Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of the Kummer Institute Center for Advanced and Resilient Infrastructure
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), one of the nation’s top technological research universities, invites nominations and applications for the position of Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of the Kummer Institute Center for Advanced and Resilient Infrastructure.
Four Kummer Institute research centers have recently been established at Missouri S&T to drive transformational research that will translate discovery and innovation for the benefit of society. The Founding Director of the Center for Advanced and Resilient Infrastructure will assemble and lead interdisciplinary teams of faculty, industry, government, and/or non-profit partners with a focus on advancing emerging technology in these fields toward market readiness.
The Founding Director will develop an exciting vision for the Center that leverages current university resources and faculty strengths in areas such as transportation, clean energy, electricity, telecommunication, supply chain, water and waste management infrastructure, while identifying opportunities to lead Missouri S&T students and faculty toward global prominence in the science and engineering of advanced and resilient infrastructure. The Founding Director will serve as a leading voice at Missouri S&T in infrastructure research and will also be recognized as an international leader within their scholarly field.
The Founding Director will control endowment funds to support center activities and will hold a faculty appointment commensurate with their qualifications. The incumbent’s time will be committed primarily to the administrative functions of running the center, although additional startup support is available for active researchers seeking to relocate ongoing projects in conjunction with their center leadership role.
The Founding Director joins a Missouri S&T faculty that is recognized annually with prestigious national and international awards, and whose research has been growing substantially over the past decade while retaining a particular dedication to the success of students. The Missouri S&T Board of Trustees and the Kummer Institute’s Board of Directors have challenged the university to further grow research expenditures and develop graduate programs that will elevate the university to a Carnegie R1 classification. These ambitious goals reflect the exciting transformation under way at Missouri S&T and the start of a new era of opportunity and innovation.
The Founding Director of the Kummer Institute Center for Advanced and Resilient Infrastructure will have a demonstrated history of identifying and developing partnerships that translate discovery and innovation for economic impact. The Founding Director will exhibit a demonstrated capacity to develop and inspire colleagues toward a transformational vision and excel in the areas of proposal development and leadership of highly complex and collaborative research initiatives.
Successful candidates will be recognized as international thought leaders in an area related to advanced and resilient infrastructure, including but not limited to: smart materials and structures, asset management for construction and retrofitting of physical infrastructure, digital infrastructure including 3D printing, functional recovery characterization, multi-hazard mitigation, development and deployment of advanced infrastructure materials, design, inspection, structural health monitoring, maintenance, or related areas. Candidates with expertise in broader areas of advanced/resilient infrastructure - such as transportation, clean energy, electricity, telecommunication, supply chain, or water and waste management - will also be highly competitive.
Key qualifications sought by the selection committee include:
To apply, please submit a letter of application outlining their vision for leading the center, a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and list of five professional references. Professional references will not be contacted without candidate authorization.
Applicant reviews will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled. Nominations and inquiries for this search may be directed to Andrew Crain (amcrain@mst.edu), Lead Recruitment Consultant with the University of Missouri System.
The Kummer Institute for Student Success, Research and Economic Development was established in October 2020 through a gift of $300 million from June and Fred Kummer, longtime benefactors of Missouri University of Science and Technology. The Institute will transform Missouri S&T by cultivating leadership and technological innovation; nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset; fostering expansion of academic-industry partnerships to directly address emerging needs of industry; and creating economic growth for the region. The Center for Advanced and Resilient Infrastructure is one of four research centers made possible through the Kummers’ transformative gift. These research centers will elevate Missouri S&T’s global reputation, position Missouri S&T as a leader in each of the respective fields, and leverage, build and grow academic-industry-government partnerships to lead economic transformation within the region, state, and nation.
The Kummer College of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development is a new College for innovation-minded students. The Kummer College encompasses technology-focused graduate and undergraduate degree programs, certificates, and professional micro-credentials in areas crucial to the future of technology-driven workplaces. Some degree programs currently exist, including Business and Management Systems, Engineering Management, Information Science and Technology, and Economics. Robust graduate certificates such as Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation; AI, Machine Learning, and Automation in Business; Financial Technology; and Management and Leadership currently prepare students for leadership roles in fast-changing tech industries. Innovative new degrees and emphasis areas will be developed in alignment with the vision of the donors, the founding dean, and the faculty of the Kummer College.
The Kummer Institute for Student Success, Research and Economic Development was established in October 2020 through a gift of $300 million from June and Fred Kummer, longtime benefactors of Missouri University of Science and Technology. The Institute will transform Missouri S&T by cultivating leadership and technological innovation; nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset; fostering expansion of academic-industry partnerships to directly address emerging needs of industry; and creating economic growth for the region. The Center for Resource Sustainability is one of four research centers made possible through the Kummers’ transformative gift. These research centers will elevate Missouri S&T’s national reputation, position Missouri S&T as a leader in their respective fields, and leverage, build and grow academic-industry-government partnerships to lead the economic transformation of the region, state and nation.
Founded in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy and later known as the University of Missouri-Rolla, Missouri S&T is celebrating its 150-year anniversary during the 2020-21 academic year. A U.S. News & World Report top-100 public national university, Missouri S&T’s rigorous, student-centered, applied education is offered to over 7,600 students, including over 1,550 master’s and Ph.D. students. Known for its engineering, computing and science programs, S&T offers 99 degrees in 40 fields of study, including business and information technology, education, and the humanities and liberal arts.
With the creation of the Kummer Institute and the Kummer College of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Missouri S&T is increasing its degree offerings and fields of study to expand on its base of academic excellence. Renowned for offering an outstanding return on investment to its students, with average starting salaries and mid-career salaries that are among the highest in the nation, Missouri S&T also has a strong and growing research enterprise, with ever-increasing accolades to its 400 titled faculty members. Learn more at mst.edu.