Tenured Professor and Chair of Systems and Information Engineering

The Department of Systems and Information Engineering (SIE) within the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at the University of Virginia invites applications for the department chair position. For 50 years, our department has been a cornerstone of excellence-educating leaders in engineering and business who make a real-world impact. Today, we continue this tradition through innovative research and education. As we look to the future, we seek a visionary leader and world-class scholar whose experience and achievements merit appointment as a full professor and who can foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive environment. This is an opportunity to join a department with a rich history, a culture of excellence, and an ambitious trajectory for the future.

About Us

The Department of Systems and Information Engineering is the proud academic home to 15 tenure-track faculty, 3 academic general faculty members, and a vibrant community of 150 graduate students and 225 undergraduate students (2nd-4th years). We adopt systems thinking to make sense of the complexity of the world to tackle societal challenges. The department's three broad research areas center around: Human-Technology Interaction, Operations Research/Analytics, and Information & Intelligent Automation.

Our department manages an extensive research portfolio with funding from industry, federal agencies, and private foundations. These funds support fellowships, instructional equipment, and innovative research projects enabling our faculty and students to pursue research in numerous dimensions of systems engineering, including operations research, systems thinking, decision theory, robotics, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), human factors, human-computer interaction (HCI), risk analysis, and financial engineering.

To support these activities, faculty and graduate students draw on the wide range of research facilities available in the department and participate in several multidisciplinary research centers across the School of Engineering and the University of Virginia. The department has also received two substantial donations from private doners for the creation and funding of two endowed professorships; one in systems thinking and another in operations research/financial engineering.

These achievements reflect our department's strength, ambition, and collaborative spirit as we continue to shape the future of systems and information engineering.

The Position

The new chair will provide leadership for the Department of Systems and Information Engineering, guiding initiatives in strategic planning, faculty and staff development, alumni engagement, and the recruitment of future faculty leaders. The chair will oversee the department's budget and serve as a key liaison with the School of Engineering and Applied Science and University leadership fostering relationships built on integrity, transparency, and collaboration.

This role requires a leader with proven management, administrative acumen, and outreach expertise and a strong research and teaching record. The chair should support both faculty and staff driving the department's continued path of growth and success.

Responsibilities:

• Continue to build on the strategic vision and objectives of the SIE department
• Build and enhance the reputation of SIE at UVA and beyond in the broader systems engineering community
• Play a key role in supporting and advocating for department programs and initiatives to SEAS and University leadership
• Play a key role in maintaining alumni engagement and involvement
• Aid in the department's assessments and accreditation process
• Work closely with department staff on budgetary and administrative aspects essential for operational success
• Work closely with the faculty and staff within the department to improve the quality of its undergraduate and graduate programs
• Support, guide, and mentor faculty, students, and staff in a transparent manner to provide a positive and accountable experience
• Provide leadership in the development and management of departmental resources
• Play a key role in the assignment and evaluation of department's faculty and staff service to the departmental, school, and university.
• Foster excellence in teaching, scholarship, and outreach for faculty and students in the department
• Support and enable scientific discovery through collaborations within the department and across the University
• Productively manage, support, and advocate for the departmental staff
• Facilitate open communication and manage conflict resolution with students, faculty, and staff
• Serve as a contributing member of the SEAS leadership team
• Work effectively to foster an inclusive community of students, faculty, and staff within the department

About the School of Engineering and Applied Science

The UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) brings global challenges into our classrooms and laboratories, giving students opportunities to work closely with world-renowned researchers on issues that have a societal impact. This approach means our students are ready to tackle future challenges and to become leaders in their fields. Our internationally recognized research programs are focused on developing interdisciplinary solutions to society's greatest challenges, while educating the next generation of engineering leaders. Our research spans disciplinary boundaries to make real change for the benefit of society. Major research areas at UVA Engineering include engineering for a sustainable and connected world, engineering for medicine, and engineering for the cyber future.

About the University of Virginia

UVA is a highly selective undergraduate and graduate institution that annually ranks as one of the premiere public universities in the United States with one of the highest graduation rates in the nation. UVA is in Charlottesville, Virginia, a picturesque and vibrant small city consistently recognized as one of the nation's top places to reside. UVA's location offers proximity to Washington D.C., enriching opportunities for collaboration and engagement with numerous federal agencies. More information about the city, the school, faculty benefits and other topics can be found at .

Qualified candidates must hold a PhD in systems engineering, industrial engineering, or closely related technical field and demonstrate sufficient qualifications for appointment as a tenured faculty member at the professor level as outlined in the School's guidelines:

Apply for this position in Interfolio (link) . Provide the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter that summarizes your areas of research/scholarship, and areas of potential collaboration at the University of Virginia. The letter should also describe your leadership philosophy and experience and aspects of your professional development that have prepared you for the position of Chair of Systems and Information Engineering;
• Curriculum vitae;
• A statement describing your current research, future directions, and broader impacts;
• A statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices, especially in regard to a residential learning environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas;
• A statement describing demonstrated contributions to fostering inclusive practices that create climates in which all stakeholders can achieve their maximum potential (please focus on skills and experience, not beliefs and opinions)
• A list of 3-5 references with contact details.

Review of candidates will begin on March 15, 2025 and will continue until filled.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Kevin Skadron, Search Committee Chair, at .