Director for Engineering Innovation - Teaching Faculty III

Office of the Dean
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Permanent, Non-Tenure Track Position

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering invites applications for a Teaching Faculty/Director for Engineering Innovation (full-time, 12-month, non-tenure track) position. The successful candidate will teach primarily undergraduate engineering coursework, which is open to students of all disciplines, with an expected focus on entrepreneurship that will enhance students’ education and their career options, while also increasing the commercialization of technology coming from the college’s research.

About the Joint College

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering sits at the nexus of two major public universities, each with a distinct mission but focused on world-class engineering education and research. Created by the Florida Legislature in 1982, the joint institution is the college of engineering for both Florida A&M and Florida State universities. This unique combination of focus, resources and mission from our parent institutions has created on our campus a truly innovative atmosphere that leverages the benefits of the traditional HBCU model with the innovations of an R-1 public research university. After completing pre-requisites at their home institution, FAMU and FSU students learn, study and research together at our independent campus with joint-appointed faculty and staff. Students graduate from their enrolling university and from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Both FAMU and FSU are part of the State University System of Florida and are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Additionally, all six of the college’s eligible undergraduate degree programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. 

We are a leading academic institution with excellent records of achievement in education, research, and public service. It offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs in chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering as well as M.S. and Ph.D. programs. We attract outstanding faculty from all over the world and is home to about 3,000 students from many races, ethnicities, and nationalities.

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering has been widely hailed for taking the initiative to create programs to align academic curriculum with industry needs. The college ensures that the students learn what they need to know through quality teaching and research. The faculty and researchers at the college benefit from the world-class ecosystem of labs and centers immediately surrounding the campus. Located just steps from the engineering building are the world-renowned labs at Innovation Park of Tallahassee.

Research

Engineering research is carried out at the closely-associated and faculty-staff laboratories, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Mag Lab), Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS), Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP), Center for Intelligent, Systems, Control and Robotics (CISCOR), High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI), Resilient Infrastructure & Disaster Response (RIDER) Center, Applied Superconductivity Center (ASC) and the Florida Department of Transportation Structures Research Center. 

Qualifications

Candidates must possess an earned Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate field of specialization, a demonstrated record of achievement in teaching, and profession experience to perform assigned duties. 

Responsibilities

The Director for Engineering Innovation (DEI) in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will report to the Dean of Engineering and work collegially with administrators, faculty, and students in Engineering to promote a culture of engineering innovation and entrepreneurship that will enhance students’ education and their career options, while also increasing the commercialization of technology emerging from the college’s research. To accomplish this will also require the person to cooperate and collaborate with faculty and administrators across the FSU and FAMU campuses, including, for example, faculty in the colleges of Business, Law, Entrepreneurship, and staff in the Offices of Commercialization. While the specific responsibilities will evolve depending on the college’s perceived needs and the DEI’s interests, the following outlines six potential areas of responsibility and activity.

Develop and teach courses and co- and extra-curricular activities for engineering students (undergraduate and graduate) on technological innovation that leads to entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. The courses should help students understand the process of ideation to minimum viable product via the ideate-build-learn cycle, prototype generation, business plan development for technology-based products or services, and application for patent protection.
Work with faculty responsible for the engineering Senior Design courses to offer an “entrepreneurial option” for students that focuses on developing commercially viable products or processes. This will require the DEI to work with other faculty to seek funding to support these entrepreneurial projects from grants, companies, or private donors.

• Develop and teach courses and co- and extra-curricular activities for engineering students (undergraduate and graduate) on technological innovation that leads to entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. The courses should help students understand the process of ideation to minimum viable product via the ideate-build-learn cycle, prototype generation, business plan development for technology-based products or services, and application for patent protection.
  Work with faculty responsible for the engineering Senior Design courses to offer an “entrepreneurial option” for students that focuses on developing commercially viable products or processes. This will require the DEI to work with other faculty to seek funding to support these entrepreneurial projects from grants, companies, or private donors.
• Organize workshops, seminars, training, and networking opportunities and expand ties with external entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, alums, legal experts, and other potential partners to create a culture of technological innovation and entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering. 
• Promote and support student/faculty teams to compete in various business plan competitions. There are many such opportunities both locally, regionally, and nationally. For example, FSU’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship runs the InNOLEvation Challenge Business Plan Competition each year. The DEI should also organize a commercialization plan competition among student/faculty teams from just the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. This could be the first stage of developing and screening technology-based business ideas that could then go on to other competitions and, hopefully, the launching of startups.
• Work with faculty and the research centers in the Innovation Park to accelerate the development and licensing of intellectual property. The FSU Office of Commercialization (within the Office of Research) has several programs to assist faculty in commercializing the fruits of their research, including, for example, obtaining patent protection and the GAP Grant Program. FAMU has an active technology transfer program as well. The DEI will work with faculty to help develop SBIR/STTR funding, encourage participation in national entrepreneurial training programs, and actively work with or form I-Corps hubs. 
• Work with college faculty and staff to establish a maker/tinker/collaboration space for engineering faculty and students to develop prototypes of their commercial ideas and serve as an incubator for early-stage businesses.

This list is not meant to be exhaustive. The DEI should work to develop other innovative programs that will enhance technology-based entrepreneurial activity in the college. 

Application Review

Applications will be reviewed beginning April 10, 2023. Acceptance and review of applications will continue until the position is filled. The appointment is anticipated to begin in August 2023. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Stephen Arce, Search Committee Chair.

Criminal Background Check

This position requires the successful completion of a criminal history background check. The background check will be conducted as authorized and in accordance with FSU Policy 4-OP-C-7-B11.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Florida A&M University and Florida State University are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers that encourage applications from minorities and women and comply with the American Disabilities Act. Both are public records agencies pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

How to Apply