Head, Biomedical Engineering – UConn Health
The University of Connecticut seeks an outstanding leader to serve as Head of the new Department
of Biomedical Engineering at UConn Health (BME-UCH). The University of Connecticut has a 30
year history of successful, innovative biomedical engineering at the main campus at Storrs,
primarily in the School of Engineering, as well as the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine at
UConn Health in Farmington.
As part of a $1B expansion on the Farmington campus and a $1.8B expansion on the Storrs campus,
the University has elevated Biomedical Engineering to department status. Biomedical Engineering
is the first University of Connecticut academic program with sister departments on two campuses.
The founding Head of BME-UCH will grow the new department and work with BME-Storrs and the
more than 50 BME researchers throughout the University to raise the profile of UConn Biomedical
Engineering.
The new Department of Biomedical Engineering at UConn Health will occupy completely renovated
and redesigned space on the 6th and 7th (top) floors of the main building.
Candidates should have a strong record of research, extramural funding, national and international
recognition, demonstration of leadership, a vision for excellence, a strong collaborative spirit, and
the ability to steward the assets of the new department.
The preferred candidate will also have an entrepreneurial spirit with experience in the
development and commercialization of intellectual property. UConn Health’s position in New
England provides access to a wide range of pharmaceutical firms, medical device manufacturers,
the insurance industry involved in these areas, and incubator support and space for start-ups.
The new Department Head:

Will set academic vision for the department.

Will implement the academic vision through recruitment of at least 3 additional faculty.
The new hires may represent diverse research areas or a single thematic area. Competitive
start-ups are available for the Department Head and the faculty to be recruited.

Will work with the Head of Biomedical Engineering at the Storrs campus to expand and
enhance BME research, outreach, and the undergraduate and graduate educational
programs. BME-Storrs also will be recruiting new faculty, presenting a combined
opportunity for the two departments to significantly implement their academic visions.

Will have a primary appointment at UConn Health as a 12-month, tenured Associate/Full
Professor.
The new Department Head is expected to continue their own research program. Additionally, there
is strong potential to expand research in collaboration with any of the basic science and clinical
departments at UConn Health, or engineering departments at Storrs. At UConn Health there are
particular opportunities and interest in synergy with, but not limited to, Regenerative Engineering,
Immunology, Modeling of Cells and Systems, Computational Biology, Biophotonics, Neural
Engineering, and Skeletal Biology.
v7
Additional collaborative opportunities exist with faculty at the new Jackson Laboratory for Genomic
Medicine (JAX). This world-renown research complex has just opened on the Farmington campus.
There is excellent potential of collaboration for BME faculty with interests in computational biology
of the genomics of immunology, cancer immunology and the microbiome.
Minimum Qualifications:
• An earned doctorate in Biomedical Engineering or a related discipline or alternatively an
M.D./D.M.D. degree with substantial background in Biomedical Engineering related fields;
• A distinguished scholarly reputation and record of research accomplishments and funding
sufficient to earn the appointment of Associate/Full Professor with academic tenure at UConn;
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching;
• A clear and innovative academic vision for the Department;
• A clear vision of emerging research opportunities;
• An ability to work with faculty, students, staff, administration, and alumni;
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience managing a budget in a setting with many competing objectives;
• Commitment to supporting the growth and development of students, faculty, and staff;
• Dedication to an environment that supports diversity of population and perspectives;
• Experience in identifying and recruiting talented faculty and support staff;
• Commitment to an open-door policy of communication and interaction with all constituents;
• Willingness to respond on short notice to high priority issues and challenges;
• Skill in serving as an advocate for the Department with institutional and external organizations.
• A strong entrepreneurial spirit with the skills and experience to foster innovation and technology
transfer to bring medical devices or software to the marketplace to help jumpstart local job
creation and innovation.
Applications and nominations should include a full CV including a complete record of federal
funding and journal publications; a 2-page vision statement regarding evolving and future research
opportunities; and the names, addresses, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of 5 references.
Applicants please go to https://jobs.uchc.edu/, where as a “Guest” you can view job search code
2015-1123; and “Create a UserID/Password” to submit your application materials. Applicant
screening will begin immediately. The position will remain open until filled. For additional
information about the application process please contact Joyce L. Smith, Director, Employment
Services at josmith@uchc.edu or (860) 679-1784.
For additional information about this Job Description please contact Jon Goldberg, PhD, Interim
Head of Biomedical Engineering – UConn Health at Goldberg@uchc.edu or (860) 679-4455.
v7