR should be a mid-to-later career researcher and have a well-established line of research. They need to be a strategic leader with strong analytical, communication, and team and project management skills. The DR will be responsible for setting a clear vision, fostering collaboration, and successfully executing research projects from conception to publication and dissemination. Key attributes include a deep understanding of research methodologies, the ability to secure and track funding/budgets, and strong interpersonal skills to engage diverse stakeholders and guide and motivate a research team. An established, internationally respected research network is a strong asset. 

The DR will lead the day‑to‑day scientific build‑out of the Institute’s research program, translating the strategic vision of the WHSP Institute’s Director and the scientific advisory group (SAG; a diverse group of 5 to 7 internal/external advisors) into an executable portfolio of internal and external collaborative studies and scholarly outputs. This includes hiring, managing, and building out the required research staff. With significant research seed funding for the position, the DR will coordinate multi‑site projects, optimize use of the physiology laboratory, S&C gym, and research-grade kitchen, align clinical and performance workflows with study protocols, and ensure data quality and regulatory compliance. The DR will collaborate closely with the Institute's SAG, who function as a steering committee. 

Primary Report to: Dr. Kathryn Ackerman

Secondary Report to: WHSP Scientific Advisory Group (SAG)

Staff Reporting:  Approximately 5 to 10 internal research-based staff (including research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and/or graduate student trainees) as well as handling 5 to 10 external research investigators/collaborative projects. 

Key Responsibilities

• Research strategy & portfolio: Develop and iterate a multi‑year research plan aligned with WHSP strategic priorities; convert concepts into feasible protocols with clear endpoints, timelines, and resourcing needs.
• Training & mentorship: Provide hands-on mentorship and direct oversight to research staff on research methods, statistics, and scientific writing, modeling best practices for open and reproducible science.
• Study design & execution: Lead protocol development, IRB submissions (in collaboration with site PIs), standard operating procedures, case‑report forms, and staff training; coordinate any Boston-led multi‑site start‑ups and ongoing operations.
• Methods & data standards: Define measurement standards (e.g., DXA scan protocols, nutrition protocols, biomechanics), data dictionaries, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) plans; ensure reproducible workflows and rigorous documentation.
• Analysis & interpretation: Oversee analytic plans, perform or supervise statistical analyses, and synthesize findings with the Director and consultants; ensure conclusions are supported by data and limitations are transparent.
• Publications & dissemination: Drive manuscripts, conference abstracts, white papers, and invited talks; ensure consistent Institute acknowledgment and branding across outputs.
• Continuing education: Maintain awareness of the latest sport science developments through attending and presenting at national and international conferences, and through self-directed study (please note: while mentorship is expected, there are no academic course teaching commitments with this position).
• Governance and collaboration: Convene regular reviews with the Director and the SAG. Track milestones, risks, and decisions, and document them for transparency and continuity. Work to build collaborative partnerships, locally, nationally, and internationally, and within the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.
• Resources & operations: Optimize use of the physiology laboratory and metabolic kitchen; coordinate purchasing and vendor relationships; propose staffing plans as the portfolio grows.
• Compliance & ethics: Maintain IRB approval records, data privacy, and participant safety; oversee data‑sharing agreements and material/data transfer processes.
• Other duties/responsibilities may be assigned as the WHSP Institute Director sees fit.

End of year 2 Success Indicators

• A research roadmap and portfolio with defined milestones approved by the WHSP Institute Director and SAG.
• ≥3 IRB‑approved studies launched.
• Standardized operating procedures, data dictionaries, and QA/QC checklists implemented for key internal methods and projects.
• Operational integration of best practice methods for the physiology laboratory, S&C gym, and metabolic kitchen into approved protocols.
• Regular attendance at standing Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance meetings.
• At least 1 active collaboration with another Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Institution. 
• At least one submission for other external targeted research grants.

Qualifications

Required:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (PhD or MD/DO with minimum 5 years of independent research experience).
• Demonstrated expertise in at least three of the following core areas: 1) female athlete health, 2) sports endocrinology, 3) sports nutrition/metabolism, 4) exercise physiology, 5) biomechanics, and/or 6) clinical outcomes research.
• Competence in exercise physiology testing methods, and the ability to run and set up a fully functioning applied sport science and sports medicine integrated lab.
• Track record of study design, IRB/regulatory processes, and scientific writing (manuscripts and abstracts).
• Competence in data analysis and interpretation.
• Proven ability to coordinate multi‑stakeholder projects and deliver against timelines with high scientific rigor.
• Excellent scientific communication skills; ability to present and write for both peer‑reviewed / academic audiences and practitioner audiences.
• Experience leading or collaborating on grant proposals.

Preferred:

• Experience leading or coordinating multi‑site or industry‑academic studies.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following: research-grade kitchens, S&C specific exercise testing, wearable/biomarker data, and data governance.
• Working knowledge of statistical software.
• Experience in stewarding philanthropy‑supported research.

Role Logistics

Location: Boston, MA (on site position)

Schedule: Full‑time, exempt

Travel: Occasional domestic and international travel for study oversight, conferences, and Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance events. May be periodically required to oversee/attend major external research projects over a few-week period. 

Application and interviews to occur Fall of 2025 and position to commence ASAP post interviews, but no later than Q2 2026 (unless under special circumstances)

Equal Opportunity

WHSP Medical is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. National and international applicants welcome. 

To Apply

Please submit an academic-style CV to info@whspinstitute.org, a brief cover letter (<2 pages) describing your fit for the role and earliest available and feasible start date, 2-3 key publications, and contact information for 3 references. 

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