Department Chair, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering

Role details

Job no: 495391 Work type: Faculty Location: UMBC Campus Categories: Environmental Engineering, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering

Application Instructions

Apply via Interfolio at: https://apply.interfolio.com/194943

Department

Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Anticipated Start Date

July 1, 2027

About the Position

Department Chair, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering

College of Engineering and Information Technology

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering.

UMBC is a nationally recognized public research university distinguished by inclusive excellence, innovative teaching, a strong commitment to student success, and research that addresses complex societal challenges. The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) seeks a collaborative and visionary leader to guide the department's next phase of growth and impact in research, education, and public-impact engagement.

The Department Chair serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the department and reports directly to the Dean of COEIT. The Chair is responsible for advancing the department's educational, research, and outreach missions while serving as a member of the College's leadership team.

The successful candidate will join the department and college during an exciting period of strategic planning and growth. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and university leadership, the Chair will help shape the future of engineering education, research, innovation, and public impact at UMBC.

Major Responsibilities

The Chair will:

• Provide strategic leadership and long-range planning for the department.
• Support faculty recruitment, retention, development, and success.
• Strengthen undergraduate and graduate education.
• Foster research growth, scholarly excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Advance student success, belonging, and professional preparation.
• Manage departmental resources, facilities, personnel, and operations.
• Develop relationships with alumni, industry, government, and community partners.
• Contribute actively to college-wide strategy and leadership initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline.
• Qualifications for appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor at UMBC.
• Record of excellence in research, teaching, and service.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, research, administrative, professional, or other organizational settings.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting faculty development and student success.
• Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, accreditation, or program assessment.
• Experience leading research initiatives or interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Experience building partnerships with industry, government, alumni, or community organizations.

About the CBEE Department

The CBEE department (https://cbee.umbc.edu) is a vital component of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) at UMBC. Current departmental research focuses on biochemical, biomedical, bioprocess, environmental, computational, and water resources engineering. The CBEE faculty maintains diverse, active, and successful research programs averaging approximately $400k per tenured/tenure-track faculty per year in external research support over the last five years.

Our faculty are also active participants and leaders of interdisciplinary research centers, including the Center for Advanced Sensor Technologies (CAST) and the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE). CBEE faculty members regularly collaborate with researchers from nearby institutions, federal and state agencies, and private entities. In addition to departmental space and facilities, the recently opened Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building provides 123,000 square feet of flexible research and education spaces that incorporate modern biochemical, cellular, and molecular research facilities and support interdisciplinary research and teaching in the life sciences.

The CBEE department actively promotes mentorship opportunities for new faculty members through the Faculty Development Center, which supports the development of effective teaching methods, and the ADVANCE Program, which supports the advancement of women at all faculty ranks.

The CBEE department has approximately 250 undergraduate and 55 graduate students, 12 tenure-track faculty, and three full-time professional-track (i.e., teaching) faculty. At the undergraduate level, the department provides tracks in three areas: traditional Chemical Engineering; Biotechnology and Bioengineering; and Environmental Engineering and Sustainability. All three tracks lead to the B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. At the graduate level, the department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

Salary Range: $190,000 to $250,000 plus chair stipend, to commensurate with experience.

The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Screening of Applications Begins

Review of application materials will begin December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Background Screening Statement

A background check will be required.

Benefits

UMBC offers a rich benefits package. Benefits offered align with type of position and may be prorated based on hours per week.

• Paid Leave
• Tuition Remission
• Medical, Prescription and Dental Insurance
• Retirement plans
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness opportunities & much more

See benefits summary for detailed information.

12 Month Faculty Benefits Summary

9 Month Faculty Benefits Summary

About UMBC

UMBC, an honors university serving more than 14,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students, is one of two public universities in Maryland to achieve the “doctoral/research university-extensive” Carnegie classification. Located just outside Baltimore and 45 minutes from Washington, DC, the campus is growing rapidly under dynamic leadership.

Our UMBC community redefines excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We will advance knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds. The successful candidate will join a department with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence, and will be expected to contribute actively to these efforts (https://diversity.umbc.edu/).

Equal Opportunity Statement

UMBC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women, minority group members, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Title IX

As an institution that receives federal financial assistance, UMBC adheres to Title IX and does not discriminate on the basis of sex. For more information about Title IX and contact information for Title IX Coordinator click here.

Accommodation

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Advertised: 08 Oct 2026 09:00 Eastern Daylight Time Applications close: Open Until Filled