Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) invites nominations and applications for the next Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences. This is a full-time 12-month appointment at the rank of associate professor or full professor, based upon credentials and qualifications. In partnership with the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the ideal candidate will be eligible for a joint faculty appointment in the Department of Bioengineering.

The Chair will lead strategic planning in alignment with the School's vision and mission. The successful candidate will maintain and advance a high-impact research program while providing strategic leadership for the department’s broader research portfolio, spanning preventive and restorative dentistry, digital technologies, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, and regenerative, implant, and biomaterials sciences. The Chair will contribute to teaching across dental and medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, and will serve as a core member of the HSDM Leadership Team. The Chair will also provide mentorship, career development guidance, and broad faculty support.

The successful candidate should have academic experience, a national reputation for excellence, documented success in strategic change leadership, and a strong record of scholarship and research. The Chair provides leadership for the vision, strategic direction, and long-term growth of the department in alignment with the mission and priorities of the HSDM and SEAS. The Chair is also responsible for overseeing departmental operations, faculty and staff supervision, curriculum management, and fiscal stewardship. This role includes mentoring and evaluating faculty, including providing input on promotion, tenure, reappointment, and merit processes, as well as ensuring didactic and clinical education excellence.

The Chair reports to the Dean of HSDM. HSDM offers a unique interdisciplinary environment for teaching, research, service, and clinical activity, central to our mission at HSDM and the University. The Chair works collaboratively with other members of the Dean’s leadership team, including department chairs and associate deans, to support effective education, patient care, research, and faculty development. The Chair communicates regularly with the Dean, participates in and represents the school and university in leadership and committee meetings, and serves as a key liaison between departmental faculty and School administration.

FULL-LENGTH POSITION DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATIONS
HSDM has retained the services of Dr. Josh Ward at the executive search firm Korn Ferry. Applicants should submit an up-to-date and detailed curriculum vitae and a brief (2-4 pages) letter of interest describing why you are interested in becoming the Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at HSDM, why you would be successful based on your professional experience, and why now is a good time for you to consider this opportunity. Candidates should apply via https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16750. For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by October 7, 2026. For a copy of the full-length position description, please contact:

Josh Ward, PhD
Senior Client Partner
Higher Education and Academic Medicine
Korn Ferry
(405) 640-3994
Josh.Ward@KornFerry.com

Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) invites nominations and applications for the next Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences. This is a full-time 12-month appointment at the rank of associate professor or full professor, based upon credentials and qualifications. In partnership with the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the ideal candidate will be eligible for a joint faculty appointment in the Department of Bioengineering.

The Chair will lead strategic planning in alignment with the School's vision and mission. The successful candidate will maintain and advance a high-impact research program while providing strategic leadership for the department’s broader research portfolio, spanning preventive and restorative dentistry, digital technologies, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, and regenerative, implant, and biomaterials sciences. The Chair will contribute to teaching across dental and medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, and will serve as a core member of the HSDM Leadership Team. The Chair will also provide mentorship, career development guidance, and broad faculty support.

The successful candidate should have academic experience, a national reputation for excellence, documented success in strategic change leadership, and a strong record of scholarship and research. The Chair provides leadership for the vision, strategic direction, and long-term growth of the department in alignment with the mission and priorities of the HSDM and SEAS. The Chair is also responsible for overseeing departmental operations, faculty and staff supervision, curriculum management, and fiscal stewardship. This role includes mentoring and evaluating faculty, including providing input on promotion, tenure, reappointment, and merit processes, as well as ensuring didactic and clinical education excellence.

The Chair reports to the Dean of HSDM. HSDM offers a unique interdisciplinary environment for teaching, research, service, and clinical activity, central to our mission at HSDM and the University. The Chair works collaboratively with other members of the Dean’s leadership team, including department chairs and associate deans, to support effective education, patient care, research, and faculty development. The Chair communicates regularly with the Dean, participates in and represents the school and university in leadership and committee meetings, and serves as a key liaison between departmental faculty and School administration.

FULL-LENGTH POSITION DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATIONS
HSDM has retained the services of Dr. Josh Ward at the executive search firm Korn Ferry. Applicants should submit an up-to-date and detailed curriculum vitae and a brief (2-4 pages) letter of interest describing why you are interested in becoming the Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at HSDM, why you would be successful based on your professional experience, and why now is a good time for you to consider this opportunity. Candidates should apply via https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16750. For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by October 7, 2026. For a copy of the full-length position description, please contact:

Josh Ward, PhD
Senior Client Partner
Higher Education and Academic Medicine
Korn Ferry
(405) 640-3994
Josh.Ward@KornFerry.com