Job Description

The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Engineering and Society This department is home to 19 full-time faculty who lead nationally-recognized research in the fields of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) and Engineering Ethics. The department has three main foci:

• Engineering ethics and values
• Knowledge integration across STEM, the humanities, and the social sciences
• Sociotechnical design and innovation practices

We seek a collaborative, visionary leader who will play a critical role in strategic planning to elevate and expand the department’s interdisciplinary research and teaching activities.

The department provides essential education that equips all UVA Engineering graduates with strong communication skills and the ethical judgment needed to address complex sociotechnical challenges. These abilities include ethical reasoning, values-based leadership, and professional skills. STS and ethics are key parts of the shared curriculum embedded in the School.

All UVA undergraduate engineering students are required to take courses led by the E&S Department across their UVA career, including Engineering Ethics; STS and Engineering Practice; and The Engineer, Ethics, and Professional Responsibility There are also 4 undergraduate minors offered by the department: STS, Technology Ethics, History of Science and Technology, and Science and Technology Policy. The department also houses the Online Ethics Center (OEC), Engineering Character Strength Initiative, and the Policy Internship Program

As a core component of UVA Engineering, the E&S Department advances the school’s mission to improve the world through knowledge creation and leadership development and its vision to lead globally in bold research and world-class education. The department also embodies the school’s core values of societal impact, leadership education, and collegiality.

The Chair will be expected to

• Provide strategic, inclusive, and effective leadership for a multidisciplinary department
• Maintain a strong, interdisciplinary research program
• Support and advance curriculum development and pedagogy in STS and ethics for engineering students
• Serve as an effective advocate for the department within UVA Engineering and beyond
• Foster a collegial, collaborative, and inclusive culture
• Mentor and support the professional development of faculty and staff
• Manage departmental operations (e.g., budgeting, staff and faculty mentoring, hiring, strategic planning) with fairness, clarity, and accountability

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Science, Technology, and Society or a closely related field such as Engineering Education, Ethics, History, or the Social Sciences
• Internationally recognized scholar, suitable for appointment as a tenured professor at UVA
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research record
• Experience in academic leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong record of securing external funding and/or external collaborations
• Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and/or initiatives

Application Instructions

Apply for this position in Interfolio Provide the following items (as PDF documents):

• Cover letter that summarizes your areas of research/scholarship, and your anticipated vision for the Department of Engineering & Society at the University of Virginia. The letter should also describe your leadership philosophy and experience fostering collaborative climates that have prepared you for the department chair position.
• Curriculum vitae
• A two-page statement describing your current research, future directions, and broader impacts;
• A two-page statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices, especially with regard to a learning and working environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas.

You will also be asked to list 3-5 references directly in Interfolio by providing names and contact information in the application. These reference requests will be sent if you are invited for a first-round interview.

Review of applications will begin on February 16, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The University will perform background checks on all new faculty hires prior to making a final offer of employment.

For questions about these positions, please contact Eric Loth, Professor and Search Chair, at loth@virginia.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.

The University of Virginia offers confidential Dual Career Services to partners of incoming faculty candidates. To learn more, please visit dualcareer.virginia.edu