Clemson University invites applications and nominations for the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. The individual who holds this leadership position will serve as the executive officer of the Department and report directly to the Dean of the College of Science. Candidates are expected to merit the rank of professor with tenure, have an internationally recognized record of scholarship, demonstrated commitment to teaching and learning, and possess relevant leadership experience.

The Department seeks a Chair excited to provide leadership with shared governance in areas of (1) establishing a strategic vision, goals, and implementation plan for the Department that aligns with Clemson Elevate (Clemson University’s strategic plan) and Accelerate Science (College of Science’s strategic plan); (2) recruiting, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty and staff talent; (3) expanding external research funding; (4) enhancing existing academic programs and developing new relevant programs and/or degrees; (5) strengthening inclusive excellence; and (6) increasing doctoral enrollments. Additionally, the Chair will serve on the College’s Leadership Team.

The Chair is expected to demonstrate outstanding fiscal acumen in both strategic allocation of existing resources and expanding entrepreneurial revenues. The Chair will work together with the Dean and the Director of Development to cultivate external support to advance Biological Sciences.

About the Department:

The Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University harnesses faculty expertise across the areas of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology; microbiology; and molecular, cellular and developmental biology to advance the University’s discovery mission and provide strong educational programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department offers B.A., B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs including an online, non-thesis M.S. in biological sciences for teachers and science educators interested in biological sciences.

The Department is home to 66 full-time faculty, 41 staff, 89 on campus M.S. and Ph.D. students and 164 online M.S. students, and 1700 undergraduate students and is housed in the College of Science. The Department offers ~43k student credit hours annually and currently has an operating budget of $11M. Competitive external research funding credited to Biological Sciences for FY22 was $3M in expenditures.

For more information about the Department and its programs, please visit the website linked here .

For more information and the College of Science’s strategic plan, please visit the website linked here .

For more information about Clemson, please visit the website linked here .

For more information and Clemson’s strategic plan, please visit the website linked here .

Qualified candidates will have an earned doctorate related to the field. Additionally, candidates should hold the rank of professor at the time of appointment or demonstrate a professional appointment consistent with appointment as professor with tenure in the Department of Biological Sciences. Candidates should also have a demonstrated international reputation for excellence in research. It is expected that candidates will have secured significant competitive federal funding and have willingness to understand the federal grant landscape including NSF, NIH, USDA and others. Candidates should have experience in both undergraduate and graduate education and be committed to advancing a superior teaching and learning environment.

The ideal candidate for this role will have a strong record of strategic vision, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to strengthening the University’s mission of discovery, learning, and engagement at a public R-1 institution. Strong candidates will have experience proactively supporting and engaging multidisciplinary and diverse teams as well as effectively managing and engaging multiple internal and external stakeholder groups.

For full consideration, applications should be submitted by 11/1/23. Review will continue until the position is filled. For inquiries please contact: the search committee chair, Dr. Barbara Campbell ( bcampb7@clemson.edu ) or the Vice President of Parker Executive Search, Porsha Williams ( pwilliams@parkersearch.com ).

Applicants should submit the following items via Interfolio . .

(1) Cover Letter aligning the candidate’s experience and vision with this position.

(2) Curriculum Vitae

(3) List of five references (references will not be contacted until the final stages of the interview process)