Chair and Professor

Applicants must possess an earned doctorate in MSE, NE, or a closely related discipline and have a record of distinguished scholarship and external funding in their field of research, as well as excellence in teaching with demonstrated academic credentials sufficient for appointment at the Full Professor level.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida (UF) invites applications for the position of Professor and Chair. The Department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs in both Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and Nuclear Engineering (NE) with a Fall 2025 enrollment of ~278 undergraduate students and ~200 graduate students. Both MSE and NE Graduate programs are well ranked. The department has recently undergone revitalization and boasts a young and dynamic faculty, comprising 23 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, 4 research faculty, 6 instructional faculty, and 15 affiliated faculty as of Fall 2025.

The University of Florida is a major, public, land-grant, comprehensive research institution that traces its roots back to 1853. It is the flagship of Florida's higher education system. With 16 colleges, more than 150 research centers and institutes, and over 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UF is one of the largest universities in the nation. UF was recently ranked as #1 in the nation’s public and private universities by the Wall Steet Journal. UF is currently ranked 5th best public university in the 2025 Forbes rankings and 7th best public university in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report of Best Colleges. The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering has over 387 faculty members and is the home to research-intensive academic departments encompassing all major engineering disciplines. UF is home to HiPerGator, the fastest AI supercomputer in higher education. The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is undergoing an expansion in faculty, research, and facilities, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence.

The Department currently has active research awards of $41.3M, and last year’s ASEE  research expenditures were approximately $10.4M. Research within the Department is at the forefront of the field and at the nexus of materials science, nuclear energy, and societal needs. In the area of materials, research strengths include materials for transportation and infrastructure, materials for energy, materials for microelectronics, biomaterials, polymeric materials, and computational and AI materials. In the area of nuclear engineering, strengths include reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, nuclear fuels and materials, radiation detection and imaging, radiochemistry, fusion and plasma physics, nuclear security, safeguards, and non-proliferation. These efforts are complemented and synergize with unique infrastructure and strengths at UF, including the University of Florida Training Reactor, HiPerGator, the Florida Semiconductor Institute, the Nanoscience Institute for Medical and Engineering Technology, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Evelyn L. and William F. McKnight Brain Institute, the UF Health Cancer Institute, the Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy (AMRIS) facility, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), the Quantum Theory Project, the Institute for Computational Engineering, and the Florida Institute for National Security.

The Department Chair oversees the operational management of the department and is responsible for: (1) developing, with faculty, a compelling vision for advancement of the department in education and research programs; (2) facilitating/mentoring scholarly and professional growth of faculty, particularly early-career members; (3) ensuring cutting-edge education is provided to all trainees (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and researchers); (4) recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty, staff, and students; (5) increasing sponsored research through external and private funding opportunities; (6) enhancing working partnerships with other UF colleges, departments and administrations as well as industry and government agencies; (7) facilitating knowledge and technology transfer through the university; and (8) cultivating corporate, governmental, alumni and other private donations. The department has 29 endowments, with a current market value of approximately $ 14 million.

Salary is commensurate with education and experience

Applicants must possess an earned doctorate in MSE, NE, or a closely related discipline and have a record of distinguished scholarship and external funding in their field of research, as well as excellence in teaching with demonstrated academic credentials sufficient for appointment at the Full Professor level.

Candidates must be committed to high academic standards; skilled in the development and expansion of sponsored research programs; experienced in enhancing the representation and success of all populations; strong in leadership, management, and interpersonal skills as well as written and oral communication skills; and collaborative in their approaches to academic unit problem-solving.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately, with the first full committee screening occurring in January 2026, and will continue to review applications until the position is filled. You must apply by submitting an application through UFCareers via https://jobs.ufl.edu/ (Job #538110). The application consists of attached PDF files of the following required documents: 1. Cover letter (summary and introduction related to hiring emphasis areas). 2. Curriculum vitae (including a 1-page CV highlights). 3. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of no less than three and up to five references. Additional documents should be uploaded as one PDF to the “other documents” selection in the application. 4. A personal statement describing the candidate’s research and teaching accomplishments and vision (including identification of any current synergies with UF). 5. A department vision statement (with a focus on how plans will support the current college and department strategic objectives). The anticipated start date for this position is August 2026, with some flexibility for a later start based on individual needs. For further questions, please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Carlos M. Rinaldi-Ramos.

For more information about college initiatives, visit eng.ufl.edu

Additional Requirements

• The selected candidate must provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. Transcripts marked “Issued to Student” will not be considered official.
• Degrees earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Additional Information

The University and College count among its greatest strengths a community of faculty, students and staff  who support a culture of respect and dignity where learning and research thrive.

• If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply, please call
• Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
• All searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.