Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering

School of Engineering and Heersink School of Medicine

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama

THE SEARCH

The University of Alabama at Birmingham seeks an innovative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the next Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). Founded in 1979, BME is a pioneering department that launched its undergraduate program in 2004 and became a joint department across the schools of Engineering and Medicine in 2014. Reporting to the deans of both schools, the Chair will leverage the strengths of an internationally-renowned research university and academic medical center to advance the department’s mission to radically improve healthcare through scientific discovery, the identification of novel solutions for complex problems, and groundbreaking advancements in biotech, positioning BME at UAB for transformational impact. Throughout its history, BME has built on the natural advantage of the co-location of Schools of Engineering and Medicine within easy walking distance on a single campus.

Since the inception of the joint department, extramural funding has increased significantly, and in 2025 BME had over $8 million in total research expenditures. BME’s 18 primary faculty, 3 staff, 250 undergraduate students, and 47 graduate students have access to state-of-the-art research facilities across a single campus in downtown Birmingham that encompasses both schools as well as an NCI-designated cancer center and the fifth-largest hospital in the nation. Birmingham is home to a compelling variety of existing and prospective corporate and research partners, presenting a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial and creative Chair to capitalize on a wealth of experiential learning, and research.

A successful Chair will be able to capitalize on UAB’s uniquely collaborative environment and propel the department to the next echelon. Sitting between the Schools of Medicine and Engineering, and with dozens of other departments, centers, and institutes eager for collaboration, BME could and should be a major hub for interdisciplinary research at UAB. Leveraging existing strengths while building in areas where the department is well positioned for success such as imaging, neuroengineering, cancer, artificial intelligence, and data science, the incoming Chair will strategically identify complementary research and programmatic areas to enrich the department through new hires and collaborations. The Chair should also excel at identifying and cultivating talented faculty, students, and staff, raising the profile of the department through strategic recruitment, mentorship, and team-building. This leader should also prioritize effective communication about departmental goals and accomplishments to a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent electronically via the UAB website for the search: <https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/27325>

Randi Herrick, Partner
Greg Esposito, Partner
Afi Tettey-Fio, Senior Associate
Maya Bennett, Senior Search Coordinator
Victoria Castillo, Senior Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller