"Department Chair/Professor-College of Sciences, Department of Chemistry"

Job Description

Department Chair, Chemistry

The University of Texas at San Antonio, College of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, invites applications for the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Distinguished Professor.

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.

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 leading research centers and institutes, including the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Brain Health Consortium, Matrix AI, the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, and the Center for Space Technology and Operations Research. Faculty distinction is 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.

Learn more at the College of Sciences website.

Department of Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry in the College of Sciences at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is one of the premier chemistry programs in Texas with internationally renowned faculty and transdisciplinary scholars who are committed to defining the frontiers of the chemical sciences. The department includes 18 tenured/tenure-track faculty across all ACS disciplines, with strengths in organic and medicinal chemistry and strategic growth areas in biochemistry and materials chemistry, and 13 instructional faculty with clear promotion pathways. Our faculty enjoy fruitful collaborations with colleagues on the UT San Antonio Health Science Center campus, and our partnering institutions, including Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), and Texas Biomedical Research Institute (TBRI).

The Department of Chemistry offers ACS-approved and ASBMB-accredited B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry, alongside a restructured B.A. Chemistry track for future educators, serving over 375 majors. Our graduate programs include a growing Ph.D. program (~50 students) and a research-focused M.S. program.

Research labs are housed in the well-maintained Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building, while teaching labs are located in the newly opened Sciences and Engineering Building. A 7,000 sq ft renovation in the Flawn Building will soon provide a cutting-edge medicinal chemistry space. The department also oversees five core facilities (NMR, mass spectrometry, crystallography, medicinal chemistry, and preclinical pharmacology), each led by doctoral-level directors reporting to the Chair.

The Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (https://cidd.uthscsa.edu/), a collaboration with the UT San Antonio Health Science Center campus, working in concert with the Preclinical Pharmacology Core for Accelerated Drug Discovery, are operational linkages that facilitate discoveries. In addition, Department of Chemistry faculty have opportunities to be involved in multiple centers and institutes along with access to world class user facilities which include:

• State-of-the art core facilities for high-throughput screening, medicinal chemistry, preclinical pharmacology, cell image analysis, biochemical signaling, genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and pluripotent stem cell derivation and gene editing are available.
• The UT San Antonio Research Computing Support Group (RSGC) provides access to high-performance computing (HPC) architecture for researchers on campus and facilitates use of the Texas Advanced Computing Center.
• The newly established Institute of Regenerative Medicine is a joint initiative from the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrative Design and the College of Sciences in conjunction with multiple entities throughout the San Antonio community combining academic, clinical, military, and biotechnological expertise to address grand challenges in regenerative medicine.
• The Brain Health Consortium (BHC) was established in 2019 as a university level center/institute with over 40 participating scientists working together to advance our basic understanding of the brain. The BHC promotes and supports cutting-edge, transdisciplinary, and collaborative research and connects basic and translational research.
• The Kleberg Advanced Microscopy Center (KAMC) core is open access facility that provides state-of-the-art technology in electron microscopy and advanced material characterization to support world-class research in nanotechnology, biology, chemistry, and materials sciences.

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 research, teaching, and professional and university service. The Chair must provide crucial leadership in advancing the university's pursuit of academic excellence, student success, and expansion of interdisciplinary research opportunities.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and direction to the faculty, students, and staff of the Department of Chemistry. Outlined below are the key duties and responsibilities of the Chair:

• Provide leadership to achieve the highest level of excellence in research, educational, and service activities of the Department. The Chair articulates the goals of the unit and maintains a climate that promotes innovation, creativity, and interdisciplinary programs through effective leadership and collaboration.
• Evaluate the performance of faculty and staff and provide effective mentorship for faculty, staff, and students to ensure their individual success and development.
• Foster partnerships and collaboration outside the department across the university.
• Support faculty in research initiatives, facilitate grant applications, and promote interdisciplinary research opportunities.

Additionally, as a nationally recognized scholar, the successful candidate will:

• Lead a vigorous extramurally funded research program.
• Demonstrate excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate in Chemistry, Biochemistry or related chemical discipline.
• A strong service record with demonstrated administrative experience in an academic setting.
• A commitment to understanding and respecting the varied perspectives of faculty, staff, and students.
• Outstanding research and teaching records that warrant an appointment as an endowed professor with tenure (contingent upon Board of Regents approval).
• Ability to remain current on topics in higher education as well as developments in the science.
• Ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates with experience in an academic supervisory capacity/leadership position.
• Knowledge of innovative curriculum development and implementation.
• Evidence of supporting student success initiatives.
• Leadership in professional organizations.
• Prior experience in creating partnerships with industry, K-12 schools, and other community stakeholders.
• Previous administrative experience in an academic setting will be highly valued.
• A demonstrated commitment to educational excellence at all levels.
• A passion for building strong, varied collaborations within the department, college, and university, and strong communication skills are also desirable.

Application Information

Candidates must submit:

• A Cover letter highlighting the candidate's professional development and leadership vision with regard to research and teaching.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Complete contact information for at least three professional references, including name, address, email, and telephone.
• Statements summarizing:
  • Research (up to 3 pages) including significant scientific contributions, and future research directions.
  • Teaching (up to 2 pages) that demonstrates an understanding of what students need to be successful upon graduation and acknowledgement of strong leadership over the large undergraduate degree programs in chemistry and biochemistry. Existing teaching and mentorship contributions should also be included.
  • 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.

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 December 1, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Salary and supporting start-up package are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. UT San Antonio employees enjoy a competitive, comprehensive, and family-friendly benefits package.

Additional information about the Department of Chemistry can be found on the following website: https://sciences.utsa.edu/chemistry/. In addition, questions may be directed to the search committee chair Dr. Jenny Hsieh (jenny.hsieh@utsa.edu).

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

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. Verification of a valid driver's license and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) may be completed as applicable. Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and veteran status. The University is committed to the Affirmative Action Program in compliance with all government requirements to ensure nondiscrimination.