"Department Chair-College of Sciences, Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment"

Job Description

Department Chair-College of Sciences, Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment

Location: San Antonio, TX
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 14456
Full/Part Time: Full Time

Position Information

Department Chair

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), College of Sciences invites applications for the Chair of the Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence — advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has also been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. Learn more online, on UT San Antonio Today or on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.

College of Sciences (COS)

The College of Sciences (COS) at UT San Antonio is dedicated to innovation and excellence in both the classroom and the laboratory, preparing the next generation of well-educated, highly trained professionals and leaders.

COS offers 16 undergraduate and 14 graduate degree programs across the life and physical sciences. More than 280 faculty in seven academic departments support these programs, making COS the fourth-largest college at UT San Antonio. In Fall 2025, enrollment exceeded 4,300 undergraduates and 430 graduate and post-baccalaureate students. Additionally, our biology, health, and the environment, chemistry, mathematics, and physics and astronomy departments play a foundational role in the university's academic mission by providing core and prerequisite courses that support students across nearly every discipline.

A major contributor to UT San Antonio's Carnegie R1 status, COS drives discovery and tackles real-world challenges with approximately $40 million in annual research expenditures and nearly 200 active projects. Research strengths span biomedical and health innovation, molecular, chemical and materials discovery, fundamental and applied physical sciences, earth, environmental and planetary systems, mathematical, computational and data sciences, and STEM education and workforce development.

COS collaborates with several leading research centers and institutes, including the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Brain Health Consortium, Matrix AI, the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability and Policy, and the Center for Space Technology and Operations Research. These collaborations foster interdisciplinary research that is addressing some of today's most pressing scientific challenges.

Our faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for their research and scholarship. They have received grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and more. The college is home to 19 endowed chairs and professorships, demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence and research innovation. Faculty distinction is further reflected in prestigious honors such as NSF CAREER awards, AAAS Fellowships, membership in the National Academy of Inventors, and leadership roles in professional societies worldwide.

Student success is central to COS. Faculty members have earned the University of Texas Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award, and the COS Student Success Center, founded in 2020, serves as a hub for mentoring, professional development, and community-building. COS students are recognized nationally, with recent recipients of Barry Goldwater Scholarships and NSF Graduate Research Fellowships.

UT San Antonio is proud to work with the Cibolo Preserve, a 500+acre, non-profit natural habitat laboratory located east of Boerne, to allow faculty and their students to use the ground for research purposes in science and environmental studies including, but not limited to geology, plant life, water, birds and animals. Learn more at the UT San Antonio Office for Research and Innovation Internal Funding opportunities website.

Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment (BHE)

The Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment (BHE) at The University of Texas at San Antonio is a leader in innovative science education, integrating transformative educational programs with interdisciplinary research that explores connections between human, animal, plant, and environmental health within the One Health framework. As UT San Antonio's largest department, BHE is home to 2,928 undergraduate and 91 graduate students across seven degree programs, providing essential instruction for pre-health and core curriculum courses that reach over 20% of the university's student body.

BHE's 57 faculty members (12 tenure stream and 45 fixed-term track) form a highly collaborative community with expertise spanning genetics, cell biology, microbiology, organismal physiology and anatomy, medical sciences, epidemiology, evolutionary biology, animal behavior, plant biology, wildlife science, ecology, environmental science, and science education. Together, they prepare students for careers in health science, biology, environmental science, and related fields. Programs emphasize team-based, experiential, and inquiry-based learning, offering students authentic research experiences through innovative CURE laboratories and opportunities to engage directly with faculty conducting research in environmental science, ecology, plant biology, and genetics.

The successful candidate will advance BHE's achievements in pre-health and environmental science education, leading a dynamic faculty group working to transform how universities train the scientists, educators, and health professionals of the future. The recent merger with UT Health San Antonio presents a unique opportunity to develop additional joint programs and educational pathways that leverage BHE's scientific and educational strengths in conjunction with UT Health San Antonio's clinical and translational expertise.

More information about the department's mission, vision, and strategic initiatives is available in the COS Summer 2024 Working Group Final Report.

Position Summary

Academic Department Chairs are essential and significant members of University leadership. The Chair represents their faculty colleagues to the administration and the administration to the faculty. They serve a critical role as a channel of communication on program, personnel, and budgetary matters. They encourage and foster excellence in teaching, research, and professional and university service. The Chair must provide crucial leadership in advancing the university's pursuit of access, excellence, student success, and expansion of interdisciplinary research opportunities.

The successful candidate will foster innovations in undergraduate and graduate education while supporting and elevating the department's research productivity. The Chair will work collaboratively with faculty to implement a shared vision of excellence and student success through horizontal and vertical curriculum alignment, as well as cutting-edge pedagogical approaches. Outlined below are the key duties and responsibilities of the Chair:

Responsibilities:

1. Provide strategic leadership, budget oversight, and administrative management of the department.
2. Promote a collaborative environment that supports teaching, research, service, and professional development across all faculty roles.
3. Facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships and curriculum development, including coordination with pre-health, sustainability, and science education initiatives.
4. Champion evidence-based pedagogical innovation and experiential learning.
5. Support and advance external funding and research productivity.
6. Mentor faculty and promote faculty success in all areas, including tenure and promotion.
7. Represent the department in college- and university-level initiatives and planning.

Application Information

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a field relevant to the department's scope (e.g., biology, environmental science, health-related disciplines, science education).
• Academic credentials commensurate with appointment as a tenured Associate or Full Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
• Experience with curriculum development and/or program assessment.
• Demonstrated record of leadership in an academic unit.
• Demonstrated success in obtaining and managing external funding.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching, research, and service.
• This position requires the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or supporting interdisciplinary programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to shared faculty governance, which may include mentoring faculty across all ranks and tracks (TT/T, Fixed-Term Track).
• Knowledge of contemporary issues in science education and student success in science and health careers.
• Experience fostering experiential learning opportunities through external partnerships and/or academic-clinical relationships.
• Demonstrated experience in leading an active research program.

To apply candidates must upload the following:

• A Cover letter highlighting the candidate's professional development and their leadership vision for advancing teaching and research in a department such as BHE.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Complete contact information for at least three professional references, including name, address, email, and telephone.
• Statements summarizing
  • Teaching (up to 3 pages) that demonstrates the candidate's potential to lead large undergraduate programs in biology, environmental science, and health sciences. Existing teaching and mentorship contributions, as well as experience with curriculum development and assessment, student success initiatives, and the implementation of professional standards/accreditation criteria should be included.
  • Research (up to 3 pages) including significant scientific contributions, and future research directions.
  • Vision and Leadership (up to 3 pages) that includes a leadership philosophy and a concrete vision for the future growth and potential of the department.

Application materials are submitted via the UTSA Talent Acquisition website: (http://utsa.edu/jobs/).

Review of the completed applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled, with priority being given to applicants who submit completed packets by January 5, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Salary and supporting start-up package are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. UTSA employees enjoy a competitive, comprehensive, and family-friendly benefits package.

This position will work primarily on campus. Travel and parking expenses are the employee's responsibility.

This position is contingent upon a successful background check. Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.