Department Chair - Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical  Engineering (ME) at the  University  of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Chair. The Department seeks exceptional candidates with (1) a record of high quality research and scholarship, (2) excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, (3) leadership experience and (4) a demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a clear vision for expanding the research enterprise of the Department, a plan for the continued growth of graduate and undergraduate educational programs, and the ability to build strong relationships with local industry and other academic departments.

This hire is part of UTSA’s focused cluster hiring plan in the area of Human Performance. The successful applicant is expected to have a research program in biomechanics or other area related to human performance. The Human Performance effort leverages strengths throughout San Antonio to develop research that can positively impact human performance for health, sport and military function. San Antonio is a recognized as a biomedical hub, being host to the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio Military Health System, UT Health San Antonio, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, and a robust biotech industry. This cluster hiring program is adding six new faculty members across the campus.

The ME Department, the College of Engineering and UTSA are focused on increasing national and international recognition as an institution of research excellence. The annual research expenditures of the ME Department are~$2.5 million, with a broad range of research interests that include smart cities, advanced materials, transportation engineering, disaster mitigation, resiliency, critical infrastructure, computational mechanics, energy technology, mechanically stabilized earth, water resources management and planning, sustainability, and environmental microbiology and biotechnology.

The ME Department currently has 19 full-time faculty (5 endowed chairs), two full time lecturers, and 580 undergraduate, 65 M.S., and 30 Ph.D. students. The Department offers accredited B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. UTSA is committed to growth in student opportunities, as indicated by the $95 million Science and Engineering building to be completed in summer 2020. Additional information about the ME Department can be found at https://engineering.utsa.edu/mechanical/.

UTSA is one of the 13 University of Texas System's Campuses situated in the City of San Antonio. The College of Engineering and CEE Department at UTSA have experienced sustained growth in student population, number of faculty,  and research awards. The  College includes four engineering departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. The College of Engineering hosts several research centers including the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute and the Institute for Cyber Security. The University enjoys strong ties with other research institutions and companies located in San Antonio. These include the Southwest Research Institute, CPS Energy, and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.

San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the United States. Located in South Central Texas San Antonia has mild winters and an affordable cost of living. San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities and is a hub for engineering, industry, construction, manufacturing, and military activities.