About the role
The College of Engineering at the University of South Florida invites applications for the position of Professor and Chair in the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering (IMSE). This position offers a leadership opportunity in one of the nation’s rapidly rising industrial engineering departments at a top-50 public research university. We seek an accomplished scholar and dynamic leader who will guide a highly productive faculty, respect and strengthen the department’s collaborative culture, address faculty and students’ needs, and foster continued excellence in research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate is expected to provide strategic vision and day-to-day management for the IMSE Department while advancing its role in achieving the College’s strategic mission. Responsibilities include: providing strategic leadership and effective management of departmental operations; promoting a strong research culture aligned with the College’s reputation for scholarly impact; advancing excellence in teaching across all programs; recruiting, mentoring, and retaining talented faculty and staff; managing resources and budgets effectively; strengthening relationships with industry partners, alumni, and donors; and collaborating with other department chairs and college leadership.
The IMSE Department currently has 17 full-time faculty members and offers BSIE, MSIE, and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial Engineering, together with an M.S. degree in Engineering Management (MSEM) and an M.S. degree in Data Intelligence (MSDI), and is highly engaged in distance learning. The department currently hosts 266 undergraduates, 125 master's, and 27 full-time doctoral students. IMSE faculty have strong collaborations with other departments within the College of Engineering, the Colleges of AI Cybersecurity and Computing, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Business, and Arts & Sciences. The department has strong ties with various centers and institutes such as the Institute of Applied Engineering, Center for Urban Transportation Research, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, USF Sleep Research Center, and with organizations outside of USF such as City of Tampa, Tampa Electric Company, Tampa General Hospital, and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital.
Established in 1964 and led by Dean Levi Thompson, the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida is ranked #51 among public institutions (#83 overall) by U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Engineering Schools. The college serves more than 4,000 students, offering 9 bachelor’s programs, eight of which are ABET-accredited, as well as 12 master’s and eight doctoral degrees. The college is actively engaged in local and global research activities with $50 million in research expenditures for the fiscal year 2025. The college has 11 major research centers and institutes and is actively engaged in local and global research activities focused on sustainability, biomedical engineering, computing technology and transportation.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Applicants should submit a cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications for the position with respect to the above job description, a detailed curriculum vitae, and contact information for at least four professional references who can speak to scholarly achievements, leadership abilities, and administrative experience. The application must also include a statement of leadership philosophy, interests, and strategic vision, as well as a statement describing current research and future research plans. The cover letter should be addressed to Dr. Vinay Gupta, Search Committee Chair, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENG 030, Tampa, Florida, 33620. Review of applications will begin on December 5, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants must electronically submit the application packet as one PDF file.
****This job is subject to Foreign Influence Screening: During the 2021 Florida legislative session, House Bill 7017 (“HB 7017”) was passed and later signed into law by Governor DeSantis. The new law modifies a variety of Florida Statutes to address concerns regarding improper foreign influence. With regard to employment at major research institutions like the University of South Florida, the new law requires thorough review of certain applicants for positions involving research.
Minimum qualifications include: (1) eligibility for appointment as a tenured full professor in an Industrial Engineering department at a Carnegie R1 institution; (2) a doctoral degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited research institution; (3) demonstrated understanding of the industrial engineering discipline and community; (4) proven leadership experience in higher education administration; and (5) commitment to high-quality pedagogy and student development.
Preferred qualifications include: (1) a proven commitment to fostering a collegial and supportive departmental culture; (2) a proven ability to develop and sustain enduring relationships with industry, academic partners, alumni, donors, and sponsors; (3) a strong record of leadership in securing competitive and significant research funding from various sources; (4) a strong record of scholarship with publications in top-tier journals and conferences in industrial engineering research areas aligned with the department’s strengths in intelligent decision-making through, among others, optimization, data science, and AI; (5) longstanding engagement in mentoring faculty, students, and staff, to promote their professional development and long-term success; and (8) proven leadership in recruiting, program development, team building, and staff supervision; and (9) effective budget management practices in consultation with faculty and staff.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.