Blacutt-Underwood Head, School of Materials Engineering

Purdue University
College of Engineering
Blacutt-Underwood Head, School of Materials Engineering

The Purdue School of Materials Engineering (Purdue MSE) in the College of Engineering at Purdue University is seeking the next Blacutt-Underwood Head and Professor. Programs in the School are ranked among the very best in the United States. The undergraduate and graduate programs rank 10th and 12th, respectively, according to U.S. News & World Report. Purdue MSE is also one of the largest MSE schools in the nation, with more than 400 total students (~215 undergraduates and ~200 graduate students, including ~150 PhD students) and 37 faculty.

Purdue MSE is seeking a visionary, innovative, collaborative Head to lead the School in its next phase. The School of MSE has expanded tremendously over the past twelve years, doubling the undergraduate output, quadrupling the graduate student output, growing the faculty ranks by approximately 50%, increasing research expenditures by a factor of four, and significantly increasing the scholarship pool for undergraduate students.

The next phase of the School of MSE will be driven by an entrepreneurial approach and a continued quest for national pre-eminence in key areas. Purdue Engineering Initiatives, such as in Manufacturing, Semiconductors, Energy Transition, Defense Innovation, and others, along with major University initiatives in Purdue Computes and One Health, will provide opportunities for recruiting new talents. 

The new campus in Indianapolis offers tremendous new opportunities, such as greenfield professional MS programs and new industry partnerships for MSE. Opportunities for growing discretionary revenues for the School include scaling up professional master’s and online MS programs, patent revenues, and significant philanthropic fundraising as part of the College and University’s upcoming new campaign.

The successful candidate will bring a modern vision for MSE, strong strategic thinking skills, and a passion for pre-eminence and excellence. Competitive candidates will bring an impressive research background with a record of funding, along with a genuine commitment to both undergraduate and graduate education as well as experience mentoring early career faculty and graduate students. The Head will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills; will be astute in administration and resource management; and will possess a talent for developing strong stakeholder relations, particularly with other units within the College of Engineering and across the University, as well as with alumni/alumnae and industry partners. Purdue MSE seeks a student-centered leader with unassailable personal and professional integrity who also appreciates the University’s land-grant mission. While not required, public university experience is a plus.

As the largest-ever top 10 USNWR-ranked engineering college, Purdue Engineering is a national and global leader in world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. As reflected in Vision 2030, the College is accelerating its upward trajectory to maximize impact and become the most consequential engineering college in the nation. With 13,688 undergraduate students, 5,617 graduate students, and 502 faculty, Purdue Engineering is on track to become the largest producer of best-prepared and most diverse engineering talent in the nation. The College aims to lead the nation in research impact with initiatives in engineering and medicine, autonomous and connected systems, space engineering, manufacturing and operations, semiconductors, and energy transition and by leveraging Purdue University initiatives in artificial intelligence, national security and technology, computing, and the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. Purdue Engineering strives to advance the state and nation through economic and workforce development. It is an engine of growth for innovation, contributing 66% of Purdue’s record-breaking number of utility patents and helping to make it the top U.S. public university for utility patents in 2023. 

The full Position Profile can be found at https://bit.ly/PurdueMaterialsEngineering.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Interested candidates should submit, in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred), a curriculum vitae and letter of interest to:

Jett Pihakis, Ph.D.
Russell Reynolds Associates
Purdue.MSE@russellreynolds.com
(202) 654-7870

The letter of interest should address the candidate’s interest in the position, relevant experience, leadership, teaching/mentoring, and research contributions.

Though all materials received will be reviewed thoroughly, please submit materials by February 24, 2025, for priority consideration.

A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.