Associate/Full Professor & Inaugural Director for the Institute for Autonomous & Connected Systems (Tenure Track/Tenured)

Posting Details

Job Title Associate/Full Professor & Inaugural Director for the Institute for Autonomous & Connected Systems (Tenure Track/Tenured)

Department COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECH

Position Number F0364A

Job Description

The Batten College of Engineering and Technology ( BCET ) at Old Dominion University ( ODU ) seeks an experienced, accomplished, and visionary leader to serve as the inaugural Director of a newly established Institute for Autonomous & Connected Systems ( IACS ) starting Fall 2024. This will be a 10-month tenure track/tenured faculty appointment at the Associate or Full Professor rank. This position is open to candidates from all engineering disciplines in any of the academic departments in the BCET . The appointment will be in one of the five BCET departments depending on the selected candidate’s background and expertise.

The primary responsibility of the Institute Director is to provide strategic leadership for the institute to realize its vision and mission in alignment with the BCET’s Strategic Plan “Focus on the Future” (https://www.odu.edu/engineering/strategic-plan) . The Director will also be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in their field. The inaugural director will work collaboratively with the institute faculty and stakeholders to:

Establish effective strategic goals and develop a robust strategic plan for enhancing the quality, quantity, impact, and recognition of the sponsored research activities;

Encourage the institute faculty to pursue and secure research funding;

Oversee and coordinate the research activities and foster a culture of innovation within the institute;

Identify strengths, gaps, needs, and sustained growth opportunities;

Promote excellent research through synergistic interdisciplinary collaboration among the institute faculty and other faculty in the college and across campus;

Cultivate relationships and develop partnerships with other universities, government, industry, and funding agencies;

Create new and improve existing interdisciplinary engineering academic programs relevant to the institute mission;

Communicate research impact and represent the institute to the public and stakeholders; and

Advise the Dean on all matters relating to the Institute and its mission.

About the Institute

The IACS Institute brings together faculty and students across the Colleges of Engineering & Technology, Arts & Letters, and Sciences who have mutual interest in advancing the interdisciplinary research and development of autonomous and connected systems including uncrewed and autonomous vehicles in air, land, space, and maritime applications. The Institute serves to elevate awareness of ODU’s expertise in autonomous and connected systems, connect ODU researchers with relevant industry and government agencies, and pursue large team-based funding opportunities. IACS has an education mission and supports an undergraduate certificate program and a minor in Engineering, Design and Operation of Uncrewed Aerial Systems. The vision of IACS is to be recognized as a leader of innovation and applications of autonomous and connected systems. The Institute is also poised to create opportunities for research collaboration between the BCET , the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center ( VMASC ), and several industry partners in the Hampton Roads regions.

Position Type FullTime

Type of Recruitment General Public

Type of Recruitment General Public

Minimum Qualifications – knowledge, skills, and abilities

The successful candidate must be a recognized expert with extensive research experience as demonstrated by a distinguished record of scholarly accomplishments, peer-reviewed publications, external research funding, and contributions in the field.

Minimum Qualifications – Education or training

The candidate must have a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Engineering or a closely related field relevant to the Institute’s core area of research and be eligible for a tenured or tenure-track appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in one of the departments in the BCET .

Minimum Qualifications – Special licenses, registration or certification

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who:

Possess strong leadership, administrative, and communication skills;

Are able to develop and articulate a vision for advancing the mission of the institute through partnerships with industry and the government;

Have prior leadership experience in leading large grants or in academic leadership roles such as department chair and director of research centers; and/or

Demonstrate a strong commitment to shared governance practices, transparency, consensus building, collaborative leadership values, and diversity, equity, and inclusion among students, faculty, and staff.

Conditions of Employment

Location Norfolk, VA

Job Open Date 12/14/2023

Application Review Date 01/26/2024

Open Until Filled Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants / Additional Materials Required

Interested candidates should submit materials at https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/19975 and attach the following with their online application:

A cover letter;

A curriculum vitae;

A statement of academic leadership and a vision for the institute;

Unofficial graduate transcripts; and

Names and contact information for 3 professional references.

Applications should be submitted by January 26, 2024 for full consideration, and the position will remain open until it is filled.

Telework Friendly No

Equity Statement

It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Individuals from minoritized communities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Reasonable Accommodation Request

If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity at (757) 683-3141.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or © consistent with contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

College Home Page

https://www.odu.edu/engineering

Department Home Page

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk ().

How did you hear about this employment opportunity?

The Chronicle of Higher Education (website or print)

Higheredjobs.com

DiverseJobs.com

InsightIntoDiversity.com

Jobs.Virginia.gov

Old Dominion University website

Virginia Pilot (website or print)

Richmond Times Dispatch (website or print)

Academic Keys

Other

If you selected “Other,” how did you hear about this employment opportunity?

(Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Curriculum Vitae

Other Document

Unofficial Graduate Transcripts

Contact Information for Professional References

Optional Documents