Department Chair, Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering

Position Information

Department Chair

The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at The University of Texas at San Antonio invites applications for the position of Department Chair.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence - advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has also been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. Learn more online, on UT San Antonio Today or on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.

Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID)

The Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) is home to more than 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students in 9 undergraduate, 16 Masters, and 6 PhD degree programs. The college is supported by over 140 tenure/tenure-track and fixed-term faculty, and a dedicated cadre of staff. Each of the KCEID's five units brings unique value for advancing its mission-these include the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical, Aerospace, and Industrial Engineering, as well as the Schools of Architecture & Urban Planning, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management. KCEID is also home to 10 research institutions and centers, a student success center, a Large-scale Testing Laboratory, and a Makerspace, supporting research through research and discovery as well as educational excellence. Collectively, the students, faculty, and staff within KCEID support KCEID's mission to identify and solve grand challenges where humanity intersects the physical world.

KCEID educational programs are accredited by ABET, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). For more information about KCEID, please visit https://klesse.utsa.edu/.

Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering

The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering was established in 2004 and has grown into one of the most rapidly expanding units in the college. Biomedical engineering programs have been offered since 2004, and chemical engineering since 2017. The department offers B.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering; M.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Technology Commercialization, and Engineering Education; and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. The undergraduate programs in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Biomedical engineering faculty participate in the Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering with UT Health San Antonio, a partnership that has deepened further with the 2025 university integration. Departmental research spans biomaterials and tissue engineering, biomechanics and cardiovascular engineering, bioimaging and biophotonics, neuroengineering, artificial intelligence and data science for health, drug delivery and nanomedicine, catalysis and energy systems, electrochemical engineering, soft matter and polymers, and membranes and separations. Faculty collaborate extensively with clinical partners, national laboratories, industry, and community organizations, and the department is a central contributor to the university's ambitions in health, energy, and advanced manufacturing. The department currently has 36 faculty, 467 undergraduate and 105 graduate students. Information about the department can be found at https://klesse.utsa.edu/bmce/.

Salary Range: Competitive, commensurate with education, experience, and qualifications.

Job Type: Full Time

Position Summary

The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at The University of Texas at San Antonio invites applications for the position of Department Chair. The department seeks exceptional candidates with (1) a record of high-quality research and scholarship, (2) excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, and (3) leadership and/or administrative experience. Successful candidates will demonstrate a clear vision for expanding the research enterprise of the department, a plan for the continued growth of its graduate and undergraduate educational programs, and the ability to build strong relationships with the health care, biotechnology, energy, and process industries as well as with other academic units across the university.

The successful candidate will lead the department at a pivotal moment. The September 2025 integration of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio created a single institution that joins engineering with the region's only academic health center, opening opportunities in biomedical research, clinical translation, and health technology that few departments in the country can match. At the same time, the chemical engineering program, which enrolled since 2017 and now offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, continues to grow rapidly in a region anchored by energy, advanced materials, and process industries. The new chair will be expected to build the faculty, the research portfolio, and the graduate programs that take full advantage of both.

Required Qualifications

Credentials enabling appointment as a tenured full Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, which include:

• An earned doctorate in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated excellence and national and international recognition of academic achievements in research and scholarship, including a sustained record of external funding.
• A strong commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate engineering education, including curriculum development and ABET-accredited program quality.
• Experience leading organizational development and team development, as well as familiarity with the processes related to working in a large, complex institution.
• Demonstrated success as an outstanding collaborator and relationship builder with exceptional communication and people skills.
• A record of leadership in high-quality, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research.
• This position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an academic supervisory capacity or leadership position, such as department chair, associate chair, program director, or center director.
• A proven ability to develop and implement successful interdisciplinary and/or international programs, particularly those bridging engineering with medicine, the life sciences, or the energy and process industries.
• Experience with ABET accreditation processes and continuous improvement of engineering curricula.
• A record of recruiting, mentoring, and retaining outstanding faculty, and of supporting faculty at every career stage toward promotion and national recognition.
• A history of building, enhancing, and sustaining partnerships ranging from university to national and international, including academic, clinical, professional, industry, and/or governmental partners.
• Demonstrated success growing graduate enrollment and research expenditures.
• Experience with fiscal management responsibilities.
• Experience with technology commercialization, translational research, or entrepreneurship.
• Leadership in professional organizations such as BMES, AIChE, AIMBE, IEEE EMBS, or ASEE.

Application Process

To apply, applicants must upload the following in a single PDF document:

• A current curriculum vitae.
• Complete contact information for at least three professional references.
• A research and teaching philosophy statement, indicating how these align with the required and preferred qualifications (5-page limit).
• A statement describing previous administrative experience and the vision for the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, indicating how these align with the required and preferred qualifications (5-page limit).

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by November 30, 2026.

Posting Close Date: Applications will be accepted until filled. At the discretion of the hiring department, this posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

This position will work primarily on campus. Travel and parking expenses are the employee's responsibility.

This position is contingent upon a successful background check. Verification of a valid driver's license and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) may be completed as applicable. Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and veteran status. The University is committed to the Affirmative Action Program in compliance with all government requirements to ensure nondiscrimination.