Autism Research Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Emory Autism Center (EAC) is seeking a visionary physician leader to serve as Medical Director and drive the next phase of growth for one of the Southeast's premier autism service and research centers. This is a senior leadership role for a physician at the Associate Professor or Professor level who will shape clinical strategy, expand integrated mental health services for autistic individuals across the lifespan, and build a nationally recognized multidisciplinary care model with particular emphasis on the critically underserved young adult population (ages 18-30).

The Medical Director will join EAC at an inflection point. Supported by dedicated philanthropic startup funding, this leader will have the resources and institutional backing to recruit and develop a high-caliber clinical team, establish innovative service lines, and position EAC among the top programs in the country for integrated autism care.

About Emory Autism Center

EAC is a freestanding outpatient clinic and research center within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. Our interdisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice nurses, board-certified behavior analysts, social workers, and educational specialists. We operate multiple programs spanning diagnostic evaluation, medication management, early childhood inclusive education, adult services, and behavioral skill-building - all grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming framework.

The center serves as a regional hub for autism care, training, and research, with active partnerships across Emory Healthcare and community organizations throughout Georgia.

• Provide strategic clinical leadership for psychiatric and medical services across the center's programs, with a focus on expanding access to integrated care for autistic adults and young adults

• Establish and implement innovative mental health protocols

• Recruit, mentor, and retain top clinical talent, particularly psychiatrists and advanced practice providers, in partnership with the center's multidisciplinary leadership team

• Contribute to the center's growing training mission - which spans psychiatry residents, child and adolescent psychiatry fellows, psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows, and behavior analysts - by providing medical education leadership and mentorship within a broader interdisciplinary training framework

• Contribute to the center's research mission through clinical investigation, outcomes measurement, and scholarly activity

• Represent EAC locally and nationally, advancing its visibility and reputation among peer institutions, funders, and professional communities

• Collaborate with center leadership on strategic planning, program development, and sustainability efforts

Qualifications

Required:

• MD or DO with board certification in psychiatry; additional board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry strongly preferred

• Minimum of 7 years of post-training clinical experience with demonstrated expertise in autism and co-occurring mental health conditions

• Track record of clinical leadership, program development, or administrative responsibility in an academic or large clinical setting

• Eligible for appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level at Emory University School of Medicine

• Active Georgia medical license or eligibility for licensure

Preferred:

• Experience developing or directing multidisciplinary clinical programs serving autistic individuals

• Established research portfolio in autism, neurodevelopmental conditions, or related mental health areas

• Experience with training program development, graduate medical education, or accreditation processes (e.g., APA, ACGME)

• Familiarity with integrated care models that bridge psychiatric, behavioral, and psychosocial services

Consideration will also be given to candidates with primary training in developmental pediatrics or a related specialty who bring substantial expertise in young adult mental health and clinical leadership.

What We Offer

• A senior leadership role with meaningful autonomy and institutional support to build something distinctive

• Dedicated philanthropic startup funding to support recruitment, program development, and the transition to a sustainable operating model

• Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with rank and experience through Emory University

• An established, collaborative interdisciplinary team and operational infrastructure

• Access to Emory's research ecosystem, including collaborative opportunities across the School of Medicine, Rollins School of Public Health, and affiliated health system

• A neurodiversity-affirming clinical culture that centers the experiences and self-determination of autistic individuals