Tenured Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering

The Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) within the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia invites applications for the position of Department Chair to begin in August 2025. Chemical engineering at the University of Virginia has been educating leaders of our profession since 1908, the same year that the American Institute of Chemical Engineers was founded. Today, we continue a growing tradition of excellence in research and education. In support of this trajectory, we seek a world-class scholar whose background allows them to be appointed as a full professor, and a visionary and collaborative leader to lead the next phase of our growth.

About us

Chemical Engineering (ChE) at the University of Virginia is a thriving program of undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and faculty with a commitment to exploration, innovation, and engineering excellence. ChE seeks to provide cutting-edge training in current chemical engineering research including: Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, Energy and Sustainability, Environmental Engineering, Molecular Modeling and Simulation, Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutical Bioprocessing & Biomanufacturing, Polymers and Soft Matter, Systems and Synthetic Biology, and Tissue Engineering & Biomaterials.

The department currently is the academic home to 25 faculty members and 2 courtesy appointments serving ~90 graduate students and ~140 undergraduate students (2nd - 4th years). The research portfolio in the department is supported by over $5 million per year from industry, federal agencies and private foundations for fellowships, instructional equipment, and project research. To support these activities, faculty and graduate students draw on the wide range of excellent research facilities available in the department and participate in a number of multidisciplinary research centers across the School of Engineering and the University of Virginia.

Our graduates are highly sought after and are equipped to pursue a diverse range of careers in both industry and academia, working in such fields as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, materials development, and microelectronics.

The department is committed to creating and benefiting from an environment where a diverse group of capable, inspired individuals interact and collaborate to learn and advance knowledge without barriers. This commitment is reflected in the fact that half of the department’s graduate students are women and/or from underrepresented groups, representing an over 200% increase over the past ten years. More recent efforts have been driven by the department's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (IDEA) committee that serves to foster an inclusive environment celebrating shared perspectives and promoting a growing and diverse community.

The Position

The new Department Chair will lead the Department’s initiatives in strategic planning, faculty and staff development, and attracting and recruiting the next generation of department, school, and university faculty leaders. The Chair manages the Department’s budget and interfaces with School and University leadership with integrity and transparency.

The Department Chair oversees both faculty and staff, so the position requires someone with strong management, administrative, and outreach experience and skills, as well as a strong track record of research and teaching. With the responsibilities, the Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering should be able to lead or develop strategies to:

• Increase the visibility of ChE within and beyond UVA
• Help form department vision and objectives, and build consensus among the department’s faculty and staff for the vision
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of department plans and policies
• Work closely with the faculty and staff within the department to improve the quality of its undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Effectively represent all constituents and programs of the department
• Support, guide and mentor faculty, students and staff in a transparent manner to provide a positive and accountable student experience
• Foster excellence in teaching, scholarship and outreach for faculty and students in the department
• Ensure and enable excellence in scientific discovery and foster collaborations and cross-cutting initiatives within the Department and across UVA
• Productively manage, support and advocate for the departmental staff
• Facilitate open communication and manage conflict resolution with students, faculty, and staff
• Play a key role in the assignment and evaluation of the services of each member of the department's faculty and staff
• Provide leadership in the development and management of departmental resources
• Oversee the university and department assessment and accreditation processes
• Work effectively with the associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion to increase the diversity and equity among students, staff, and faculty
• Serve as a contributing member of the School's leadership team.

About the School of Engineering and Applied Science

The UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) brings global challenges into our classrooms and laboratories, giving students opportunities to work closely with world-renowned researchers on issues that really matter. This approach means our students are ready to tackle whatever the future holds and to become leaders in their fields. Our internationally recognized research programs are focused on developing interdisciplinary solutions to society’s greatest challenges, while educating the next generation of engineering leaders. Our research reaches across disciplinary boundaries to make real change for the benefit of society. Major research areas at UVA Engineering include: engineering for a sustainable and connected world, engineering for medicine, and engineering for the cyber future.

About the University of Virginia

This position is based in Charlottesville at our principal location. UVA is a highly selective undergraduate and graduate institution that annually ranks as one of the premiere public universities in the United States, with one of the highest graduation rates in the nation. UVA is situated in Charlottesville, Virginia, a picturesque and vibrant small city consistently recognized as one of the nation's top places to reside. UVA's location offers proximity to Washington D.C., enriching opportunities for collaboration and engagement with numerous federal organizations. More information about the city, the school, faculty benefits and other topics can be found at https://hr.virginia.edu/careers-uva/why-uva.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates must hold a PhD in chemical engineering or closely related field and demonstrate sufficient accomplishments for appointment as a tenured faculty member at the full professor level, as outlined in the school's Promotion and Tenure policy.

Application Instructions

Apply for this position in Interfolio. Provide the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter that summarizes your areas of research/scholarship, and areas of potential collaboration at the University of Virginia. The letter should also describe your leadership philosophy and experience as well as aspects of your professional development that have prepared you for the position of Chair of Chemical Engineering.
• Curriculum vitae
• A statement describing your current research, future directions, and broader impacts;
• A statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices, especially in regard to a residential learning environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas;
• A statement describing demonstrated contributions to fostering inclusive practices that create climates in which all stakeholders can achieve their maximum potential (please focus on skills and experience, not beliefs and opinions)
• A list of 3-5 references with contact details

Review of candidates will begin on October 15, 2024 and will continue until filled.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Devin Harris, Search Committee Chair, at dharris@virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Rich Haverstrom, Faculty Search Advisor, at rkh6j@virginia.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physicians Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.

The University of Virginia offers confidential Dual Career Services to partners of incoming faculty candidates. To learn more, please visit dualcareer.virginia.edu