2026 Professor in the Practice in Rice Center for Engineering Leadership

Job Details

Non-Tenure Track Faculty Opening in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) at Rice University

https://rcel.rice.edu/

Position Description

The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) at Rice University, located in Houston, Texas, seeks applications for a full-time Professor in the Practice position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

This position is part of the Master of Engineering Management & Leadership (MEML) program, a professionally oriented graduate program that integrates engineering, leadership, and business principles. We encourage applications from candidates with engineering, systems engineering, and/or engineering management/leadership experience. The successful candidate will contribute to the MEML program through high-impact teaching, curriculum development, and engagement with industry partners.

The selected candidate will be teaching graduate-level MEML courses, including the program’s capstone experience. The capstone course is a project-based, discussion-driven course in which students develop economically sustainable, technology-driven solutions to complex societal challenges; apply MEML competencies in engineering leadership, systems thinking, and innovation; design industry 4.0-relevant solutions that incorporate data-driven iteration and continuous improvement; and ground their work in a rigorous ethical-technical framework.

The MEML curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and the application of AI and advanced technology in engineering management contexts. Candidates with interest or experience in these areas are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Teach a minimum of three courses annually.
• Team-teaching MEML courses.
• Collaborate with MEML faculty on curriculum innovation and program development.
• Develop new courses and instructional materials aligned with evolving industry needs.
• Teach in both on-campus and online formats.
• Building and fostering partnerships with industry and other academics to bring state-of-the-art material to MEML degree course(s).
• Mentor student teams on projects and support professional development.
• Participate in service activities within RCEL and the School of Engineering and Computing.

The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to teaching, advising, and mentoring graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

We welcome the fullness of diversity to Rice. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, ability and disability, political opinion, or protected veteran status. Also, in our candidate pools, we seek to attract greater representation of women, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who have historically been underrepresented in the electrical and computing engineering; attract students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds; accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff varied in background and thought, including academic diversity of training and of subject matter; and maintain an environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our local, regional, and global communities.

More information can be found on the Department’s website or by contacting Kazimir Karwowski at klk5@rice.edu.

About the MEML Program

The Master of Engineering Management & Leadership (MEML) program at Rice University is a professionally oriented graduate degree designed to prepare engineers to lead in complex, technology-driven environments. The program integrates engineering, business, and leadership principles with a strong emphasis on real-world application.

MEML students develop competencies in systems thinking, innovation, decision-making, and ethical leadership while engaging in project-based coursework that addresses contemporary engineering challenges. A defining feature of the program is its capstone experience, where student teams partner on industry-relevant problems to design economically sustainable and technologically advanced solutions. The curriculum also emphasizes the integration of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—into engineering management practice.

About RCEL

The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) is a center within the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice University. RCEL’s mission is to develop a generation of ethical-technical leaders equipped to address the world’s most pressing engineering and societal challenges.

RCEL serves as a hub for leadership education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement across the School of Engineering and Computing. The Center works closely with academic departments and external partners to deliver innovative programs—such as MEML—that combine rigorous technical training with leadership development, entrepreneurship, and a focus on responsible innovation.

About the School of Engineering and Computing

Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is a top-ranked program that empowers the next generation of leaders with strong technical and communication skills, creative problem solving and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

About Rice University

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 5,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.

Candidates should demonstrate significant professional experience (typically 10+years) in engineering, engineering management, systems engineering, or related field. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in relevant engineering or computational science (e.g., computer science, computational & applied math, statistics, etc.) by June 30, 2026, or a strong record of teaching excellence

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

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