DIR RADIOISOTOPE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

April 16, 2026

Summary About Speros by Moffitt Speros is a 775-acre development in Pasco County designed for convergence between scientific research, drug development, healthcare delivery, and commercial-scale biomanufacturing. Powered by Moffitt Cancer Center, Speros is designed to leverage real estate and economic development to attract private sector investments that will accelerate Moffitt’s mission of preventing and curing cancer. A critical pillar of the Speros vision is developing a definitive niche in radiopharmaceuticals and theranostics, by delivering a unique concentration of clinical and research expertise, state-of-the-art enabling facilities, and industry partnerships. Core to this translational vision is creating a reliable supply chain of radioisotopes for basic research, early-stage companies, and support of phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Likewise, Speros is creating an Integrated Theranostics Center (ITC) to launch a differentiated asset on the campus that will compel additional investments of talent and infrastructure in radiopharma. About The Speros Integrated Theranostics Center (ITC) The defining feature of the Speros ITC is a state-of-the-art radioisotope production and radiochemistry center that is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceutical development, and applied nuclear science. The ITC supports research spanning isotope production, targetry, radiochemical separations, and clinical translation of novel radionuclides. The Speros cyclotron and radiopharma platform is being developed as a translational facility for both Moffitt and Speros: supporting Moffitt researchers, informing infrastructure and business-model decisions, and creating a foundation for selective external partnerships with industry, CDMOs, and early-stage radiopharma companies. About The Moffitt Research Institute (MRI) The Moffitt Research Institute is the research enterprise of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, dedicated to advancing the prevention and cure of cancer through cohesive, collaborative, and patient‑ and community‑informed science. Guided by a formal Research Strategic Plan, the Institute integrates discovery, translational, clinical, physical & quantitative, and population sciences to drive paradigm‑, practice‑, and policy‑changing discoveries. MRI is the academic home of research-focused faculty who partner with faculty in the Moffitt Medical Group (MMG) through five focused Research Programs (Cancer Biology & Evolution, Cancer Epidemiology, Health Outcomes & Behavior, Immuno-Oncology, and Molecular Medicine) in accelerating scientific discovery, maximizing patient and community impact, and cultivating a world‑class cancer research workforce. Moffitt is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center supported by a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). Position Summary The Director, Speros by Moffitt Radioisotope Research & Development is responsible for the strategic direction, day-to-day operations, regulatory compliance, and scientific productivity of the cyclotron facility. This senior leadership role will therefore guide eventual cyclotron operations and will identify what isotopes and capabilities the platform should prioritize, how the facility should be designed, and how it will support both internal scientific needs and market-facing translational opportunities. The Director will serve as the principal scientific, operational, and administrative leader, championing industry engagement and partnership. As a faculty member within the Moffitt Research Institute, the Director will also foster, participate and lead research activities at the intersection of radiochemistry and translational medicine.The Director will be appointed within the Department of the Biomedical Engineering, with significant dedicated effort to the Speros Integrated Theranostics Center and Speros Campus. Key Responsibilities Facility Leadership & Operations <ul><li>Provide visionary scientific and operational leadership for all cyclotron-based isotope production, targetry, and radiochemical research activities, and long-range platform plan, with operational leadership deepening as the facility moves closer to commissioning and steady-state use.</li><li>Serve as the principal scientific counterpart to architects, engineers, radiation safety, quality/regulatory personnel, Moffitt planning/design/construction teams, and equipment vendors during programming, design, procurement, and commissioning. Oversee day-to-day operations of the cyclotron facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant use of the accelerator and associated radiochemistry infrastructure. </li><li>Assist with the phased staffing plan for the platform, including research scientists, postdoctoral associates, graduate students, technical staff, operators, radiochemists, QA/regulatory support; Manage facility personnel; help recruit key technical hires needed for startup and early operations.</li><li>Engage with Speros leadership to help guide industry partnerships, especially those that pertain to radioisotope production on campus.</li><li>Support fundraising and capital-planning efforts by helping define technical scope, capability roadmaps, and the scientific use cases for follow-on investment after EDA, County, or other initial funds.</li><li>Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, safety protocols, and quality assurance frameworks in accordance with NRC, DOE, and institutional regulations. </li></ul>Research & Scientific Productivity <ul><li>Foster, participate, and/or lead externally funded research programs related or supported by isotope production, radiochemistry, and/or radiopharmaceutical development.</li><li>Direct, foster, and participate research in the production and purification of medically relevant radionuclides (e.g., PET and theragnostic isotopes) and novel separation methodologies.</li><li>Foster collaborative research with ORNL, DOE national laboratories, clinical partners, and industry.</li><li>Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and junior faculty in cyclotron science and radiochemistry.</li><li>Publish high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific work that will lead to extramural grants and contracts and to presentations at national and international conferences. </li></ul>Strategic Development & External Partnerships <ul><li>In partnership with the President of Speros, lead scientific strategy for Speros’s cyclotron and translational radiopharma platform, including assessment of isotope demand, target product opportunities, and cyclotron selection recommendations.</li><li>Engage current and prospective industry partners—including pharma, biotech, CDMOs, isotope suppliers, and early-stage companies—to help shape the platform’s service model, collaborative opportunities, and phased growth plan.</li><li>Advise on how the cyclotron platform can support both internal Moffitt users and selective external users through a sustainable business and operating model. Develop and execute a long-term strategic plan for facility growth, capability expansion, and revenue diversification. Cultivate relationships with federal agencies (DOE, NIH, NRC, NNSA), national laboratories, industry partners, and clinical institutions to expand collaborative and contract research. Identify and pursue extramural grant funding opportunities from DOE, NIH, NSF, and other sponsors. </li></ul>Required Qualifications <ul><li>Ph.D. in Radiochemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related field and at least 5 years of experience.</li><li>Demonstrated expertise in cyclotron operations, isotope production, targetry, or radiochemical separations.</li><li>Record of peer-reviewed publications and extramurally-supported activities in relevant areas.</li><li>Experience with regulatory compliance in radioactive materials handling (NRC, DOE, or equivalent).</li><li>Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and build productive partnerships. </li></ul>Preferred Qualifications <ul><li>Experience operating within or directing a cyclotron or accelerator-based isotope production facility.</li><li>Research experience in radiopharmaceutical development and clinical translation of novel radionuclides.</li><li>Active DOE security clearance (e.g., "Q" clearance) or having eligibility to obtain security clearance.</li><li>Experience working in complex medical and research environments, particularly those supported by large grants (P-, U-, C-, and S- series and similar).</li><li>Established network of collaborations with national laboratories, clinical institutions, or industry partners.</li><li>Experience mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.</li><li>History of interdisciplinary research bridging nuclear engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine.</li><li>Experience organizing or leading professional workshops, courses, or community meetings in the nuclear sciences.</li></ul>

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