Director of the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics (ISDE) - Tenured Professor

Vanderbilt University: School of Engineering: Electrical and Computer EngineeringLocation1025 16th Ave S, Suite 200, Nashville TN 37212Open DateOct 02, 2025DescriptionISDE DirectorThe School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University invites applications for Director of the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics (ISDE). ISDE advances the nation’s sustained operations and critical infrastructure in space and contested environments by developing radiation-tolerant electronics, resilient communications, space nuclear power systems, autonomous and AI-enabled space platforms, and hardened sensing technologies. The School seeks a visionary leader to chart ISDE’s next phase of innovation and impact.The successful candidate—appointed at the rank of tenured professor—will have an outstanding record of research achievement; demonstrated success building strategic partnerships with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, and the commercial space sector; and a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration across Vanderbilt. The Director will provide strategic leadership; expand ISDE’s internationally recognized strengths in extreme-environment microelectronics and radiation effects; grow a diversified research portfolio and extramural funding; foster workforce development; and translate discoveries into tools, IP, and ventures that serve national needs.This role aligns with Vanderbilt Engineering’s strategic pillars, including world-class research with national and international partners in national security, sustainability, and energy; workforce development at scale in radiation effects and resilient systems; and entrepreneurship and technology translation. The Director will drive systems-level solutions that harden electronics and platforms beyond Earth; advance warfighter technologies and secure, reliable defense infrastructure; and enhance energy systems reliability and resilience, including nuclear energy. The Institute will leverage Vanderbilt’s research neighborhoods—Systems Risk, Reliability, and Resilience; Robotics and Automation; Materials and Nanotechnology; Energy Transition and Resilience; and Infrastructural Innovations and Sustainability—and catalyze collaboration across the university and with regional partners in Nashville, NASA and the space industry in Huntsville, Alabama, and West Palm Beach on Florida’s Space Coast.About Vanderbilt University And NashvilleVanderbilt University is a top-ranked private research institution located in the vibrant, fast-growing city of Nashville, offering faculty an exceptional environment for scholarship, teaching, and engagement. Our culture emphasizes radical collaboration across disciplines—spanning engineering, computing, medicine, the social sciences, and the humanities—with world-class facilities, trans-institutional centers, and strong partnerships with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We are committed to access and advancement for all, cultivating a diverse and inclusive community where faculty, staff, and students can thrive and amplify their impact locally and globally. Vanderbilt’s robust research ecosystem, supportive mentoring and career development, and a student body drawn from across the nation and the world make it a premier destination for faculty seeking to build high-impact programs and train the next generation of leaders and change-makers. The University enrolls over 13,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across 11 schools on a single, collaborative campus. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Vanderbilt’s educational offerings pair rigorous, research-driven learning with extensive experiential opportunities, mentoring, and cross-disciplinary collaboration that prepare students to lead in academia, industry, and society.Nashville is a dynamic, fast-growing city with a diverse economy anchored by health care, music, advanced manufacturing, finance, and a rapidly expanding technology sector. In recent years, major global tech companies and leading startups have opened significant offices here, accelerating an innovation ecosystem that spans AI, defense, and data-driven industries. Vanderbilt serves as a key catalyst in this environment—linking research strengths, entrepreneurial resources, and public–private partnerships to drive translational impact across the region. Through campus-wide initiatives and discovery centers that connect engineering, medicine, computing, and the humanities, Vanderbilt helps power Nashville’s momentum, fostering collaboration with the city and industry to advance new technologies, talent development, and community-focused solutions.QualificationsCandidates must have a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering or a related discipline and a proven track record of successful research and leadership. The successful candidate will be expected to:Establish a nationally recognized research program supported by extramural funding.Contribute to the teaching mission of the University. Vanderbilt emphasizes excellence in teaching and mentoring next generation engineers and a successful candidate is expected to participate actively in the University’s educational mission.Have a proven record of visionary leadership and research excellence in space/defense-relevant areas (e.g., extreme‑environment microelectronics, radiation effects, resilient systems), with the ability to set and execute strategy, grow a diversified extramural funding portfolio, build multi-institutional teams with DoD/DOE/NASA and industry, and advance technology translation (IP, tools, and partnerships); experience developing mission-enabling infrastructure and programs (e.g., radiation-effects facilities, SCIF, consortia) is strongly preferred.Exhibit leadership and talent development skills: recruiting and mentoring diverse teams of technical professionals, faculty, staff, and students; leading workforce development aligned with national needs; and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration across Vanderbilt.Contribute to departmental, school-wide, and university-wide initiatives, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment.Application InstructionsApplications Should Include The Following MaterialsCover letterComplete curriculum vitaeStatement of research interests, highlighting potential collaborative opportunitiesStatement of teaching philosophy, including innovative approaches to teaching and workforce developmentReview will begin upon receipt, and applications received by January 31, 2026, will receive full consideration.