CHAIR & PROFESSOR, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

20h

About The Position

The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida invites nominations and applications for the Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Reporting to the Dean of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the Chair will provide strategic, intellectual, and administrative leadership for an internationally visible research and education enterprise. The Chair will join the Dean’s leadership team and advance the department, college, and university priorities while engaging with the state, nation, and profession.

MAE is UF’s largest degree-granting unit, with nearly 60 faculty members, 500 graduate students, and 3,100 undergraduates. In 2025, annual research expenditures reached $28 million, including 15 active grants exceeding $1 million. Its traditional strengths include solid mechanics, design, thermal fluid systems, dynamics, and controls, with interdisciplinary work in autonomous systems, multiphase turbulent systems, novel energy systems, bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, computational science, and space systems. The department supports nearly 20 student societies and dedicated facilities and financial support for student-led design, build, and compete organizations.

The Chair will build on the department’s research and educational strengths, shape its strategic direction, and work with college leadership to advance faculty excellence, research, and education. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2027. Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Requirements

• Earned doctorate in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a closely related field.
• Distinguished record of scholarship, education, mentoring, and professional contribution meriting appointment as a tenured full professor at the University of Florida.
• Successful leadership in a research-intensive university or comparably complex organization, including building collaborative, high-performing cultures and developing faculty, staff, and emerging leaders.
• Ability to develop and articulate a strategic vision to advance the department’s reputation and ranking and translate it into priorities, strategic investments, and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to develop and expand sponsored research programs, foster collaborative research, and advance high-impact programs.
• Excellent communication, judgment, integrity, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to student success and to a scholarly and working environment where people with varied backgrounds and perspectives can contribute and thrive.
• Experience with external engagement and development, such as industry partnerships, alumni outreach, and fundraising.

Nice To Haves

• Experience recruiting, mentoring, evaluating, and retaining faculty and staff across career stages and appointment types.
• Experience developing multidisciplinary initiatives, major collaborative proposals, centers, institutes, or other large-scale research activities.
• Experience building productive industry partnerships, including sponsored research, consortia, or public-private collaborations.
• Experience using industry engagement to strengthen education, experiential learning, workforce preparation, and research opportunities.
• Ability to identify emerging funding opportunities and organize faculty and external partners around them.
• Experience working with college and university leadership and across academic units.
• Experience in advancement, philanthropy, alumni engagement, or development of external resources.
• Professional leadership and service in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Create a compelling vision for advancing the department, fostering cutting-edge research in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment and connecting existing strengths to consequential opportunities.
• Recruit faculty and facilitate their professional and scholarly growth, particularly that of junior faculty.
• Ensure a premier educational experience that supports undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and researcher success.
• Raise awareness of the department’s impact and strengthen partnerships with UF leaders, government agencies, and industry.
• Increase sponsored research and private and external funding opportunities for the department.
• Cultivate corporate, governmental, alumni, and other private donations.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement for faculty, staff, and students.
• Oversee the operational management of the department.
• Advance the department and college, contribute to university priorities, and engage constructively with the state, nation, and profession.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree