Founding Department Heads
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) seeks established academics with a vision to advance education and research in sustainable development to help build in partnership with Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) the planned XJTU-HKUST Joint School of Sustainable Development (JSSD), a strategic alliance to combine the strengths of the two universities to address needs on both the regional and global level. To be located in Xi’an, the gateway to the fast-emerging western region of China, the School will focus on training a new generation of graduates who are capable of contributing to sustainable development, a strategic national goal for China and an area that is widely recognized as one of the world’s most pressing challenges. English will be the School’s language of instruction.
HKUST is a world-class leading research university and has been ranked overall No. 1 university in Asia for the last two years by QS Asian University Rankings®. XJTU, established in 1896, is in the C9 League, which consists of the top nine prestigious universities in China. Both universities are internationally known for their research and educational programs, especially in the areas of the natural and social sciences and engineering. By combining the strengths of the two universities, JSSD will make a fundamental contribution to education in the field of sustainable development and undertake interdisciplinary high-impact research in energy conservation, resource management and environmental protection. Within the next five years, the School is expected to have up to 60 faculty members and an enrollment of more than 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in three departments:
The DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY is an interdisciplinary academic unit to be established to provide undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs and undertake cutting-edge research in energy-science and technologies for sustainable development focusing on sustainable use of fossil fuels and their environmental impact, alternative energy sources, energy distribution and storage, system and engineering design for sustainability, and energy policy and management.
The DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS will provide a broad-based undergraduate and postgraduate education in materials science and materials development for sustainability, targeting the frontiers of materials science, and will undertake cutting-edge research in materials sustainability. The academic foci are: fundamentals of materials science and engineering for sustainability; sustainable adoption of materials; design of new materials; and application of sustainable materials.
The DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE will provide education and research platforms to study interrelationships among economic and urban development, governance, and regional, national and global ecosystems focusing on the social and physical infrastructure needed for sustainability. The academic foci are: system analysis and related infrastructural issues; public policy and sustainable development; climate dynamics and environmental policy; sustainable living environments; and commerce and ecosystem management.
The founding Department Heads of the three departments will be senior faculty members of HKUST appointed for posting to the JSSD in Xi’an. We are now seeking world-class scholars in the research areas of energy, materials or infrastructure to fill these senior faculty positions at HKUST with tenure. Applicants must meet the high academic and professional standards of the HKUST senior faculty. Candidates appointed to the founding headships, reporting to the Dean of JSSD, will lead the formation of the departments, formulate governance policies, facilitate academic advancement in teaching and research, and take charge of faculty recruitment and resource allocation. They will typically have substantial experience and proven leadership skills in managing major research programs and human resources in an academic or large-scale research setting. They will also be able to help promote the department at the global level, develop collaborative programs and attract major external funding for large interdisciplinary research projects at the national level. We are also ready to explore other opportunities with scholars interested in teaching and research in the relevant areas.
Remuneration is highly competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Generous fringe benefits, including housing where appropriate, will also be provided.
Nominations and applications, including a curriculum vitae, a vision statement of the development of the new departments, a brief statement of current interests, as well as the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of at least three references should be sent to: The JSSD Search Committee, c/o Human Resources Office, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, or by email to: jssdsearch@ust.hk. Review of nominations/applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.
For further information about HKUST and XJTU, please visit the following websites:
HKUST - http://www.ust.hk XJTU - http://www.xjtu.edu.cn/en/index.html
(Information provided by applicants will be used for recruitment and other employment-related purposes only.)
