University Profile

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) is a research and graduate studies university that acts as a catalyst for positive transformation in Qatar and the region while having a global impact. A member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF), HBKU was founded in 2010.

Located within Education City, HBKU seeks to provide unparalleled opportunities where inquiry and discovery are integral to teaching and learning at all levels utilizing a multidisciplinary approach across all focus areas. HBKU is committed to building and cultivating human capacity through an enriching academic experience and an innovative research ecosystem. Ample research funding opportunities exist from within HBKU as well as other sources such Qatar National Research Fund. Through applying creativity to knowledge, students will have the opportunity to discover innovative solutions that are locally relevant and have a global impact.

The College of Health and Life Sciences is one of 6 colleges within HBKU, that along with 3 research institutes, comprise the intellectual and scholarly makeup of the university.

College Profile

College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) Overview

The College of Health and Life Sciences, founded in 2018, provides essential educational and research training to future leaders in the fields of biomedical sciences, genomics, precision medicine and exercise science. The CHLS embodies a multidisciplinary learning approach to research and discovery, and aims to become a dedicated hub of knowledge sharing in the area of health and life sciences. The programs integrate scientific expertise across research partners within the University, as well as with highly valued clinical and health science partners external to HBKU.

CHLS Faculty

The CHLS has three academic divisions, each comprised of internationally recognized faculty members pursuing high-impact research in important health-related fields.  Research programs often include disease models, with an emphasis on translation of research outcomes to benefit clinical challenges. The creation of multidisciplinary teams is a major focus, allowing the college to attract the necessary resources to maintain and build the technologies required to support its research goals.  There are 17 primary faculty in the college along with 12 jointly appointed faculty shared with the research institutes or other HBKU colleges. An additional 29 adjunct faculty from nearby clinical locations participate in college activities. The faculty are exceptionally active producing highly cited publications and supporting their research efforts with grants and contracts from around the world.

CHLS Degree Programs

The CHLS aims to deliver innovative programs that meet educational needs in the fields of health and life sciences for Qatar and the region.  Established are MS and PhD programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) and in Genomics and Precision Medicine (GPM), and a MS in Exercise Science that is a joint degree between CHLS and the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina.  Biomedical and biological sciences are foundational to establishing a mechanistic understanding of disease to promote health while genomics and precision medicine focus on personalized medical treatment. The Exercise Science program focuses on the relationship between physical activity and fitness toward preventative health care.

The CHLS graduate programs are multi-disciplinary programs that expose graduate students to state-of-the-art basic, clinical, and translational life sciences research. To achieve this goal, the CHLS collaborates with other HBKU entities such as Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) as well as with surrounding schools and research entities in Qatar, such as Weill Cornell Medical School (WCM-Q), Carnegie Mellon Qatar (CMU-Q), SIDRA, Qatar Genome Project (QGP), and international institutions, such as the University of South Carolina.  The fact that most institutions are within HBKU vicinity provides students the unique opportunity to access a wide range of expertise.

The objective of the CHLS training programs is to attract outstanding students from Qatar, the region and around the world. There are over 130 graduate students in the 5 degree programs of the college.  A vibrant and interactive collection of joint and adjunct faculty enrich the training platform.

Position Profile

The new dean, taking advantage of this opportunity, will be limited only by his or her imagination. They will join an exciting institution with exhilarating possibilities to build and shape the college for the future. There will be opportunities to design and implement new academic programs, design new physical space, hire faculty, build new partnerships within HBKU, throughout Qatar or across the globe.

The individual will be expected to provide academic leadership and management expertise to build and maintain academic program and research excellence at the highest international level. By building and developing the faculty of their college and supporting shared governance at all levels, the CHLS will remain a college known for collaboration and teamwork.

Advocating for the college and advancing its reputation and service commitments at the university, and on national and international stages, will be a key element for this next leader. The new dean will be responsible for financial planning and budgeting, for benchmarking faculty and programs, for developing new and impactful collaborations, and will play a significant role in university leadership by guiding and formulating academic strategy and policy especially for the life sciences.

The successful individual is expected to have outstanding communication skills, be a facile problem solver, show a demonstrated ability to make good decisions and follow through, be knowledgeable about operations of an international research university and be comfortable working in a multicultural environment. The individual should have an earned doctorate and hold the rank of Professor in an appropriate academic field with a record of international distinction in research, teaching, and graduate student training. Significant administrative experience with increasing managerial responsibilities is required. HBKU is an English language university and the successful individual must have fluency.

Initial contact should be made with WittKieffer, the executive search firm exclusively engaged to assist with the appointment by using the APPLY button