Tenured: Professor and Department Head of Engineering Medicine Research and Innovation

About the role

The School of Engineering Medicine (SEM) at Texas A&M University invites applications to fill one (1) full-time tenured faculty position to serve as the Department Head of the Department of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) Research and Innovation. This is a full-time, 11-month appointment with an anticipated start date in Fall 2026 or January 2027.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Department of EnMed Research and Innovation in alignment with the School of Engineering Medicine's mission and goals.
• Establish and articulate a compelling long-term vision and departmental identity that advances the intersection of engineering and medicine.
• Develop, implement, and periodically review departmental policies governing faculty conduct, promotion, research expectations, and academic citizenship.
• Oversee departmental staff and administrative functions, including scheduling, budgets, and operational processes.
• Represent the department in internal committees and contribute to the broader academic mission of SEM.
• Collaborate with the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development to ensure compliance with all relevant Texas A&M University and accreditation standards related to faculty management.
• Lead all aspects of tenure-track faculty recruitment, including search design, candidate evaluation, and onboarding, to build a high-caliber, diverse departmental faculty in collaboration with SEM Office of Faculty Affairs.
• Mentor and evaluate faculty across all career stages, fostering excellence in research, innovation, teaching, and service.
• Promote faculty participation in professional societies, conferences, and workshops to support continuous professional development.
• Ensure robust mentoring structures for junior faculty to support their growth toward promotion and tenure.
• Lead the design, development, and launch of new degree programs, certificates, and academic tracks that reflect the department's research and innovation mission.
• Collaborate with the Offices of Academic Affairs, the College of Engineering, and relevant accrediting bodies to ensure new programs meet all curricular and compliance standards.
• Continuously assess and improve existing academic offerings to maintain relevance, quality, and alignment with the evolving fields of engineering and medicine.
• Identify emerging interdisciplinary areas where the department can develop differentiated and nationally recognized academic programs.
• Champion a departmental culture of innovation, supporting faculty and student efforts in translational science, technology development, and entrepreneurship.
• Connect department faculty and students with Texas A&M's technology licensing office, venture development programs, and Houston-area innovation ecosystem partners.
• Support faculty in navigating pathways to commercialization, startup formation, and industry engagement.
• Collaborate with the broader SEM innovation programming infrastructure to ensure the department contributes meaningfully to design thinking, human-centered design, and product development initiatives.
• Collaborate with leaders at the School of Engineering Medicine, the College of Engineering, Houston Methodist and other clinical and industry partners while ensuring the department remains within its defined scope.
• Maintain open communication with school leadership, faculty, staff, and students regarding departmental initiatives, strategic goals, and milestones.
• Work collaboratively within Texas A&M University and beyond to forge innovative academic and industry partnerships.

Qualifications

• Md, PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant field such as engineering, medicine, biomedical sciences, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated track record of excellence in research and innovation at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
• Record of sustained, externally funded research with national or international visibility.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including faculty mentorship and administrative or research program management.
• Evidence of scholarship including peer-reviewed publications, patents, or other recognized forms of scholarly contribution.

Preferred

• Experience in technology transfer, commercialization, or entrepreneurship in a healthcare or engineering context.
• Established relationships with federal funding agencies (National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health), foundations, or industry sponsors.
• Experience working within academic medical centers or interdisciplinary research environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in research training and team building.