One of the country’s most selective public research universities, Clemson University serves a uniquely driven and highly accomplished student body.

Ranked consistently as one of the best national public university by U.S.News & World Report, Clemson is a science- and engineering-oriented college dedicated to teaching, research and service. Founded in 1889, we remain committed both to world-class research and a high quality of life. In fact, 91 percent of our seniors say they’d pick Clemson again if they had it to do over.

Clemson’s retention and graduation rates rank among the highest in the country for public universities. We’ve been named among the best values by Kiplinger magazine in 2013, and SmartMoney in 2012 ranked us No. 7 in student return on investment.

Our beautiful college campus sits on 1,400 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the shores of Hartwell Lake. But we also have research facilities and economic development hubs throughout the state of South Carolina — in Greenville, Greenwood, Columbia and Charleston.

Clemson University invites applications and nominations for the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences.  The individual who holds this leadership position will serve as the executive officer of the Department and report directly to the Dean of the College of Science.  Candidates are expected to merit the rank of professor with tenure, have an internationally recognized record of scholarship, demonstrated commitment to teaching and learning, and possess relevant leadership experience.

The Department seeks a Chair excited to provide leadership with shared governance in areas of (1) establishing a strategic vision, goals, and implementation plan for the Department that aligns with Clemson Elevate (Clemson University’s strategic plan) and Accelerate Science (College of Science’s strategic plan); (2) recruiting, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty and staff talent; (3) expanding external research funding; (4) enhancing existing academic programs and developing new relevant programs and/or degrees; (5) strengthening inclusive excellence; and (6) increasing doctoral enrollments.  Additionally, the Chair will serve on the College’s Leadership Team.

The Chair is expected to demonstrate outstanding fiscal acumen in both strategic allocation of existing resources and expanding entrepreneurial revenues.  The Chair will work together with the Dean and the Director of Development to cultivate external support to advance Biological Sciences. 

About the Department:

The Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University harnesses faculty expertise across the areas of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology; microbiology; and molecular, cellular and developmental biology to advance the University’s discovery mission and provide strong educational programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department offers B.A., B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs including an online, non-thesis M.S. in biological sciences for teachers and science educators interested in biological sciences.

The Department is home to 66 full-time faculty, 41 staff, 89 on campus M.S. and Ph.D. students and 164 online M.S. students, and 1700 undergraduate students and is housed in the College of Science.  The Department offers ~43k student credit hours annually and currently has an operating budget of $11M.  Competitive external research funding credited to Biological Sciences for FY22 was $3M in expenditures.

For more information about the Department and its programs, please visit the website linked here.

For more information and the College of Science’s strategic plan, please visit the website linked here.

For more information about Clemson, please visit the website linked here.

For more information and Clemson’s strategic plan, please visit the website linked here.