Functional Neurosurgeon - Duke Health -Durham

Join Duke Neurosurgery!

The Department of Neurosurgery is seeking a talented Functional Neurosurgeon to join our faculty in Durham, NC.

As national leaders in research, patient care, and education, Duke Neurosurgery is experiencing tremendous growth and is currently seeking a clinician-scientist who combines outstanding clinical acumen with an emerging independent research program. This position is based at Duke University Hospital and is structured as 80% clinical and 20% protected research effort, with a defined pathway to additional protected time as extramural funding is secured.

The successful candidate will help lead the continued growth of the Duke Center for Neurorestoration, where neuromodulation is being extended into stroke recovery, neuroimmune modulation, painful diabetic neuropathy, and spinal cord injury.

Key Responsibilities

Perform complex functional neurosurgical procedures, with a primary focus on deep brain stimulation for movement disorders (awake, asleep, and sensing-enabled or adaptive systems), MR-guided focused ultrasound. Secondary focus on vagus nerve stimulation (stroke/rheumatoid), psychiatric surgery, and neuromodulation for chronic pain, and related neurological disorders.

Participate in investigational low-intensity focused ultrasound work, including blood–brain barrier opening, targeted drug delivery, and neuromodulation, conducted under IDE or IRB-approved protocol.

Provide expert evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning for patients with complex functional neurological and neurosurgical conditions.

Develop and lead an independent or collaborative research program within the 20% protected effort, with access to the department's computational deep brain stimulation modeling laboratory and Duke's broader neuroscience and biomedical engineering community.

Serve as investigator or site principal investigator across the division's neuromodulation clinical trials portfolio, spanning industry-sponsored, investigator-initiated, and federally funded studies.

Contribute to the growth of the Duke Center for Neurorestoration and its priority programs.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Duke Health, including neurology, psychiatry, pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation, endocrinology, and other specialties, to develop comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans.

Mentor and educate residents, fellows, and medical students, fostering a culture of clinical excellence and continuous learning, including faculty participation in the CAST-accredited stereotactic and functional neurosurgery fellowship.

Contribute to departmental leadership, program development, and strategic initiatives in alignment with institutional goals.

Required Qualifications

• MD or MD-PhD with completion of an ACGME-accredited neurosurgery residency.
• Fellowship training in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, or a closely related subspecialty.
• Board-certified or board-eligible in Neurosurgery, and eligible for North Carolina medical licensure.
• Demonstrated independent operative experience in deep brain stimulation.

Preferred Qualifications

Independent experience with MR-guided focused ultrasound (HIFU/LIFU). Candidates without independent experience will be considered, with proctored training funded and scheduled as a term of the offer.

An established or emerging research program with evidence of extramural funding potential.

Experience with sensing-enabled or adaptive deep brain stimulation, low-intensity focused ultrasound, or neural interface technologies.

Prior site principal investigator experience on device trials, or familiarity with IDE-regulated research.

Interest in restorative indications such as stroke recovery, spinal cord injury, or autonomic and neuroimmune modulation.

Proven experience in teaching and mentoring within academic or hospital-based programs.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

Effort and Research Support

At appointment: 80% clinical and 20% protected research effort, reflected in the clinic template and operating room block schedule.

As funding is secured: Extramural awards carrying salary support convert to additional protected time at the effort level specified by the award, without reduction of the base protected effort.

Duke represents excellence in neurosurgical care, research, and education. A team of highly skilled neurosurgeons provides comprehensive care for patients in all sub-specialties. Clinicians embrace a multidisciplinary, team-based approach to care, with a commitment to the very best patient outcomes. Duke Neurosurgery excels at translational research, moving innovations rapidly from bench to bedside. Learn more about the Duke Neurosurgery department.

Duke Health offers a robust compensation plan that rewards clinical productivity. Faculty members enjoy Duke benefits including generous retirement contributions, health insurance, CME, relocation, and college tuition assistance for dependent children.

The Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, is a growing region where two million residents experience diverse opportunities to grow their careers and enjoy life. From urban to suburban and rural family settings, the Triangle area has options for every lifestyle. Learn more about the Triangle.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

PLEASE NOTE: To be considered for this position, please attach your CV, select SUBMIT APPLICATION, and complete the application questions.