Director of Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering & Professor of Biomedical Engineering
University of Oklahoma - BME Department
Application
Details
Posted: 22-Oct-24
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Type: Full Time
Salary: $200,000 - 240,000
Years of Experience:
5 - 10
Preferred Education:
Doctorate
The Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of Oklahoma invites applications for a full-time Director position, with a start date of Fall 2025. We seek an accomplished leader with a strong vision for advancing fundamental and translational research, fostering collaboration, and advancing Biomedical Engineering education. The Director will be expected to elevate SBME’s impact and innovation in education, research, and community engagement. SBME is dedicated to advancing education, training, and research, with strategic focus areas in ImmunoEngineering and Neural Engineering. We are also committed to expanding our strengths in Biomedical Imaging, Cell Manufacturing, and Biomaterials, with applications in areas such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, arthritis, and spinal cord / brain conditions.
Housed within the Gallogly College of Engineering, SBME offers ABET accredited B.S., and M.S., and Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Engineering. The school currently has 15 regular faculty members, approximately ~280 undergraduate students, and ~40 graduate students. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of Biomedical Engineering at a vibrant and expanding institution. SBME benefits from extensive partnerships with the OU Price College of Business, the OU College of Arts and Sciences, the OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), and the regional bioscience industry, providing a robust environment for research and collaboration and the commercialization of new technologies.
Since its founding in 2016, SBME has experienced remarkable growth and development, supported by deep institutional commitment. The school has expanded its faculty and student body significantly, building a strong reputation for excellence in research and education. Our faculty has grown to 15 regular members, with continued expansion anticipated with plans to expand to ~25 faculty over the next five years. Our annual research expenditures have grown from ~$800,000 to ~$4,000,000 over the last 3 years, with continued growth expected due to the influx of seven talented new faculty over the last four years. Student enrollment has also increased with growth of 10% and 64% at the undergraduate and graduate levels respectively, reflecting the growing demand for our programs and our commitment to graduating more biomedical engineers to serve the Oklahoma economy.
Required:
Doctoral Degree: A Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering or a closely related field.
Collaborative Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead with a focus on collaboration, working closely with faculty to advance their initiatives and promote the collective success of the school. Proven commitment to fostering a supportive environment, prioritizing the growth and success of SBME.
Research / Creative Activity: A strong record of peer-reviewed publications, and significant external research funding, particularly from federal sources like NIH, NSF, DoD, and ARPA-H. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to create and sustain a thriving research environment. Evidence of facilitating faculty collaborations and supporting the research success of others is essential.
Vision for Educational Excellence: Understanding of university-level teaching with a demonstrated vision for advancing Biomedical Engineering education. A commitment to the importance of education, with the ability to support faculty and students in achieving educational excellence.
External Engagement: Proven ability to engage both internal and external stakeholders, with a successful track record in fundraising, increasing institutional visibility, and building industry partnerships. Strong communication skills and demonstrated success in fostering collaborations that enhance the school's reputation and impact.
Highly Desirable:
Mentorship and Faculty Development: Ability to recruit, mentor, and develop both junior and experienced faculty, with measurable outcomes such as faculty promotions, tenure success, and enhanced research productivity. A strong commitment to supporting professional development and career advancement.
Translation and Commercialization: Experience in advancing translational research and successfully moving innovations toward commercialization.
Experience in Large Public Institutions: Experience managing or contributing to accredited programs within large public institutions.
The Peggy and Charles Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) synergizes with the Gallogly College of Engineering, the Price College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the OU Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and the regional bioscience industry, offering an unprecedented level of health care collaboration and discovery in Oklahoma. SBME is a showcase for OU, attracting top talent to the region that is invigorating health care research and innovation.
Our undergraduate program launched in Fall 2016, and our historic inaugural class graduated in Spring 2019. We have a successful and highly multidisciplinary graduate program that was established after a Whitaker Foundation grant in the late 1990s. SBME is in Gallogly Hall, which opened in 2019 as the newest building in the engineering quad on the main campus. We have assembled an excellent team of faculty who are focused on translational discoveries in healthcare areas including cancer, immunoengineering, brain injury and disease, regenerative medicine, and biomaterials.
Our strategic plan aligns with the College and OU strategic plans, with 3 pillars that can be concisely summ...arized as 1) Research, 2) Education, and 3) Translation. It's an exciting growth period for the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.