Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

** Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
*** The Pennsylvania State University
* The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at The Pennsylvania State University seeks applications for an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as its next
** Department Head**. The Department Head reports directly to the Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and serves on the executive leadership teams in the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Engineering.
** Department
* * Administered by the College of Agricultural Sciences and formally aligned with the College of Engineering, the ABE department is composed of 23 faculty, nine affiliated faculty, eight staff, and 120 graduate and undergraduate students. Its undergraduate and graduate programs consistently rank in the top 10 in the US.The ABE department has two undergraduate degree programs:
1) Biological Engineering and
2) Agricultural and Biorenewable Systems Management, as well as two M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs:
1) Agricultural and Biological Engineering and
2) Biorenewable Systems. Research and Extension in the department include a broad portfolio focused on food and bioprocessing; bioproducts including those from crops, livestock, and forestry; natural resources engineering; agricultural engineering; business; and ethics. The ABE department is housed in a 93,500 sq. ft. building with state-of-the-art research, teaching, and collaborative spaces. The building is also home to the CSL Behring fermentation facility, one of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences’ core facilities.

More information is available at https://abe.psu.edu/.
** College and University
** Founded in 1855, Penn State University has campuses and facilities across the Commonwealth and is ranked among the top public universities in the nation with linkages around the globe. The College of Agricultural Sciences leads the University’s land grant mission with the integration of teaching, research, and Extension. The College employs over 1,200 full-time employees, including nearly 300 faculty, and is the home of nearly 3,300 graduate and undergraduate students.

Its nine academic departments offer 17 undergraduate majors, 13 graduate programs, and 31 other minors and certificates. Research expenditures in the College exceeded $140M in FY25, and through our robust Extension portfolio, research-based educational programs are offered in all 67 counties and online. The College is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning and a working environment where everyone can succeed.
** Responsibilities
* * The person filling this position serves as the Departmental program leader and administrative officer.

Duties include:

* Create and maintain an environment that facilitates:
1) a strong sense of community;
2) an effective shared vision;
3) a highly productive, innovative, and entrepreneurial faculty and staff;
4) collaborative opportunities, and
5) a mutually supportive, inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment for students, staff, and faculty.
* Lead faculty and staff in implementing and enhancing the Department’s undergraduate and graduate education programs, research programs, Cooperative Extension, and outreach initiatives to ensure programs are responsive to the evolving interests and needs of students and society.
* Create a supportive environment for faculty at all stages of their careers by being a good role model and by developing creative and effective strategies for mentoring and faculty support.
* Guide and enhance the Department’s research environment to ensure that programs meet the needs of stakeholders and sponsors.
* Proactively engage in teaching, research and…