"Mechanical Engineering - Department Head - 525722"

Position Summary

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for the position of Department Head of the UA Department of Mechanical Engineering. The anticipated start date for the position is no later than Fall 2026.

Detailed Position Information

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME: https://me.eng.ua.edu) and the College of Engineering (CoE - https://eng.ua.edu) at The University of Alabama (UA: https://ua.edu) invite applications for the position of Department Head of the UA Department of Mechanical Engineering. The anticipated start date for the position is Fall 2026 or earlier as appropriate. This opportunity presents the chance for a dynamic and visionary leader who has a demonstrated record of success as an outstanding scholar, researcher, teacher, and mentor to join our UA College of Engineering and our Department of Mechanical Engineering during a period of record growth and success, with opportunities and significant resources at their disposal to help grow and shape the program into one of the leading departments of mechanical engineering in the nation.

Candidates with prestigious achievements, significant impact in their fields, and exceptional national and international reputations will be eligible for consideration for significant endowment support through appointment as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor (https://provost.ua.edu/shelby-endowment/). These Shelby Distinguished Professor positions are one of the highest honors bestowed upon faculty at The University of Alabama, and candidates who feel their record and accomplishments warrant consideration for this additional honor should indicate this in their cover letter.

This is a very exciting time to join the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama. Both the UA College of Engineering and its Department of Mechanical Engineering have experienced tremendous growth in their faculty, facilities, student populations, and research enterprise over the past decade. The College of Engineering currently has more than 4800 undergraduate students and almost 800 graduate students, making it one of the largest engineering colleges in the nation. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is the largest department within the UA College of Engineering, with a current enrollment of more than 1,600 undergraduate students and a graduate enrollment of almost 200 students. The Department offers two undergraduate degrees, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and two graduate degrees, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. The department is currently on a multi-year effort to significantly expand its faculty size to help better serve its students and educational mission and to add both depth and breadth to the range of research activities represented across the department and its faculty. The department and its faculty and students recently moved into their new departmental home in the UA South Engineering Research Center (SERC) which is situated in the heart of The University of Alabama campus and the center of the UA engineering complex. This new home provides brand new spaces, including a new central departmental administrative suite, that will allow the department and its programs to continue to thrive and grow while also providing a cohesive space to build community across the department amongst its faculty, staff, and students. The pace of growth and change in the department is both brisk and invigorating. The next Department Head for Mechanical Engineering will have a tremendous opportunity to help shape the future of the department and to work with the leadership of the College of Engineering to deploy the significant resources of the College and university toward the goal of making the department one of the preeminent mechanical engineering departments in the country.

Under the leadership its Dean, Dr. Clifford L. Henderson, the UA College of Engineering has embarked recently on an ambitious and transformative initiative entitled “Top-30+ by ‘30”. The goals of this initiative center around the College continuing its meteoric rise to be a top-30 program in terms of impact in all aspects of its educational, research, and service operations by 2030. This effort translates into a number of goals and targets including being one of the top 30 national programs in terms of: (1) the number of degrees produced at both the undergraduate and graduate level across its seven major departments and thirty different degree programs, (2) scholarly productivity in engineering and computer science, (3) research awards and expenditures to support its vibrant and fast growing graduate education programs, (4) faculty size and associated comprehensive range of fields and areas of expertise represented by the College and its respective departments, and (5) innovative and translational productivity of the College and its faculty and students in such forms as patents and startups. There are tremendous opportunities for the new Department Head of Mechanical Engineering to join in this visionary effort and lead the strategic growth and development of the ME department in conjunction with the strong resource support and leadership provided by the UA College of Engineering and The University of Alabama.

The Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is the academic and administrative leader of the department. The expectation is that this individual will serve as Department Head for a minimum of 5 years, and renewal of the position beyond that time frame is possible. The Department Head is part of the College of Engineering (CoE) senior leadership team, serving as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College. The Department Head is directly supported by two additional faculty members who are appointed by the Department Head as Associate Department Heads for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies. In addition, a third level of departmental faculty leadership is also used in the organizational structure of the department in the form of faculty who are appointed as Program Coordinators who are responsible for administrative and programmatic aspects of the individual degree programs within the department. The Department Head and department are supported by a professional staff team which includes an Administrative Assistant to the Department Head. The Department Head we seek will have an exciting opportunity to play a central role in a dynamic and fast growing education and research enterprise.

Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to the life of the department, college, and university through research, teaching, and service contributions consistent with the Department Head responsibilities. Candidates who have an accomplished track record in research and graduate education are strongly encouraged to apply, as candidates are expected to have a desire to continue to set an example for the department and its faculty by continuing to advise both graduate and undergraduate research students supported by an extramurally funded research program. Since the Department Head will serve as and be appointed also as a tenured faculty member, it is expected that they will maintain a high-quality, high-impact, scholarly productive research program, teach at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels as permitted by their schedule and duties, and advise and mentor Ph.D. students. They will be expected to provide service to the department, university, and broader scholarly community, commensurate with rank and in accordance with applicable university policies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of experience as a tenure-track/tenured faculty member in a mechanical engineering or closely related department.
• A record consistent with appointment as a Full Professor in the UA Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Significant record of scholarship in an engineering department with undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• 15+ years of experience as a tenure-track/tenured faculty member at a leading peer R1 institution in a mechanical engineering or closely related department.
• Have a demonstrated record of high-quality research and scholarly publications that is recognized nationally and/or internationally.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Prior academic leadership experience as an associate department head/chair, department head/chair, center director, or similar level of responsibility.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

Required application documents include a: (1) cover letter that includes both the department name and the title of the position for which the candidate is applying, (2) a 2 to 5 page statement describing how the candidate’s experience positions them well to serve as the Department Head for Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama, (3) a resume/curriculum vitae, (4) a statement of research interests and plans, (5) a one to two page statement of teaching interests, and (6) the names and contact information for at least four professional references (references will not be contacted without prior notification and approval by the candidate).

Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications are preferred on or before October 20, 2025 to receive fullest consideration, but the search will continue until the positions are filled. A position start date of August 16, 2026 would be typical, but flexibility with respect to start date is possible.