The School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) within the Gallogly College of Engineering (GCoE) at the University of Oklahoma invites applications for the inaugural Madeline Pfau Chair in Systems Engineering Leadership. Along with another new inaugural position – the Charles R. Jones Chair in Data Science and Analytics – the Pfau Chair will elevate and expand research opportunities, develop innovative programs, and serve as a collaborative mentor and leader within the School.

The first Madelin Pfau Chair in Systems Engineering Leadership will join a School that has been experiencing a period of impressive growth: graduate enrollment is up, faculty lines have doubled, research activity has increased significantly, as has ISE’s laboratory space. The Pfau Chair will bring their own robust research programs and programmatic innovations to the School to build upon this momentum. 

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

The University of Oklahoma is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region, and nation from three campuses: the main campus in Norman, the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, and the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. OU enrolls over 30,000 students and has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members.

More students than ever are choosing OU, with the last four years seeing record-breaking freshman classes. With nearly 5,600 students, the Class of 2028’s size represents a 20% increase over the last two years. The class is breaking other university records, with the highest number of first-generation college students and the most Oklahoma residents of any other incoming class.

OU’s research momentum continues to accelerate, reaching a record $411 million in externally funded research awarded. The OU research enterprise has achieved an average 12% annual growth rate for awards over the last four years, and OU ranks among the top 8% of research universities nationally.  

The mission of the University of Oklahoma is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society.

Visit soonerway.ou.edu for more information.

ROLE OF THE MADELINE PFAU CHAIR IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP

The inaugural Madeline Pfau Chair in Systems Engineering Leadership will join the School during a moment of exponential growth and will focus on translating the research, modeling, and simulation that systems engineering does so well to industry applications and organizational change. This endowed Chair will continue to elevate the School’s research profile, create innovative programs, and enhance the visibility of ISE nationally and internationally. Serving as an inspiring academic thought partner and leader, the Chair will play a crucial role in mentoring junior faculty as well as graduate and undergraduate students, taking the School’s research to new heights and inspiring even more innovative program development.

The Madeline Pfau Chair in Systems Engineering Leadership will develop new courses, conduct research in the field of systems engineering leadership and organizational change, and, drawing upon their experience and contacts within the business sector, develop pipelines for students to explore their passions and become the next leaders of industry. The Chair will be an academic or industry leader who has experience enabling organizations to apply and utilize novel insights resulting from research in data science and analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning as applied to systems engineering.

An innovative program and relationship builder, the Pfau Chair is expected to develop several theoretical and applied courses within the undergraduate and graduate curricula in ISE. It is appropriate that these topics be considered in the context of the School’s strategic emphasis in aerospace and defense (cyber manufacturing) systems, and health and medical systems. In addition to enabling insights resulting from research, the Chair will serve as a liaison between the program and industry, connecting students with potential business opportunities within their fields of study. 

The Chair will be an established or emerging leader with demonstrated scholarship in the fields of systems engineering research as applied to cyber manufacturing, health and medical systems, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Candidates with proven expertise in both application and theory will be considered. A collaborative relationship-builder, the Chair will demonstrate excellence in teaching and mentorship and inspire curricular innovation and the development of new classes. Their academic and industry research, teaching, and service will have prepared them to partner with and create environments where students, faculty, staff, and others can come together to learn and thrive in alignment with OU’s mission.

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline and will have the academic record to be appointed at the rank of full professor. The successful candidate must support the student body through excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate curricula and mentoring M.S. and Ph.D. students in the School of ISE.

In addition to the above requirements, candidates should also demonstrate:

·       Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges of a modern academic and R1 institution, and demonstrated experience in embracing emerging trends in an evolving environment;

·       Accomplished record of research and scholarship;

·       Connection to industry and experience in industrial leadership;

·       Commitment to supporting the mentorship of students and junior faculty as they pursue academic careers as well as promotion and tenure;

·       Commitment to the University’s mission and values; and,

·       The ability to contribute to fostering an inclusive culture in all aspects of faculty responsibility, including within the classroom, the academic community, and within their professional commitments.

Candidates will embody the following:

·       Integrity;

·       A growth mindset;

·       Excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the university, community, and society;

·       Dedication to cultivating and enhancing collaborative relationships with faculty, students, and staff and valuing others’ contributions; and,

·       Well-developed communication and listening skills.

The application package should include: (i) single page cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications for this position ; (ii) curriculum vitae; (iii) a statement describing your professional experience and work in building collaborative and welcoming teaching and research environments; and (iv) list of five references. Applications should be submitted online via Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/161161. Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Professor Shivakumar Raman, chair of the search committee at [email protected]. We encourage applicants to apply by February 15, 2025, though application packages will be accepted until the position is filled.