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NCOR Faculty

National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness (Little Rock)

Arkansas Children’s, in partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is seeking up to three faculty positions at the National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR), a first-of-its-kind, state-launched national research center focused on transforming prevention and treatment of the opioid crisis for infants, children, adolescents and families.

These positions are backed by an unprecedented public investment and anchored in maternal and child health within Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI). This is a rare opportunity to build, lead and shape a new national research enterprise from the ground up.

About NCOR

NCOR was launched in 2024 through a $75 million investment from Arkansas opioid and vaping settlement funds, with additional substantial support from Arkansas Children’s. This unprecedented investment reflects a long-term, statewide commitment to building a national leader in opioid and substance-use research focused on maternal and child health, clinical effectiveness and community impact.

 

A new 65,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art research facility is currently under construction on the Arkansas Children’s Golisano’s campus in Little Rock, with occupancy anticipated in early spring of 2027. The facility will house advanced research infrastructure, collaborative team science spaces and cutting-edge technology, while also offering flexible areas designed to support convenings, workshops and community-engaged activities. This space is dedicated to NCOR’s mission and has been purposefully designed to accelerate discovery and translation.

  • Integrated imaging capabilities, with secure image management and analysis.

  • Family Clinical Research Unit with 8 interview rooms, 3 exam rooms, 2 one-way observation rooms and 4 multi-purpose rooms, 1 of which is specifically designed to support adults and children with sensory needs.
  • Fully equipped phlebotomy and specimen processing space
  • Flexible, modular dry lab spaces

 

NCOR and ACRI

NCOR is a collaborative program within the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI), a not-for-profit corporation that is a nationally recognized pediatric research institute where children are at the center of every discovery. Researchers at ACRI span the full continuum of science from basic and translational research to clinical trials and community-based implementation addressing in-utero development through young adulthood.

Exterior of Research Institute building.

ACRI includes the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit, a dedicated research unit embedded in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as dedicated pre- and post-award grant services, specialized expertise in biostatistics, informatics, community-based participatory research, and dissemination and implementation science. ACRI is located in Little Rock on the campus of Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). ACH is a full-service, state-of-the-art medical facility, offering a complete array of clinical services ranging from well-childcare to the medical management of critically ill and injured children.

Research Focus and Applicant Alignment

We welcome applicants whose research aligns with our system's mission, particularly as it relates to opioid and/or other substance misuse among children, adolescents, families and rural communities.  

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Prevention and/or treatment of opioid and other substance misuse
  • Expansion of recovery support services and systems of care 
  • Community-level and population-based interventions 
  • Technology-enabled and digital health interventions 
  • Health policy, implementation science and systems-level approaches 

Interdisciplinary, translational and community-engaged researchers are especially encouraged. 

Faculty Position Overview

These open-rank faculty positions will be filled at a level commensurate with experience and accomplishments.

  • Early career candidates are expected to hold, or be competitive for, appointment at the Assistant Professor level; exceptional candidates without a prior faculty appointment will also be considered.
  • Mid-career and senior candidates should demonstrate an active, externally funded research program and a scholarly record appropriate for appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level.

Leadership Opportunities

Opportunities for NCOR leadership roles, as well as cluster hiring of research teams (including senior and early-career investigators), may be available based on interest and qualifications. Faculty will hold primary academic appointments in the Department of Pediatrics (or another department aligned with the candidate’s expertise) and receive generous start-up packages.

Expectations for Successful Candidates

Each successful candidate will be expected to provide expertise in their respective research field and to develop an independent and extramurally funded research program at NCOR within a few years, including: 

  • Actively collaborating with multidisciplinary research teams, clinical partners, and community organizations 
  • Designing and conducting rigorous research, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation 
  • Disseminating findings through peer-reviewed publications, academic conferences, and community-facing venues 
  • Training and mentoring trainees at multiple career stages while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity 

Qualifications for this position: 

Required:

  • Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., public health, nursing, social work, medicine or related field)
  • Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications 
  • History of securing competitive research funding 
  • Strong foundational expertise in rigorous research methods and/or substance use and addiction science 
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills 

Preferred: 

  • Sustained history of federal funding (e.g., NIH, PCORI, SAMHSA) 
  • Proven success in multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations, including community partnerships 
  • Demonstrated excellence in dissemination to both scientific audiences and lay or community stakeholders 
  • Strong foundational expertise in rigorous research methods and/or substance use and addiction science 
  • Track record of effective mentorship and trainee development 

 

Rendering of NCOR building.

Historic Center: What is NCOR and Its Impact

Arkansas Children's broke ground on NCOR in July to lead research and outreach efforts that tackle the opioid crisis by improving maternal and child health outcomes.

Learn more about NCOR

Get Connected

After submitting this short form, applicants will receive an email to which they can attach a letter of interest and a curriculum vitae to Alicia Allen, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor and NCOR Director.  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.