Tenured: Professor and Department Head of Engineering Medicine Research and Innovation

Texas A&M University•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The School of Engineering Medicine (SEM) at Texas A&M University is seeking to fill a full-time, tenured faculty position to serve as the Department Head of the Department of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) Research and Innovation. This 11-month appointment is for a visionary leader with a distinguished record in research, teaching, scholarship, and/or industry leadership. The role focuses on building and sustaining the department, providing academic and administrative leadership, leading faculty recruitment, establishing departmental policies and vision, supporting faculty development, driving new degree programs, and championing innovation at the intersection of engineering and medicine. The School of Engineering Medicine offers a unique MD/MEng program, developing 'physicianeers' equipped to revolutionize healthcare through innovation and technology, located in Houston's Texas Medical Center.

Requirements

Medical Degree (MD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or equivalent degree in a relevant field such as engineering, medicine, biomedical sciences, or related discipline.
Demonstrated track record of excellence in research and innovation at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
Record of sustained, externally funded research with national or international visibility.
Demonstrated leadership experience, including faculty mentorship and administrative or research program management.
Evidence of scholarship including peer-reviewed publications, patents, or other recognized forms of scholarly contribution.

Nice To Haves

Experience in technology transfer, commercialization, or entrepreneurship in a healthcare or engineering context.
Established relationships with federal funding agencies (National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health), foundations, or industry sponsors.
Experience working within academic medical centers or interdisciplinary research environments.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in research training and team building.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the Department of EnMed Research and Innovation in alignment with the School of Engineering Medicine's mission and goals.
Establish and articulate a compelling long-term vision and departmental identity that advances the intersection of engineering and medicine.
Develop, implement, and periodically review departmental policies governing faculty conduct, promotion, research expectations, and academic citizenship.
Oversee departmental staff and administrative functions, including scheduling, budgets, and operational processes.
Represent the department in internal committees and contribute to the broader academic mission of SEM.
Collaborate with the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development to ensure compliance with all relevant Texas A&M University and accreditation standards related to faculty management.
Lead all aspects of tenure-track faculty recruitment, including search design, candidate evaluation, and onboarding, to build a high-caliber, diverse departmental faculty in collaboration with SEM Office of Faculty Affairs.
Mentor and evaluate faculty across all career stages, fostering excellence in research, innovation, teaching, and service.
Ensure robust mentoring structures for junior faculty to support their growth toward promotion and tenure.
Promote faculty participation in professional societies, conferences, and workshops to support continuous professional development.
Ensure affiliate and adjunct faculty are meaningfully integrated into departmental activities and the broader School of Engineering Medicine community.
Lead the design, development, and launch of new degree programs, certificates, and academic tracks that reflect the department's research and innovation mission.
Collaborate with the Offices of Academic Affairs, the College of Engineering, and relevant accrediting bodies to ensure new programs meet all curricular and compliance standards.
Continuously assess and improve existing academic offerings to maintain relevance, quality, and alignment with the evolving fields of engineering and medicine.
Identify emerging interdisciplinary areas where the department can develop differentiated and nationally recognized academic programs.
Champion a departmental culture of innovation, supporting faculty and student efforts in translational science, technology development, and entrepreneurship.
Connect department faculty and students with Texas A&M's technology licensing office, venture development programs, and Houston-area innovation ecosystem partners.
Support faculty in navigating pathways to commercialization, startup formation, and industry engagement.
Collaborate with the broader SEM innovation programming infrastructure to ensure the department contributes meaningfully to design thinking, human-centered design, and product development initiatives.
Collaborate with leaders at the School of Engineering Medicine, the College of Engineering, Houston Methodist and other clinical and industry partners while ensuring the department remains within its defined scope.
Maintain open communication with school leadership, faculty, staff, and students regarding departmental initiatives, strategic goals, and milestones.
Work collaboratively within Texas A&M University and beyond to forge innovative academic and industry partnerships.
Report directly to the Dean (or designee) of the School of Engineering Medicine.
Work collaboratively with other department heads, deans, and the College of Engineering leadership as appropriate.
Maintain a high-impact, externally funded research program with demonstrated national or international recognition.
Teach courses and seminars to medical and graduate students in areas relevant to engineering medicine research and innovation.
Mentor graduate students and medical students in research, innovation, and translational science.
Collaborate with SEM faculty to successfully integrate engineering with medicine in their research programs.
Engage in scholarly activity including publications, patents, presentations, and other forms of research dissemination.