Energy Science and Engineering (ESE) Program Director within the Bredesen Center
Description: The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, contained within the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) seeks applications for the Energy Science and Engineering (ESE) Program Director. This will be an Administrative Professional staff position with a negotiable FTE range from 25-50%. The ESE program encapsulates a broad intersection of scientific methods and problem-solving strategies derived from numerous disciplines that are applied to improve the world’s ability to safely and sustainably create the energy required to power human activities. The ESE Program Director will serve as Director of Graduate Studies and will be responsible for administering the ESE PhD program, with support from Bredesen Center staff. The ESE Program Director will report to the Bredesen Center Director/UT-ORII Education Director. The program director will work in close collaboration with directors of other UT-ORNL joint interdisciplinary research programs including Data Science and Engineering (DSE) and Genome Science and Technology (GST) to bring about innovative ideas for convergent curricula that align with the missions and visions of UT and ORNL. The Program Director will become part of the educational leadership team led by the Educational Director of UT-ORII.
Qualifications
Responsibilities:
General Leadership
Serve as the face of the program, including leading the decadal academic program review process at UT
Document the successes of the program for the annual SACSCOC assessment
Contribute to reviews and updates of faculty and student handbooks and faculty bylaws
Graduate Affairs
Serve as Director of Graduate Studies for the ESE program
Support recruiting efforts
Guide incoming students to well-matched faculty advisers at ORNL and UT
Connect ESE students to new training opportunities (courses, workshops, etc.)
Mentor ESE students by offering consultation on academic matters of any kind
Ensure a fair, equitable and transparent exam processes, including the qualifying and comprehensive exams
Catalyze students' timely progression through the program (milestones such as identifying advisors, forming dissertation committees, completing qualifying and comprehensive exams, meeting graduation deadlines, etc.)
Help to resolve conflicts between students and advisers and/or instructors. Review and initiate ESE curriculum changes as needed
Teaching and Curriculum
Contribute to the teaching of core courses or identify appropriate instructors for ESE courses
Initiate reviews of the ESE curriculum and implement changes as needed
Serve as instructor for ESE seminar course, identifying speakers and topics relevant to students’ research pursuits or professional development
Budgeting and Financial Oversight
Advocate for adequate financial support on behalf of ESE students
Arrange financial compensation for adjunct instructors or faculty from other departments contributing to the teaching of ESE courses
Ensure cost-effective use of the financial assets of the ESE program
Serve as Primary Investigator of UT-B contracts that allow ESE students to conduct research at ORNL. This requires oversight and approval of expenditures, generally not technical or research oversight.
Faculty Affairs
Recruit new ORNL staff in relevant areas of research to mentor ESE PhD students
Mentor faculty and staff at UT and ORNL on best practices in graduate training
Required Experience
Earned doctoral degree in a discipline related to energy science and engineering
Current or former tenured faculty member at UT, or current or former staff scientist at ORNL
Record of accomplished scholarship and funded research equivalent to that of assistant professor
Demonstrated ability to successfully mentor graduate students
Demonstrated ability to effectively teach at the graduate level
Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in graduate education
Experience or familiarity in working with ORNL through collaborative research
Preferred Experience and Qualifications
Tenured faculty member at UT
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter detailing their basis for interest in the position, how their experience to date has prepared them for this role, and a statement of personal philosophy about their approach to graduate education. The cover letter should be submitted along with an abbreviated (two-page) c.v., and the names of three references who can speak to the candidate’s ability to lead a graduate program.