Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics - Department Head

Department Head PositionThe Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering (SCoE) at The University of Alabama (UA) invite applications for the position of Department Head. This is a full-time, tenured position at the rank of Professor. We seek an accomplished scholar and proven leader to advance the department's research, teaching, and service missions while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Candidates with research interests across all domains relevant to aerospace engineering and mechanics are encouraged to apply.The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering (SCoE) at The University of Alabama (UA) invite applications for the position of Department Head. This is a full-time, tenured position at the rank of Professor. Candidates with research interests across all domains relevant to aerospace engineering and mechanics are encouraged to apply. The AEM department and College are looking for a Department Head who will (1) build upon existing strengths in the department, College, and University, (2) lead the department in its mission to provide a high-quality education, conduct innovative research, and serve the aerospace community in the state and nation, (3) advance the research scope within the department, College, and UA, and (4) foster a collaborative and inclusive environment. 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. This is a very exciting time to join the AEM Department and the Styslinger College of Engineering at The University of Alabama—a Carnegie R1 institution. Located in Tuscaloosa AL, the university offers a vibrant community, excellent quality of life, and proximity to major aerospace and technology hubs in the southeast including Huntsville and Mobile, AL.The College has experienced tremendous growth in its faculty, facilities, student populations, and research enterprise over the past decade. The College currently has more than 4,800 undergraduate students and almost 800 graduate students, making it one of the largest engineering colleges in the nation. The AEM department has also seen significant growth in recent years, with undergraduate program enrollment of 570 students in the fall of 2025, graduate enrollment of nearly 200 students, and 21 faculty and instructors. The AEM department currently offers three degrees: a BS in Aerospace Engineering, an MS in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. The two graduate programs are offered both on-campus and through distance education. The department is currently on a multi-year effort to significantly expand its faculty size to help better serve its students and educational mission and to add both depth and breadth to the range of research activities represented across the department and its faculty.The next Department Head should demonstrate national and international recognition in aerospace engineering or engineering mechanics, with a sustained record of external funding and a proven ability to lead large-scale research initiatives, multi-investigator grants, and industry or government partnerships. A strong commitment to collaboration across the department, college, and university is expected, along with a vision for advancing the department's research profile and its role in addressing national and global challenges. AEM and the SCoE consider teaching, research, and service as the three critical and complementary portions of their overall mission. The successful candidate should also bring a strong record of successfully mentoring faculty, staff, and students, including supporting their career development. Demonstrated experience in developing new curricula, interdisciplinary programs, or innovative teaching methods and a commitment to ensuring the continued strength and accreditation of AEM's core degree programs is highly desirable. The department, college, and university are also notable for the collegial, welcoming, and supportive spirit built into the fabric of who we are and how we interact across our family of students, faculty, and staff. It is therefore expected that candidates will demonstrate an ability to support this important aspect of our community.Earned Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution • Research, teaching, and service credentials commensurate to meet university criteria for appointment to the rank of full Professor with tenure • Strong collaborative, organizational, and communication skills • Successful mentoring of junior faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students • Demonstrated leadership in an academic and/or research setting • Ability to articulate a vision for advancing the department's, the college's and university's missionsInternational recognition in an aerospace engineering or engineering mechanics research field with a track record of sustained funding and leading large-scale research initiatives, multi-investigator grants, or industry & government partnerships • Exceptional collegial and interpersonal skills demonstrated with successful university collaborations, industrial engagement, and donor relations • Experience developing new, innovative curricula and interdisciplinary programs • Leadership roles in national or international professional organizations, editorial boards, or advisory committees • Strong administrative experience including faculty and staff development/mentoring, hiring, scheduling, and budget planningRequired application documents include: (1) cover letter that includes both the department name and position for which the candidate is applying, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a 3 to 4 page leadership statement describing prior leadership roles, leadership philosophy, faculty/staff development and mentoring, program/curriculum planning, and a vision for the department in alignment with university priorities, (4) a 3 to 4 page research statement summarizing major contributions, funding record, and future trajectory, (5) a 2 to 3 page teaching statement of teaching interest, philosophy, and effectiveness, and (6) the names and contact information for at least four references. Review of applications will begin immediately, and the search will continue until the position is filled. The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. Candidates from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications received on or before September 30, 2026, will receive full consideration. The expected start date of the position is August 2027. Questions about the position can be directed to View email address on click.appcast.io University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure's 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation's premier universities, UA offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation. In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country. UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors. For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America's Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine's list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review's list of Top Value Colleges. UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year. Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., "The Alabama Research Institutes"), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies. The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation's most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made. Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and