Chair, Materials Science and Engineering Department

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Chair, Materials Science and Engineering Department

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is a unique institution, established by the Florida Legislature in 1982, serving as the joint college of engineering for both Florida A&M University and Florida State University.

The FAMU-FSU joint college model is the only one of its kind in the United States, combining the strengths of two major public universities : FSU, a top-tier R1 research institution, and FAMU, a leading HBCU and land-grant university. This partnership fosters a dynamic and unique academic environment that merges the rigor of high-impact research with the mission-driven focus of historically Black colleges and universities. It results in one of the most culturally diverse educational environments for engineering in the nation, giving students the opportunity to operate in teams that are closer to the real world than any other engineering school.

The College of Engineering boasts over 3,200 enrolled students—including 2,727 undergraduates and 564 graduate students. Over the past five years, enrollment has surged across all levels : +22% in undergraduate, +44% in graduate, +74% in master’s, and +25% in doctoral programs.

The College of Engineering is home to 13 degree areas, 8 Ph.D. programs, 6 academic departments, and 4 certificate programs. The research enterprise is growing at an extraordinary pace, reaching $83.8 million in annual research expenditures, representing a 234% increase since 2020. Research productivity per faculty has grown by 168%, now averaging $586,000 per faculty member—a powerful reflection of the College’s remarkable energy, drive, and upward trajectory.

Under the guidance of 143 joint-appointed engineering faculty, including 3 National Academy of Engineering fellows, students learn, collaborate, and conduct research. The college maintains a 23 : 1 student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring personalized mentorship and academic support. Upon completion, students earn degrees from their enrolling university. All eligible undergraduate programs are currently accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and both universities are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The newly established Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE represents a transformative opportunity to build on the foundations of an established interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. This includes defining MSE’s vision, recruiting faculty, developing academic programs, and training the next generation of materials scientists and engineers. The department currently offers graduate programs but is well-positioned for future expansion, potentially including undergraduate offerings as strategic priorities evolve.

The MSE Department is centered in the brand-new Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB)— a state-of-the-art, 116,000-square-foot facility designed to accelerate interdisciplinary discovery and commercialization, which just opened in March 2025. Located in Innovation Park, the IRCB offers flexible open laboratories, core instrumentation, and collaborative spaces, placing the department at the center of a vibrant research ecosystem.

Together, these leading research centers and national labs create one of the most concentrated engineering research environments in the country, enabling collaboration across advanced materials, energy, aerospace, and national defense. Further enhancing the department’s capabilities will be the construction of Building C, a new 164,000-square-foot engineering facility that will expand research and instructional space. Designed for flexibility and growth, Building C will support cutting-edge laboratory development and will be tailored to the needs of new faculty and interdisciplinary research teams.

The inaugural Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will provide visionary, strategic, and collaborative leadership to build and grow a department. Reporting to the Dean of the joint College, the Chair will play a pivotal role in shaping the department’s identity, culture, and trajectory.

The Chair will lead the rapid establishment and growth of the department. The Chair will play a leading role in developing curricula, faculty recruitment and onboarding, faculty development, increasing research expenditures, and growing graduate production in a department that currently enrolls 18 Ph.D. students and benefits from over 20 affiliated faculty. They will serve as a key advocate for the department within the College and across both universities, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and the College’s strategic priorities.

The successful candidate will be a visionary and strategic leader with a clear ability to build and grow academic and research programs. They will possess a strong record of scholarly achievement and be research-active, with credentials appropriate for appointment as a full professor. Exceptional candidates with equivalent qualifications may also be considered.

The Chair must be comfortable operating within a unique joint college structure, where faculty hold tenure at either FAMU or FSU and maintain joint appointments. The Chair will create synergies and operationalize opportunities for collaboration and customized initiatives and programs. The role requires navigating two institutions and partnering across administrative boundaries.

The College is located in Tallahassee, Florida; with a metro area population of approximately 390,000, Tallahassee is home to a diverse array of cultural, historical, and recreational attractions. The city features more than 30 museums and galleries, expansive parks and greenways—including the scenic Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park—and a thriving arts scene supported by multiple performing arts organizations and festivals throughout the year.

The full position specification can be found at https : / / bit.ly / famu-fsu-mse

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Chair of Materials Science and Engineering. Interested candidates should confidentially submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest (Adobe PDF files preferred) to :

Joi Hayes-Scott

Consultant to the Search Committee

Russell Reynolds Associates

FAMU.FSU.MSE@russellreynolds.com

For full consideration, materials should be received as soon as possible, preferably by Dec. 8, 2025.