HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

The Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics (AMS). This is an outstanding opportunity for an accomplished scholar with leadership experience, in collaboration with a growing faculty and an enterprising dean, to further strengthen an exceptional department. In the context of both the School and the University, the AMS Department is poised to become central to many fields – artificial intelligence, computational biology and medicine, astronomy, machine learning and cybersecurity among them – that are rapidly expanding in impact, investment, and importance. The Head’s leadership will be central in realizing this opportunity. The best candidates will evidence the intellectual distinction, entrepreneurial capacity, collaborative spirit, transparency, inclusiveness, and creativity that characterize the School’s culture, along with the scholarly credentials required for appointment as full professor. Serving a renewable five-year term, the Head will be appointed as a full-time tenured faculty member in AMS and will be encouraged to remain active in research, though strategic leadership of the Department will be their top priority.

Initially established as a unit within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, today’s Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics (AMS) has grown to become one of the most vital departments in the Whiting School of Engineering. It currently has 18 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members, five are junior faculty, five full-time teaching faculty, six full-time and adjunct research faculty members, over 300 undergraduate students pursuing a first or second major, and approximately 150 Master’s and 50 PhD students. Each year, the department offers over 75 lecture courses and provides over 4700 instructional seats to students from across the University. As the role of statistics and applied mathematics disciplines has shaped areas of study in other areas of the University, enrollment in AMS core courses has grown, and this trend is expected to continue. More information about AMS is available at https://engineering.jhu.edu/ams/.  

Whiting School Dean Ed Schlesinger is committed to providing the support that will enable the Department to substantially advance its mission. The appointment of a department Head establishes the Head’s expanded scope of responsibility for vision and direction; for faculty, staff, and students; for financial resources and space; for research and scholarship; and for fundraising and alumni relations. The Dean expects to partner closely with the Head in advocating for the department, including with substantial engagement in fundraising activities, which will be additionally supported by University expertise and resources.

The new Head will be an entrepreneurial leader with a vision of the role AMS can play in the School, the University, and the world beyond at this moment of rapid expansion in the foundations, applications, and impacts of applied mathematics and statistics. The Department Head will have a dossier that evidences a strong track record of scholarship and teaching; a passionate commitment to research, discovery, and application; and an interest in and success at academic administration. They will have strong skills for mentoring junior faculty and will promote the interests of the entire department. Successful candidates will have an earned doctorate in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or related field, and a scholarly record deserving appointment as a tenured full professor at The Johns Hopkins University. They will be recognized leaders in their respective field with a distinguished national and international reputation for research and education, with leadership experience within a complex research environment or in related national/international organizations. They will have excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at all levels among faculty, students, and staff.

The Whiting School of Engineering has engaged Opus Partners (www.opuspartners.net) to support the recruitment of the AMS Department Head. Craig Smith, Partner, and Jeff Stafford, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Applicants should submit a single PDF containing a letter of interest outlining their research and leadership experience, their CV, and a two or three-page statement of research interests to Jeffrey.stafford@opuspartners.net. Nominations, recommendations, expressions of interest, and inquiries should go to the same address. To access a fuller account of the role, follow this link. Applications received by November 30, 2019 will receive full consideration. Every effort will be made to ensure candidate confidentiality.

The Whiting School of Engineering and the Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics are committed to building a diverse educational environment, and women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Johns Hopkins University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. The University promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans. Johns Hopkins University is a drug-free, smoke-free workplace.