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Posted: 23-Sep-25
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Type: Full-time
Internal Number: 525722
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Rank
Professor
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.
About the College of Engineering
As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama (UA) has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA’s College of Engineering is committed to conducting cutting-edge research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, translating such fundamental advancements and knowledge through applied research and technology commercialization into impactful solutions which improve the human condition and address the challenges facing humankind, and using that immersive research environment to provide unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a College, we pride ourselves on educating and preparing the next generation of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us. Through our educational, research, and service activities that support our overall vision to be one of the most impactful engineering programs in the nation, our College continues to provide leadership in the many professional disciplines represented by our College and to the community, state, and nation as we advance our professions, the economy, and the lives of all those whom we serve.
The UA College of Engineering is comprised of seven departments: Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. These departments currently deliver 13 different undergraduate and 15 different graduate degree programs. Overall, the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the more than 42,000 students on UA’s campus.
While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, UA has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise and impact over the past decade. Through the efforts of The University, UA Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), College of Engineering and its’ centers, departments, and faculty, UA’s research enterprise has surged dramatically higher in the last five to ten years. This recent and continuing steep growth rate of research has positioned UA as one of the fastest growing research institutions in the nation. More specifically, the UA College of Engineering has seen annual research awards and expenditures grow at an average of more than 25% per year for more than the last 5 years, now surpassing $100 million annually in new research awards. By more than doubling research over the past 5 to 7 years, the size of the graduate programs across the College has doubled as well. The continued ambitious growth of research programs amongst our existing faculty and research centers combined with the recent significant additions of a large number of new tenure-track and tenured faculty, particularly the addition of more than 60 such new highly research active faculty over the past three years, has positioned the UA College of Engineering for maintaining this steep trajectory of research growth and impact well into the future.
The educational activities of the College of Engineering and its constantly increasing volume of impactful research are enabled and supported by a tremendous combination of amazing faculty and staff, an outstanding array of modern new facilities that are the envy of its peers, and a world-class student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College currently has more than 185 faculty members, and has as mentioned earlier seen the addition of significant number of new faculty over the past three years with more than 75 new faculty joining the College in that time period and plans to hire an additional 20 to 30 faculty this year as well. In terms of facilities, the College of Engineering has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 17 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the College’s departments in the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million.
In addition to the traditional engineering departments and their facilities, there are also more than 8 different major research centers housed within the College that span and support a wide-ranging set of research thrust areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, functional polymers and soft matter, water resources and water technology, advanced transportation and vehicle technology, and more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and the University to capitalize on emerging technological opportunities and to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the planet both today and well into the future. In addition to these College research centers, a number of university-level research institutes and centers including the Alabama Water Institute, the Alabama Transportation Institute, and the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, also provide support and infrastructure to an array of research thrusts and projects that engage faculty from across the College and University. This synergistic combination of outstanding people, facilities, and resources will continue to fuel the College of Engineering’s advancement and growth in education and research well into the future.
Overall, with its award-winning faculty and staff, outstanding and growing student body, tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the UA College of Engineering has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with truly unlimited potential.
It is indeed an exciting time to join The University of Alabama and the College of Engineering. The UA College of Engineering has recently embarked on its “Top-30+ by ‘30” initiative which aims to have the College and all of its departments and programs achieve top-30 impact in all dimensions of our operations. Those impacts and dimensions include offering a comprehensive set of innovative degree program covering the full spectrum of engineering and computer science fields, enrolling a number of students and conferring a number of degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to be one of the largest producers of engineering talent in the nation, achieving continued outstanding growth in research awards and expenditures to enable continued expansion of our graduate programs and research activities, continuing to scale scholarly research productivity to be a major force in pushing the frontiers of our disciplines, and to playing an ever more important role in shaping our disciplines and the future of computer science, engineering, and technology through local, national and international service. To achieve those goals, the College, with strong support of the University, is deploying substantial resources in hiring new faculty, developing new facilities including both laboratory and computing resources, and expanding our research and educational programs. These activities present an outstanding opportunity here at The University of Alabama for individuals to fulfill their career objectives and dreams as a faculty member in an environment that can fully support their development as an excellent scholar, researcher, and teacher.
About The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/overview