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Duke University Global Health Innovation and Policy Faculty Position 2026: Associate Professor or Professor Opportunity in the United States

Dora Kumi
Duke University Global Health Innovation and Policy Faculty Position 2026
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Duke University is inviting applications for a senior faculty position in Global Health Innovation and Policy at the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) in Durham, North Carolina, United States. The position is being jointly conducted by the Duke Global Health Institute, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, and Duke Global Health Innovation Center. Duke is seeking an experienced professional with significant expertise in global health innovation, health policy, health financing, or closely related areas to strengthen research, policy and leadership activities at Duke. The successful candidate will be appointed at the Associate Professor or Professor level and will have opportunities to contribute to research, policy engagement, teaching, mentorship, partnership development, external funding, and leadership within the Duke Global Health Innovation Center and the wider university.

Duke University Global Health Faculty Position: Key Details

This is a senior-level academic and professional opportunity for an established global health expert with a strong record of research, external funding, publications, stakeholder engagement and leadership.

The main details of the position include:

The position is intended for a senior individual who can combine academic excellence with practical impact in global health innovation and policy.

What Is Duke Looking For?

Duke is looking for a candidate with significant expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas:

The institution is particularly interested in professionals who have demonstrated the ability to move beyond research alone and translate knowledge into practical solutions that can be implemented in real-world settings.

Duke describes innovation broadly. It may involve something entirely new or something that has been newly adapted to a particular local context and produces meaningful impact.

Such innovation could take the form of:

The university emphasizes that successful innovation should be effective, scalable, sustainable and equitable.

Experience in Low-Resource and Global Settings

Although the position allows flexibility regarding specific topics, populations and contexts, Duke has a particular interest in candidates who have worked on health innovation in low-resource contexts globally.

Relevant experience may include leading:

Experience across different low-resource settings is particularly relevant because the successful candidate will be expected to understand how innovations can be adapted to different environments rather than assuming that one solution will work identically everywhere.

Duke Welcomes Non-Traditional Career Paths

An important feature of this opportunity is Duke’s openness to candidates who have followed non-traditional professional paths.

The position specifically welcomes team-science-oriented professionals who have moved between different sectors during their careers.

Examples include professionals with experience across:

This means candidates do not necessarily need to have followed a purely academic career trajectory if they can demonstrate strong relevant expertise, leadership, research, policy and practical experience.

Leadership and Management Responsibilities

Duke is also seeking an individual with substantial management and leadership experience.

The successful candidate could serve in a faculty leadership capacity at the Duke Global Health Innovation Center.

Leadership responsibilities may include:

The position therefore goes beyond traditional teaching and research responsibilities. It is designed for a senior professional who can help build partnerships, attract resources, manage programmes and represent Duke in global health innovation activities.

Research, Policy and Practical Impact

One of the central features of the position is the connection between research, policy and practical implementation.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to research and policy efforts while also demonstrating an understanding of how evidence can influence real-world health systems and programmes.

This makes the position particularly relevant to professionals who can demonstrate that their work has moved from academic research into areas such as:

Duke is looking for someone who can understand both the academic and practical dimensions of global health innovation.

External Funding Experience

A significant record of extramural funding is one of the required qualifications for the position.

Duke is particularly interested in applicants who have obtained funding from diverse sources, including:

The position’s long-term salary support will come predominantly from extramural grant funding, although additional internal sources may contribute over time through activities such as teaching and administrative responsibilities.

Because of this funding model, competitive candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to communicate the value of their work and develop funded programmes that are sustainable and add value to the Duke Global Health Innovation Center’s portfolio.

Duke Global Health Institute and Duke-Margolis will support the successful faculty member in transitioning into the institution and developing successful programmes.

Teaching and Mentorship Opportunities

The position also places considerable importance on teaching and mentorship.

Duke is seeking an applicant who is passionate about mentoring students and developing the next generation of global health professionals alongside their research and policy activities.

The successful faculty member may mentor:

The faculty member may also participate in students’ ongoing research and studies.

In addition, the successful candidate could develop new courses related to:

They may also teach existing courses in these areas.

Appointment Structure and Work Location

This is a full-time 9- or 12-month appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

The primary appointment will be within the Duke Global Health Institute, and the position will be a regular-rank non-tenure-track appointment in either the research or practice track.

The initial appointment is for three years, with eligibility for reappointment at the end of that period.

Rank and salary will be determined based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

There is also potential for a joint appointment in another department or school at Duke University.

Because the role involves extensive collaboration, teaching, mentoring and partnership responsibilities, candidates are expected to be able to work in the United States and maintain regular presence in Durham, North Carolina.

Relocation or substantial on-campus engagement is expected.

About the Duke Global Health Institute

The Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) was established in 2006 as a university-wide institute bringing together faculty from across Duke.

Its vision is focused on achieving health equity for vulnerable populations around the world.

The institute works across several areas, including:

The DGHI community includes staff, primary and secondary faculty, affiliate faculty and adjunct faculty. The institute also emphasizes values including humility, compassion, respect, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, diversity, inclusion and commitment to impact.

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy

The position is also connected to the Robert J. Margolis, MD, Institute for Health Policy at Duke University, commonly referred to as Duke-Margolis.

Duke-Margolis brings together expertise from the Washington, DC policy community, Duke University and Duke Health.

Its work focuses on important health-policy challenges and aims to improve:

The institute combines interdisciplinary research, education and engagement to help inform policymaking and implementation.

Duke Global Health Innovation Center

The position is also closely connected to the Duke Global Health Innovation Center (Duke GHIC).

Duke GHIC works at the intersection of:

The Center collaborates closely with its partner organization, Innovations in Healthcare, a Duke-affiliated nonprofit organization.

According to the vacancy information, Innovations in Healthcare works with more than 100 healthcare innovators across more than 90 countries as well as public and private sector organizations.

Together, the organizations work to:

This broader institutional environment provides an important context for understanding why Duke is seeking someone with both research expertise and practical experience in innovation and policy.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must meet the stated required qualifications.

1. Doctoral or Terminal Degree

Candidates must hold a doctoral or terminal degree in a relevant field.

Examples specifically provided in the position description include:

The degree should be relevant to the applicant’s area of expertise and the responsibilities of the position.

2. Research Experience

Applicants must have experience conducting either quantitative or qualitative research related to global health innovation and policy.

Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate a substantive research record connected to the subject areas of the position.

3. Experience Across Low-Resource Contexts

Applicants must have experience, or a credible pathway, for translating their work across multiple low-resource contexts globally.

The position specifically identifies:

This requirement emphasizes the importance of understanding how global health solutions can be adapted and implemented across different settings.

4. Significant Extramural Funding Record

Applicants must have a significant record of extramural funding.

This is an important requirement because the position’s long-term salary support will rely predominantly on external grant funding.

Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate a history of successfully developing, securing or contributing to externally funded programmes.

5. Academic and Non-Academic Publications

Candidates must have a record of publishing in both academic and non-academic formats.

Examples listed by Duke include:

This demonstrates that Duke is looking for someone who can communicate research and policy ideas to both academic and broader public audiences.

6. Policymaker and Stakeholder Engagement

Applicants must also have a record of engaging with policymakers and stakeholders.

Relevant stakeholders may include:

Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate that their work has involved engagement beyond academic institutions.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications, Duke identifies several preferred qualifications that could strengthen an applicant’s profile.

These include:

While these are listed as preferred rather than required qualifications, applicants who possess them may be particularly well aligned with the position.

What Type of Candidate Is Duke Seeking?

The overall profile described in the vacancy is that of a senior global health professional who can operate across several domains.

An especially strong candidate would be able to combine:

  1. Academic expertise through advanced qualifications and research.
  2. Practical experience applying global health innovation in real-world settings.
  3. Policy expertise and experience engaging policymakers.
  4. External funding success from governments, foundations, industry or other sources.
  5. Leadership experience involving people, budgets and organizations.
  6. Communication expertise demonstrated through academic and public-facing publications.
  7. Teaching and mentorship ability.
  8. International experience, particularly across low-resource contexts.
  9. Partnership-building skills with governments, funders and implementation organizations.

The position is therefore intended for an established professional rather than an early-career applicant.

Application Deadline

The application process is already open, and the university states that review of applications will begin immediately.

Applications submitted by 15 September 2026 are guaranteed consideration.

Review will continue until the position is filled. The position listing itself gives an application deadline of 16 September 2026 at 7:59 AM United Arab Emirates Time, while the detailed position description states that applications submitted by 15 September 2026 will be guaranteed consideration.
For applicants, the safest approach is to submit the application by 15 September 2026 rather than relying on the later listing date, because Duke explicitly guarantees consideration for applications received by that date.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply online through Academic Jobs Online here

At the first stage, candidates are required to submit:

The cover letter should explain the applicant’s:

Additional materials, including a list of references, will be requested from a smaller group of candidates after the initial review.

Duke states that references will not be contacted without advance notice.

The application materials required are also listed as:

Application Preparation Tips

Because this is a senior faculty position, applicants should ensure that their application demonstrates not only eligibility but also the depth and impact of their professional record.

Highlight Your Global Health Innovation Experience

Applicants should clearly explain how their previous research, programmes or professional activities have contributed to global health innovation.

Where possible, candidates should demonstrate measurable outcomes and explain how innovations were developed, adapted, implemented or scaled.

Demonstrate Experience in Low-Resource Settings

Since Duke specifically emphasizes low-resource contexts and LMICs, applicants should clearly identify relevant geographic and professional experience.

This could include work involving research, implementation, health systems, policy, innovation or operational programmes.

Explain Your Funding Record

A significant extramural funding record is required.

Applicants should therefore make their funding experience easy to understand and demonstrate their role in funded programmes.

Show Policy Impact

Candidates should highlight experience working with:

The goal is to demonstrate the ability to translate evidence and research into policy engagement and practical impact.

Demonstrate Leadership

Applicants should explain any experience involving:

These experiences are particularly relevant because the successful candidate may take on a leadership role within the Duke Global Health Innovation Center.

Include Both Academic and Public-Facing Work

Because Duke requires a record of academic and non-academic publishing, candidates should make their publication record comprehensive.

Relevant examples include journal publications as well as policy papers, op-eds, blogs and other public-facing contributions.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

Duke University states that it is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The university is committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to factors including:

Duke also emphasizes collaboration, innovation, creativity and belonging and seeks to create an environment where diverse perspectives and experiences can contribute to the university community.

Additional Disclosure Requirement

The application process includes a specific disclosure concerning past misconduct or policy violations.

Duke states that it seeks information about relevant misconduct or policy violations from the past 10 years, as well as relevant pending investigations.

The university explains that such disclosures are not automatically a reason for rejection. Instead, they initiate further discussion concerning the past actions and steps taken to address them.

The information disclosed will not be shared with search committees during the initial application review process.

Who Qualifies to Apply?

This opportunity is primarily designed for senior global health professionals, academics, researchers, policy experts and experienced practitioners with an established record in global health innovation and policy.

The minimum profile includes:

Preferred candidates may additionally have deep expertise in health financing or policy analysis, academic teaching experience, and experience supervising or mentoring faculty, staff or trainees.

Learn more:https://globalhealth.duke.edu

/send further question to this email:globalhealth.duke.edu

Nationality, Race and Geographic Eligibility

The vacancy does not specify a nationality, race, ethnicity or particular continent as an eligibility restriction.

Duke explicitly states that it provides employment opportunities without regard to national origin, ethnicity, race, religion and several other protected characteristics.

The position is based in Durham, North Carolina, United States, and candidates are expected to be able to work in the United States and be regularly present in Durham, with relocation or substantial on-campus engagement expected.
The position description particularly values professional experience involving low- and middle-income countries and other low-resource settings, but this is an area of professional experience sought by Duke rather than a nationality or citizenship restriction.

Conclusion

The Duke University Faculty Position in Global Health Innovation and Policy is a senior-level opportunity for an accomplished global health researcher, academic, policy expert or practitioner who wants to contribute to research, innovation, policy and practical health-system impact.

The position offers the opportunity to work across the Duke Global Health Institute, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy and Duke Global Health Innovation Center while contributing to research, policy engagement, teaching, mentorship, fundraising, partnerships and organizational leadership.

Duke is particularly interested in professionals who understand how health innovations can be developed, adapted, implemented and scaled in low-resource settings. Candidates with experience across academia, government, multilateral organizations, social enterprises, implementation organizations and other practitioner environments are also explicitly welcomed.

The position requires a doctoral or terminal degree, relevant research experience, experience working across low-resource contexts, a significant extramural funding record, academic and non-academic publications, and demonstrated engagement with policymakers and stakeholders.

Applications should be submitted through Academic Jobs Online. Applications submitted by 15 September 2026 are guaranteed consideration, while the listing gives 16 September 2026 at 7:59 AM UAE Time as its stated application deadline. Given the discrepancy, applicants should aim to submit no later than 15 September 2026 to ensure guaranteed consideration.

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