Department Chair, Bioengineering

Department Chair, Bioengineering

The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science at Lehigh University invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Bioengineering (BioE).  We seek an outstanding researcher who is a dynamic leader with a vision to lead an active faculty team and grow the department to a new level of excellence. The successful candidate will provide leadership to the department, recruit and mentor outstanding new faculty, work with all BioE faculty and with related university departments, promote partnerships with industry, further strengthen department teaching and curriculum, be dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment, and establish relationships with alumni and the local community.

After being an interdisciplinary program for more than a decade, the Department was officially founded in the Summer of 2017 and currently has 15 core faculty members and 16 associated faculty members.  A significant growth in the Bioengineering FTEs is expected in the next few years. Our undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. programs are vibrant and growing, with current enrollments of approximately 200 undergraduate, 9 Masters, and 15 Ph.D. students.  BioE faculty members maintain outstanding reputations in a variety of areas, including biocomputations and modeling, diagnostics, sensors and devices, and biomaterials and therapies.

BioE has extensive interdisciplinary ties with other academic departments at Lehigh, with most of the core faculty members having joint appointment in other engineering and science departments.  The department also plays active roles with various programs, centers, institutions and other initiatives, such as with the Health Research Hub (HRH), Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) Honors Program, the Institute of Functional Materials and Devices (IFMD), Research Computing Group and Lehigh’s ADVANCE initiatives.  BioE is interacting closely with Lehigh’s new College of Health. A new Biocomputational Engineering B.S. degree program led by BioE has been recently approved, and enrollment will start in Fall 2020. In the 2019 US News and World Report "Best Graduate Biomedical Engineering / Bioengineering Programs", our department is ranked for the first time and is placed at #69. Our faculty members are dedicated to the education and research experience.  Further information can be found through the Department website:  https://engineering.lehigh.edu/bioe.

Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA, in the rapidly growing Lehigh Valley metropolitan area.  The Lehigh Valley, with a population over 800,000, is located approximately 1 hour north of Philadelphia, 1.5 hours west of New York City and near the Pocono Mountains.  The university has a current enrollment of approximately 5,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students, and is planning to increase these enrollments significantly in the next few years, with a corresponding increase in the size of the faculty as well.  Lehigh University is investing substantially in new innovative research and academic programs to enhance its intellectual footprint.  These investments, based on faculty-driven initiatives, will advance the University’s commitment to enhance student experiences. Investments will include upgrades to physical plant, laboratories, and technical infrastructure.

We welcome applications from, and nominations for, individuals with a strong background in any discipline relevant to bioengineering. A candidate must possess a Ph.D., have an exemplary record of achievement in research, teaching, and service at a level sufficient for appointment asa tenured senior faculty member, and demonstrate commitment to supporting the advancement of fellow faculty members at all levels.  Ideal candidates should also demonstrate visionary leadership, strong interpersonal skills and administrative talent, and a commitment to continued excellence and innovation in research and teaching.

Review of candidates will start on November 1, 2019 until the position is filled.  Candidates should submit application materials on-line https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/14610. Candidates should provide a statement of educational, research, and leadership philosophy, diversity statement, curriculum vitae, full contact information for at least three references, and a cover letter.  Any inquiries regarding this search should be directed to Professors Xuanhong Cheng and Chengshan Xiao, Co-Chairs of the search committee at bioe.chair.search@lehigh.edu.

Applications and nominations from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.  Lehigh provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits. Please refer to the Lehigh Work/Life Balance for Faculty Web site for more information: https://www.lehigh.edu/~inprv/faculty/worklifebalance.html