Chair, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
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Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The School of Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks a creative leader and outstanding researcher, teacher, and scholar to serve as tenured Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME). This is an exciting opportunity to build on a strong history of research productivity and relationships with industry leaders while also defining directions for a newly merged department. Candidates must have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a closely related discipline; prior leadership experience is preferred.
The Chair will join a department of 16 faculty, 230 undergraduate majors, 70 full-time graduate students, and more than 100 online master’s students. Current research strengths include metal castings and alloys, composites for industrial and defense applications, development and maintenance of hardware for space flight, military and civilian automotive design and safety, and computational fluid and structural dynamics. Research expenditures in these areas totaled $9.7M in FY22. The School of Engineering will be moving into a new state-of-the-art building in 2025, and the Department is further supported by a unique on- campus pilot plant and foundry facility, the Materials Processing & Applications Development (MPAD) Center as well as Engineering and Innovative Technology Development (EITD) – one of the nation’s leading developers in cold stowage hardware for use in microgravity and space exploration.
The Department offers excellent opportunities for collaboration with units across UAB in areas including autonomous vehicles, biomechanics, disability and rehabilitation science, innovation and entrepreneurship, nanoscale materials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, transportation, and more. Outside the university, UAB Engineering and the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering maintain strong ties with the many steel, power, automotive, and defense companies in Alabama and nationally.
UAB is a Carnegie Level 1 research university and academic health center with more than 22,000 students and 2,400 full-time faculty members and ranks in the top 30 in the nation for federal research funding among public universities. Driven by a collaborative and entrepreneurial character, UAB is Alabama’s economic and research engine and the top provider of healthcare to Alabamans. In 2021, Forbes named UAB the No. 1 best large employer in the nation and No. 4 for diversity. UAB was ranked the top young university in the nation and 10th world-wide in 2019 in the Times Higher Education rankings.
The next Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) is expected to pursue opportunities for growth in areas where the department can be world class, leveraging existing strengths and capitalizing on exciting opportunities for this strategically merged department. The Chair will articulate a vision for leading and building innovative programs while maintaining existing strengths. The department is a leader in manufacturing with a high technology readiness level and an emphasis on applied research with strong partnerships with industry. The Chair will encourage and support this momentum. The Chair will also expand research in both Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Engineering through strategic faculty hires and collaborations with other units across the School and University.
TO APPLY
Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made. A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment. All inquiries, nominations/referrals, and applications should be submitted in strict confidence via Isaacson, Miller’s website.
Greg Esposito, Partner
Kristin Andersen, Senior Associate
https://www.imsearch.com/search-detail/8785
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.