Position Description
The Department of Chemical Engineering in the J. B. Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville (UofL) seeks candidates for the position of Department Chair. The Chair will lead the department and set an innovative vision for its growth in alignment with the Speed School strategic plan (https://louisville.edu/speed/assets/pdfs/2020-strategic-plan/view).

Applicants must have a doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field and must have an exemplary record of achievement in research, teaching, and service at a level sufficient for appointment as a tenured full professor. Previous leadership experience in an academic setting and budget oversight experience are desired but not required. Applicants should demonstrate experience mentoring students and junior faculty, must have a demonstrated record of excellence in research, and a commitment to excellence in teaching at both an undergraduate and graduate level. This position requires strong communication skills, unassailable personal and academic integrity, a focus on openness and transparency, and the ability to manage a diverse faculty. The Chair will work closely with leadership within the University and the department’s constituents (faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory board, and industry).

Department Information
The ChE Department offers ABET-accredited BS and MEng Degree, an MS Degree, and a PhD Degree, all in Chemical Engineering. The enrollment based on the past three years has averaged 255 undergraduates, 22 master’s students (20 MEng, 2 MS), and 19 PhD students with approximately 54 BS, 15 MEng, 2 MS and 4 PhD degrees awarded per year over this time frame.

ChE currently has eleven tenured or tenure-track faculty and one term faculty with wide-ranging research interests in bioenergy, biomaterials, biomimetic systems, bioprocessing, biofuels and bio-products, adsorption and catalysis, complex fluids, computational fluid dynamics, fuel cells, membranes, microfabrication, microreactors, molecular simulations, nanomaterials and nanochannels, photovoltaic materials, polymers and sensors. It is anticipated that the department will hire at least three new tenure-track faculty members over the next five years.

Faculty research (with 2019 expenditures exceeding one million dollars) has been supported by a variety of federal grants, industrial contracts, and exemplary research facilities. Research facilities include one of the largest new micro/nano cleanrooms in the nation, the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research and the Additive Manufacturing Institute of Science and Technology. The department has extensive interdisciplinary collaborations across several units at UofL, including Arts and Sciences, and Medicine, as well as with the other seven departments within the Speed School of Engineering. Speed’s overall research expenditures are over 12.5 million for 2018-2019 fiscal year.

The University of Louisville offers excellent benefits including domestic partner benefits. To find out more, please see: https://louisville.edu/provost/faculty-personnel/faculty-affairs-policies

About Louisville
Louisville is a progressive community of nearly 1 million people with a robust economy, a vibrant arts scene, a nationally ranked public-school system, and a rich history infused with southern hospitality. Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, America’s 17th largest city boasts a cost of living that is substantially lower than the national average, with a broad range of affordable housing options from highrise apartments and historic Victorian homes to suburban communities and rural farms. Fittingly, it has earned a number of accolades (https://www.uoflnews.com/post/uofltoday/city-of-louisville-earns-anumber-of-accolades-to-kick-off-2019/). Louisville is also home of the famous Kentucky Derby.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact the Employment team at employment@louisville.edu or 502.852.6258.

Application Instructions
Review of applications will commence on December 1, 2019, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants must apply online at http://www.louisville.edu/jobs, reference job ID 38252, and submit the following:

(1) Cover letter clearly stating the position name and job ID number,
(2) Summary of research interests, accomplishments, and teaching interests,
(3) Vision statement,
(4) Curriculum vitae, and
(5) List of four references (including postal addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses).

Please direct questions or inquiries regarding the position to:
Patricia Ralston, Ph.D.
Chair, ChE Department Chair Search Committee
JB Speed Building, #109
J. B. Speed School of Engineering
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Email: patricia.ralston@louisville.edu