Mechanical Engineering - Department Head

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Professor

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for the position of Department Head of the UA Department of Mechanical Engineering. The anticipated start date for the position is no later than Fall 2026.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) and the College of Engineering (CoE – ) at The University of Alabama (UA: ) invite applications for the position of Department Head of the UA Department of Mechanical Engineering. The anticipated start date for the position is Fall 2026 or earlier as appropriate. This opportunity presents the chance for a dynamic and visionary leader who has a demonstrated record of success as an outstanding scholar, researcher, teacher, and mentor to join our UA College of Engineering and our Department of Mechanical Engineering during a period of record growth and success.

The department is the largest within the UA College of Engineering with more than 1,600 undergraduate students and almost 200 graduate students. It offers two undergraduate degrees (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and B.S. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering) and two graduate degrees (M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering). Recent upgrades to the new South Engineering Research Center provide new spaces and resources for the department’s growth.

The next Department Head will have a tremendous opportunity to shape the future of the department and to work with the leadership of the College of Engineering to deploy resources toward the goal of making the department a preeminent mechanical engineering department in the country.

Candidates with prestigious achievements, significant impact in their fields, and exceptional national and international reputations will be eligible for consideration for significant endowment support through appointment as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor (). Candidates who feel their record and accomplishments warrant consideration for this additional honor should indicate this in their cover letter.

Under the leadership of its Dean, Dr. Clifford L. Henderson, the UA College of Engineering has embarked on an ambitious initiative entitled “Top‑30+ by ‘30” to become a top‑30 program in impact across education, research, and service by 2030. This effort includes achieving high numbers of degrees, scholarly productivity, research awards, faculty size, and translational outputs. The new Department Head will join this visionary effort and lead the strategic growth of the ME department.

The Department Head is the academic and administrative leader of the department, serving for a minimum of 5 years.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership and vision for the department’s growth and quality.
• Representing the department within the College of Engineering senior leadership team and the Dean’s advisory council.
• Managing and supporting associate department heads for graduate and undergraduate studies, program coordinators, and the professional staff team.
• Maintaining an active, high‑impact research program; teaching as permitted; advising and mentoring Ph.D. students.
• Serving the department, university, and broader scholarly community through service activities commensurate with rank.

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of experience as a tenure‑track/tenured faculty member in a mechanical engineering or related department.
• A record consistent with appointment as a Full Professor in the UA Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Significant record of scholarship in an engineering department with undergraduate and graduate programs.

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• 15+ years of experience as a tenure‑track/tenured faculty member at a leading peer R1 institution in a mechanical engineering or related department.
• Demonstrated record of high‑quality research…