Search for the Dean of the School of Physical Sciences

UC San Diego is pleased to invite nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Physical Sciences. We have enlisted the assistance of leading executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to help us manage the search process. Cheryl Anderson, Dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, has agreed to chair the Search Advisory Committee, whose members are listed below.

The Dean, reporting directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor, is the academic and administrative leader of the School of Physical Sciences, comprised of three sizeable and intellectually diverse academic departments – Chemistry & Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Physics – each with a full range of undergraduate and graduate programs and research facilities. The school also offers interdisciplinary programs in science and mathematics education (California Teach - Science and Mathematics Education), supporting California’s need for qualified science and math teachers. Additionally, graduate students can pursue interdisciplinary study in computational science, mathematics and engineering; materials science; mathematics and science education; and quantitative biology.

Additional details regarding the position and qualifications for Dean of the School of Physical Sciences are outlined in the position profile available on the Isaacson, Miller web site. The Search Advisory Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. Direct inquiries and nominations should be directed to https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-california-san-diego-school-physical-sciences/dean, and inquiries can be directed to Silvia Cheng at scheng@imsearch.com. You need not contact the individual to ascertain if they are willing to be considered as a candidate. All nominees will be contacted in confidence, to discuss their willingness to have their names put forward to the search advisory committee.

CVs with cover letters, as well as a diversity statement addressing aspirations and contributions to promoting equity, inclusion and diversity must be submitted via the UC San Diego Recruit website, and via the Isaacson, Miller application portal. Electronic submission of materials is required. For best consideration, please submit materials by March 6, 2023.

Pradeep Khosla
Chancellor

Elizabeth H. Simmons
Executive Vice Chancellor

MEMBERS OF THE SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES:

Cheryl Anderson (Dean, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science) Chair
Mikah Bertlemann (Vice President Academic Affairs, Graduate & Professional Student Association)
Hunter Blackey (Associated Students Senator for Physical Sciences)
Stacey Brydges (Teaching Professor and Vice Chair of EDI and Climate, Chemistry - BioChemistry)
Jennifer Burney (Professor, School of Global Policy and Strategy)
Alison Coil (Associate Dean for EDI, School of Physical Sciences)
David Danks (Professor, HDSI/Philosophy)
Peter Ebenfelt (Associate Dean for Research, School of Physical Sciences)
Philip Gill (Distinguished Professor, Mathematics)
Nigel Goldenfeld (Professor, Physics)
Olivia Graeve (Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
Vicki Grassian (Chair, Chemistry-BioChemistry)
Gillian Hemingway Asch (Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor) Staff Consultant
James Kadonaga (Professor, Molecular Biology)
Cliff Kubiak (Distinguished Professor, Chemistry-BioChemistry)
Bradley Moore (Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Robert Rome (Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance, School of Physical Sciences)
Ivan Schuller (Distinguished Professor, Physics)
Laura Stevens (Sr. Teaching Professor, Mathematics)
Shankar Subramaniam (Distinguished Professor, Bioengineering, Institute of Medicine, and HDSI)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Scope/Responsibilities:

Responsible for all of the school’s activities in research, education, and administration.
Provides leadership in the development of new academic initiatives and is instrumental in the review and approval processes for establishment of new departments, graduate and undergraduate programs or degrees, and curricular changes within the school.
Provides leadership on programs and initiatives that improve student access, experience, and academic success.
Cultivates partnerships for developing interdisciplinary programs and initiatives with units throughout the university.
Authorizes the initiation of faculty recruitment, including negotiations. Approves faculty start-up packages. Ensures the establishment of appropriate onboarding and mentoring programs for new faculty.
Maintains provision control of permanent and temporary faculty FTE and Teaching Assistant FTE allocated to the School.
Reviews and/or has final authority for many academic personnel actions related to faculty appointments, merit and promotion reviews, or leaves and sabbaticals.
Serves as the school’s academic affirmative action officer for all academic affirmative action compliance documents.
Serves as the advocate and champion to the larger campus community on efforts to promote diversity, equal opportunity, inclusion, and the UC San Diego Principles of Community. Responsible for the school’s Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence accountability process and report.
Responsible for promoting an environment in which the highest standards of ethical conduct are understood to be a primary responsibility of all members of the school.
Responsible for engaging the faculty in enhancing the profile, visibility and prestige of the School, and for promoting and supporting a positive culture and the sense of collective purpose for the school.
Cultivates local and national scientific and industrial affiliation and support.
Initiates proposals and represents the school to extramural agencies for institutional support grants. Provides leadership for UC San Diego’s participation in competitions for large-scale, collaborative interdisciplinary research opportunities.
Co-supervises the Directors of Development and Communications assigned to the school and works closely with University Advancement to engage alumni and cultivate major gifts in support of the school’s teaching, research and public engagement programs.
Responsible for overseeing the school’s budgetary and space proposals and for the allocation of financial and space resources among the units within the School. Reviews and approves acquisition of infrastructure support for computing and communications.
Responsible for overseeing the financial performance of the school including the avoidance of and recovery of overspending within the units of the school.
Responsible for short- and long-range planning of minor and major capital improvement projects for the school. Approves requests for renovations and alterations in the school’s space. Serves on Building Advisory Committees of all School of Physical Sciences capital projects, usually as chair.
Represents the School of Physical Sciences on various General Campus, campus-wide and University-wide committees as designated. Represents the school at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Skills and/or experience necessary to perform this position:

A distinguished record of teaching, research, and professional service appropriate for a tenured Full Professor appointment at UC San Diego.
Outstanding scholarly credentials and broadly recognized national/international stature.
A commitment to inclusive academic excellence and a compelling vision for the future of the School of Physical Sciences.
A commitment to and success in achieving institutional goals for equity, diversity, and inclusion and in establishing a culture grounded in ethical behavior and transparency.
Capability to stimulate stakeholder engagement in new directions, to promote existing resources to the best advantage, and to collaboratively build for the future.
An appreciation of the intertwined research, educational and public engagement missions of a major research university and the interplay between undergraduate and graduate education.
Ability to encourage expression of diverse intellectual interests, foster varied modes of inquiry, and support wide-ranging pedagogical innovations;
Ability to set clear goals and to build a coherent entrepreneurial organizational culture for both scholars and staff.
Ability to engage the school openly and cooperatively. A record of achievement in working with a diverse academic community and creating an inclusive culture.
Knowledge of and experience with promoting excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, academic personnel matters, and research affairs.
Ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and other administrators.
Demonstrated leadership and administrative skills
Ability to direct, mentor, and supervise staff.
Demonstrated skill in fundraising, alumni relations, and industry partnerships.