The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering. The Department Chair serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the department and reports directly to the Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). The Chair is responsible for advancing the department's educational, research, and outreach missions while serving as a member of the College's leadership team.
The successful candidate will join the department and college during an exciting period of strategic planning and growth. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and university leadership, the Chair will help shape the future of engineering education, research, innovation, and public impact at UMBC.
Major Responsibilities:
The Chair will:
- Provide strategic leadership and long-range planning for the department.
- Support faculty recruitment, retention, development, and success.
- Strengthen undergraduate and graduate education.
- Foster research growth, scholarly excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Advance student success, belonging, and professional preparation.
- Manage departmental resources, facilities, personnel, and operations. ● Develop relationships with alumni, industry, government, and community partners.
- Contribute actively to college-wide strategy and leadership initiatives.
Required Qualifications:
- Earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline.
- Qualifications for appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor at UMBC.
- Record of excellence in research, teaching, and service.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, research, administrative, professional, or other organizational settings.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience supporting faculty development and student success.
- Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, accreditation, or program assessment.
- Experience leading research initiatives or interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Experience building partnerships with industry, government, alumni, or community organizations.
About the CBEE Department:
The CBEE department (https://cbee.umbc.edu) is a vital component of COEIT. Current research focuses on biochemical, biomedical, bioprocess, environmental, computational, and water resources engineering. The department has ~250 undergraduate, 55 graduate students, 12 tenure-track faculty, and three teaching faculty. At the undergraduate level, the department provides three tracks: traditional Chemical Engineering; Biotechnology and Bioengineering; and Environmental Engineering and Sustainability. All three tracks lead to the B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. At the graduate level, the department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
About UMBC and COEIT:
The UMBC community is dedicated to excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. UMBC is a minority-serving institution and Carnegie Classification R1 (very high research activity) public university with an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students.
COEIT (https://coeit.umbc.edu/) is a collaborative environment composed of about 170 faculty, 70 staff, and over 6,200 students. COEIT is advancing a strategic vision centered on Convergence Research, Inclusive Excellence, and Partnerships for Public Impact. Information on the four COEIT departments is available on their websites. The UMBC campus is located on 500 acres in the suburban Baltimore-Washington corridor. The campus’s proximity to Washington, DC offers opportunities to engage in both technology and policy development with governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
Application instructions:
Electronic submission of applications is required at https://apply.interfolio.com/194943. All applications must be submitted as pdf files. The following materials are required:
- Cover letter (up to two pages)
- Curriculum vitae (no page limit)
- Statement of leadership experience, vision, and plans (up to four pages)
- Statement of research experience, philosophy, and plans (up to three pages)
- Statement of teaching and mentoring experience, philosophy, and plans (up to three pages)
- Names and contact information for three references
Review of applications will begin on Dec 1 2026 and continue until the positions are filled. For inquiries, please email coeit-hiring@umbc.edu with “CBEE Chair 2027 hire” in the subject line.
UMBC does not make hiring decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University’s nondiscrimination policy. We encourage applications from all candidates who meet the job qualifications and who will contribute to the University's core value of inclusive excellence through their research, teaching, and service.