J.E. Sirrine Textile Foundation Endowed Chair of Optical Fibers

The Clemson University School of Materials Science and Engineering, in conjunction with the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), is soliciting applications and nominations for the J.E. Sirrine Textile Foundation Endowed Chair of Optical Fibers.

Supported by an endowment in excess of $7.3M, the Sirrine Chair will be a pre-eminent scholar with an international reputation for research relating to optical fiber materials, advanced structures and applications. The endowment resulted from funding by the J. E. Sirrine Textile Foundation and the South Carolina Research Centers of Economic Excellence Act, both of which stipulated that the chaired professor encourage knowledge-based economic development and academic excellence.

The Sirrine Chair will be a dynamic, innovative leader with a distinguished record of accomplishment of scholarship.  The Chair will have an earned doctorate in materials science or related discipline and have 10-plus years of relevant industrial and/or academic experience. The candidate will have strong ties to professional societies and be active on national and international committees relating to research, education, or professional development in optics and materials.  In addition to being a proven leader and mentor, the Sirrine Chair will have extensive industrial and governmental contacts, a solid history of international, interdisciplinary research, support and outreach activities, and a proven innovation record as evidenced by patents and licensed/commercialized technologies. Ideally, the candidate being entrepreneurially minded, will have either created or consulted with new firms or have quantifiably contributed to business development or technology entrepreneurship. As a faculty member within the School of Materials Science and Engineering, the candidate will be responsible for development and teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses, establishment of a strong and sustained research program, and demonstration of professional service.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, their resume, curriculum vitae, and a list of five references.  Electronic submission is required.  E-mail all application materials to Dr. John Ballato, Search and Screen Committee Chair at jballat@clemson.edu. Informal inquiries can be sent to this e-mail address. Application materials received by March 1, 2012 will receive full consideration; however, the search will remain open until the position is filled.

Clemson University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or genetic information.