Professor & Head, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Professor & Head, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Location : Knoxville, TN

Open Date : Aug 5, 2025

Description :

Applications are invited for the position of Head of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE ) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) .  The department seeks an academic leader to provide strategic vision, oversee high-quality research and educational programs, and guide the department to further accomplishment, recognition, and impact.

The next department head will provide vision and leadership to elevate the department’s national reputation in academic and research excellence. Successful candidates will demonstrate an appropriately balanced perspective on research, teaching, and service, have the ability to lead a faculty with broad academic interests, possess a strong record of graduate and undergraduate teaching, and show promise in engaging effectively with stakeholders.

During the past 15 years, the department has undergone significant growth and transformation.  Undergraduate student enrollment averages about 300 students. The graduate program has tripled its enrollment to nearly 60 Ph.D. students.  The size of faculty has increased to over 18 with total yearly research expenditures exceeding $7M.  The faculty includes three UTK-ORNL Governor’s Chairs, five NSF CAREER Award winners, and a DARPA Young Faculty Award winner.  The department enjoys close ties with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL, about 25 miles away) and regional industrial partners including Eastman Chemical Company. Recent CBE students have been recognized with prestigious awards including being named a Rhodes Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, and Goldwater Scholar.

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over 30 new faculty to the college as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank in the past three years. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building now under construction that will house UTK’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF).

TCE currently has 203 tenure / tenure track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD / DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 29th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 29 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO) since 2016. In FY24, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.6M.

Knoxville, TN is a vibrant city with a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, an effervescent nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums, a rich live music scene across all genres, and eclectic restaurants. Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, providing amazing access to various outdoor activities. Knoxville is within easy driving distance of four major metropolitan areas that regularly host larger cultural and entertainment events.

Qualifications :

Required :  A doctorate degree in chemical engineering or other closely related discipline. The candidate’s experience must be commensurate with the rank of full professor and the university’s requirements for tenure.

Desired : The successful candidate should demonstrate a balanced perspective on research, teaching, and service as well as the vision and ability to lead a faculty representing a diverse range of interests. Competitive candidates will also show evidence of sound judgment, creative strategic thinking, and integrity. Demonstrated excellence in research and leadership, an entrepreneurial outlook, and enthusiasm to engage supporters are preferred.

Application Instructions :

Applications should be submitted to Interfolio https : / / apply.interfolio.com / 171609   and include 1) a curriculum vitae, 2) letter of application, 3) a statement that addresses the applicant's leadership experience / philosophy, and a vision for the future of CBE, and 4) the names and contact information of five references. Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information, contact search committee chair Garrett Rose ( grose4@utk.edu ).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement :

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to  eoa@utk.edu , or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to  investigations@utk.edu , or by phone at 865-974-0717.