Department Head and Associate Professor or Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

South Dakota Board of Regents • Rapid City, SD

57d

About The Position

The Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) at South Dakota Mines invites applications for a 12-month position as Department Head and Associate Professor or Full Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. A PhD in Chemical Engineering or in a closely related field is required for the position. The applicant should have a strong record of teaching, funded research, and service to warrant a tenured appointment, subject to the SD Board of Regents' approval. The successful candidate will join us in our mission to deliver excellence in undergraduate education and innovative, strategic research, promote fundraising and industrial relations, foster faculty development, and support collaborations with other academic programs. The Department Head supervises the CBE faculty and staff, reporting directly to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. The desired start date for the position is June 2026. The CBE Department offers an ABET-accredited BS degree in Chemical Engineering, an MS degree in Chemical Engineering, and a PhD degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering. We produce outstanding engineers who are sought by both industry and top graduate programs. Our faculty have expertise in the multidisciplinary areas of renewable energy, advanced materials, bioprocessing, energetic materials, and polymer science and engineering. Department teaching initiatives include AspenPlus design across the curriculum, Design-Build-Test in the unit operations lab, international design experiences, a Bioprocess specialization, Polymer Engineering minor, and an Explosives Engineering certificate. Department research activities are sponsored by major federal agencies, the State of South Dakota, and industry, with annual research expenditures averaging $3.5 million over the past five years. The Department also leads strategic initiatives and centers on campus, including the Composites and Polymer Engineering (CAPE) Laboratory, CNAM-Bio Center, Tissue Engineering and Cell Culture Laboratory (TECCL), and the Soft Matter Characterization Facility (SoMa). The department also has strategic ties to the Poet Bioproducts Institute, Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), and Rapid City's Innovation District. South Dakota Mines is committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce and offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life coverage options for employees, spouses, and dependents; retirement plans; paid holidays; and a generous vacation and sick day allowance. Individuals interested in this position must apply online at Careers at Mines (sdsmt.edu). Human Resources can provide accommodation to the online application process and may be reached at [phone]. Review of applications will begin November 7, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background investigation. Those wishing further information about the search process may contact search committee chair Prof. Lori Groven at [email protected].

Requirements

• A PhD in Chemical Engineering or in a closely related field is required for the position.
• The applicant should have a strong record of teaching, funded research, and service to warrant a tenured appointment, subject to the SD Board of Regents' approval.

Responsibilities

• The Department Head supervises the CBE faculty and staff, reporting directly to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Benefits

• excellent comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life coverage options for employees, spouses, and dependents
• retirement plans
• paid holidays
• generous vacation and sick day allowance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees