Rank
Associate/Full Professor

Position Summary
The University of Alabama Office for Academic Affairs is proud to announce the launch and recruitment for inaugural appointments as Endowed Shelby Distinguished Faculty.

Detailed Position Information
Established through congressionally directed funding, the Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty, embodies the commitment of Senator Richard Shelby and Dr. Annette Shelby to advancing education and strengthening Alabama's higher education system. Their lifelong dedication to public service, both in the Senate and in academia, is reflected in this significant initiative. This permanent $100 million fund is designed to elevate The University of Alabama’s influence in STEM fields by attracting and retaining top-tier faculty, providing comprehensive support for their teaching, research and service. As a result, the endowment will play a crucial role in enhancing the development and security of both Alabama and the United States. This endowment will implement their vision by multiplying UA’s impact in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The endowment will be used to recruit and retain preeminent STEM faculty and fully support their work as they actively and consistently engage in teaching, research and service at The University of Alabama. Thereby, it will contribute to the development and security of the people of Alabama and the United States.

ENDOWED FACULTY DESIGNATIONS

• ENDOWED SHELBY DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR: Highly established faculty at the rank of full professor must meet or exceed all requirements to receive annual support commensurate with their achievements from the endowment fund, to be used consistent with the endowment fund’s purposes, as described herein.
• ENDOWED SHELBY DISTINGUISHED ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR: Established faculty at the rank of associate professor must exhibit an emerging reputation to meet or exceed the requirements to receive this distinction. Appointees will receive annual support commensurate with their achievements from the endowment fund, to be used consistent with the endowment fund’s purposes, as described herein.

Appointment as a Shelby Distinguished Faculty member will be for a five-year renewable term. Renewal of the appointment is contingent upon satisfaction of a yearly review that demonstrates continued productivity and excellence in scholarly and creative endeavors that satisfy the high standards and purposes of the Shelby Endowment, recommendation by the dean or vice president for research and economic development, and approval of the provost, president and the Board of Trustees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Engagement in teaching, research, and scholarship in sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) within one of UA’s colleges or existing board-designated research institutes or centers.
• Demonstrated commitment to leadership in transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Prestigious achievements in their field, with exceptional national and international reputations. Those who have been elected to or hold great promise to be elected to a National Academy, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences or a similar national or international honorific society.

Shelby Distinguished Faculty must have their primary academic home in a UA department(s) whose research and academic programs support STEM. They will be expected to contribute to the research, teaching, and service mission of the department(s) in support of student opportunities and success. Shelby Distinguished Faculty may have affiliated appointments in centers and institutes. All Shelby Distinguished Faculty must have exceptional credentials exceeding those required for initial appointment with tenure.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

Please attach a CV, Resume, and List of References

Applications will be reviewed as they are received

About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law"