Director, Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis&Professor

The University of Kansas seeks a Director for the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis and a Professor in Chemical & Petroleum Engineering. The role involves leadership in research, administrative duties, engagement with industry, and teaching responsibilities. The director will oversee the center's mission, foster collaboration among researchers, and enhance funding opportunities while also serving as a tenured faculty member, focusing on teaching, research, and student mentorship.
Job Title

Director, Center for Environmentally Beneficial
Catalysis&Professor

Department

Chemical & Petroleum Engr

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Job Description

Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis - 50%
• Provides administrative and scientific leadership as well as
oversight of the financial affairs, personnel and business
practices of the CEBC.
• Develops and articulates the research mission and goals of the
CEBC by fostering positive working relationships and cooperative
research activity among university faculty and researchers
affiliated with the Center.
• Provides effective intellectual leadership necessary to address
challenging problems related to the development and deployment of
catalysis and engineering solutions for the sustainable production
and transformation of chemicals, energy and fuels.
• Develops and maintains an active program of research and
scholarship in an area related to the Center’s research mission, is
active in professional organization affairs, and is engaged in
related regional, national and international activities.
• Leads a community of multidisciplinary scholars and educators
assembled within the CEBC to foster and nurture a vibrant learning,
discovery, innovation and engagement program.
• Fosters the intellectual growth and development of graduate
students in the Center through cooperation with degree granting
departments and enhanced support of graduate students.
• Stimulates the expansion and diversification of externally
sponsored research funding by fostering and catalyzing the
development of ideas, people, and infrastructure necessary for
success at the state and national levels.
• Actively engages in strengthening the financial resources
available to the CEBC through all available sources.
• Effectively interacts with the energy and chemicals industries
and with government agencies, as appropriate, to promote and
develop support for the Center’s mission.
• Seeks excellence in the recruitment and retention of the
highest quality academic and research support staff and students
from diverse backgrounds.
• Fosters and supports a culture of belonging where members feel
included and safe, and where there is a high standard for ethical
research practices, and compliance among all faculty, staff,
affiliates, sponsored visitors, etc.
• Prepares reports, mission statements, key performance
indicators, and other documents as requested by the Vice Chancellor
for Research.

Full Professor of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
(50%)

The Director also serves as a tenured, full professor in the
Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering with a 50%
appointment. As a tenured faculty member, the director will be
expected to meet satisfactory standards of performance in all three
areas of responsibility: teaching/advising (40%), research (40%)
and service (20%).

Teaching (40%): Develops and teaches undergraduate and graduate
courses. Participates in undergraduate and graduate student
advising as appropriate, mentors graduate students in research and
serves as an advisor or participates on graduate student
committees.

Research (40%): Establishes and directs a strong, independent
research program in areas of expertise that overlap, support or
expand the current research in the Center or department, leading to
external grant support and publication in recognized refereed
journals and conference proceedings. Collaborates with internal and
external faculty and professional staff across campuses.

Service (20%): Performs department, school, university and
professional service normally expected of university faculty,
commensurate with rank. Participates in local, national and
international professional conferences and other activities
appropriate to the discipline. Fosters a positive relationship with
industry and the community. Performs other duties as assigned by
the departmental chair.

A joint or courtesy faculty appointment in collaborating units may
be available based upon the individual’s education, research and
credentials. Such appointments strengthen opportunities for
collaboration and learning between organizations and research
initiatives, providing a highly engaging and competitive learning
environment for students, postdoctoral researchers and other
research staff and scientists.

Req ID(Ex: 10567BR)

30651BR

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age,
ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation,
marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender
expression, and genetic information in the university's programs
and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university
policy. The following person has been designated to handle
inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title
IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice
Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room
1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue,
Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.

Conditions of Employment

Serve at the Pleasure

Position Number

x

Required Qualifications

Evaluation of the following requirements will be made through (1)
description of work experience and educational experiences in CV
and (2) record of accomplishments and productivity demonstrated in
CV:
• Earned doctorate degree in related field, such as Chemical
Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• Eligible for a faculty appointment as a full professor with
tenure.
• National recognition and scientific leadership in
sustainability issues in the chemical processing industry as
demonstrated by a record of refereed publications, professional
service, and success in securing external sponsored project
funding.
• Demonstrated administrative experience including financial
management and development of personnel and programs.
• Evidence of teaching experience and effectiveness
• Excellent communication skills as demonstrated through
application materials and interview.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary constituencies.
• Record of broad leadership skills and a commitment to investing
in a continuous learning and growth environment, bringing different
constituencies together.

Employee Class

F-Faculty

Advertised Salary Range

commensurate with experience

FTE

1.0

Preferred Qualifications
• A broad background in working with multiple agencies
(government, academic, and/or industrial) in the areas of
environmentally sustainable fuels, methods and related fields.
• Demonstrated success in facilitating industry, university and
government partnerships.
• Demonstrated record of innovation and entrepreneurial
engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing interactions between
Industry and the Center.
• Demonstrated engagement and dedication to undergraduate and
graduate teaching.

Position Overview

The Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis (CEBC) is a
designated research center at the University of Kansas (KU). In
2003 the center was established as an National Science Foundation
Engineering Research Center (ERC) with the mission to develop
cleaner, safer, energy-efficient technologies that protect the
planet and human health. The CEBC Director establishes the Center's
research mission, vision and goals in alignment with the
university’s strategic plan. The Director also holds a joint
appointment as a tenured faculty member within the Department of
Chemical & Petroleum Engineering situated within the School of
Engineering. The Director reports to and serves at the pleasure of
the Vice Chancellor for Research.

The CEBC community comprises 67 employees, including faculty and
staff researchers, postdocs, graduate students, and professional
staff. CEBC facilities are located in the Life Science Research
Laboratories building, 3 miles west of KU's main campus.

The CEBC is internationally recognized for research, education and
mentoring the next generation of scientists. Researchers are driven
to explore and seek sustainable chemical discoveries at the
frontiers of science and engineering - striving to protect the
planet, promote prosperity, and enrich scholarship. Programming,
projects and events actively engage audiences throughout the
community, including but not limited to K-12, informal science
educators, and others.

The Director has the unique opportunity to focus, develop and grow
their own research program synergistically with CEBC personnel and
collaboratively with a large and diverse network of researchers
across KU. The Center is part of a rich network of collaborating
research centers and academic units at the university, including
the departments of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Chemistry,
Molecular Biosciences, and Physics & Astronomy, among
others.

Founded in 1865, KU is an R1-rated research university with more
than 40 graduate programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
As a premier international research university, the University of
Kansas is committed to a culture of care focused on inclusion and
belonging that nurtures the growth and development of all. KU holds
steadfast in the belief that a variety of values, interests,
experiences, and intellectual and cultural viewpoints enrich
learning and our workplace.

Reg/Temp

Regular

Application Review Begins

01-Jul-2025

Anticipated Start Date

04-Jan-2026

Additional Candidate Instruction

For complete information and to apply online go to https://employment.ku.edu/academic/30651BR
. A complete online application will include the following PDF
files: 1) letter of interest detailing your vision for the Center;
2) curriculum vitae; 3) a statement of research interests and plans
on the order of two pages; 4) a statement of teaching interests on
the order of two pages; and 5) contact information (including email
addresses) for three individuals who can provide letters of
recommendation.

Review of application materials begins July 1, 2025 and
continues as long as needed to identify a qualified pool of
candidates.

Unit

Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis