Research Assistant Professor and Executive Director of MINDS

The University of Memphis invites applications for the position of Executive Director of the Memphis Institute for National Defense Sciences (MINDS). The Executive Director will hold a nine-month, non-tenure-track appointment as a Research Assistant Associate Professor within the FedEx Institute of Technology.

MINDS serves as the University's focal point for national defense and national security research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among academia, government, industry, and national laboratories to develop innovative technologies that address emerging defense challenges.

The Executive Director will provide strategic, scientific, and administrative leadership for the Institute while advancing a nationally competitive portfolio of sponsored research. The successful candidate will lead the development of major research initiatives, cultivate partnerships with federal agencies and industry, expand the Institute's research enterprise, and position MINDS as a nationally recognized leader in defense science and technology.

This position is intended for an accomplished research leader and administrator with demonstrated success in developing large-scale research programs and building collaborative partnerships supporting the national security mission.

The successful candidate will receive a 9-month, non-tenure-track appointment as a Research Assistant Professor within the FedEx Institute of Technology based upon qualifications and experience.

This is a research-focused leadership appointment with responsibilities that include:
• Maintaining an active, externally funded research program.
• Developing and leading multidisciplinary sponsored research initiatives.
• Publishing research appropriate for a research faculty appointment.
• Mentoring postdoctoral researchers and research staff.
• Collaborating with faculty, research centers, federal agencies, and industry partners to advance interdisciplinary research.
• Contributing to the strategic growth and national visibility of the Memphis Institute for National Defense Sciences.
This position does not include regular teaching responsibilities or the mentorship of undergraduate or graduate students.

Summer salary opportunities may be available through external sponsored research contracts, in line with established university policy.

The University of Memphis is a leading, student-centered, urban public R1 research institution. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, on 1,160 acres. The University serves a population of nearly 20,000 students and 2,500 employees, including more than 1,000 full-time faculty members. The University offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 230 areas of study, master’s degrees in more than 50 subjects and doctoral degrees in 26 disciplines; supported an institutional record of more than $100 million in research awards for FY24; and has an operating budget of close to $500 million.