Job Description

The Research Program Chair is responsible for leading the development and execution of a high-impact, capability-focused research program aligned with HCT’s strategic priorities and national R&D agendas. This role requires demonstrated international research leadership and the ability to mobilize cross-campus, interdisciplinary teams toward grant-funded research with tangible societal and economic outcomes.

The Chair establishes and sustains research communities that attract external collaborators and visiting researchers, align with ARC focus areas, and contribute to applied innovation. Each Research Program serves as a nucleus for emerging research excellence with a clear trajectory toward recognition as a Research Center. The Chair ensures collective progress toward KPIs through structured planning, capacity building, and strategic partnerships—both within the UAE and internationally.

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Role

• Translate HCT’s institutional research strategy into actionable program-level roadmaps aligned with ARC-defined focus areas and national R&D priorities.
• Establish and lead a cross-campus, capability-driven Research Program that lays the foundation for a future Research Center.
• Develop and continuously refine a strategic agenda for the program, identifying thematic strengths, talent needs, and innovation pathways.
• Position the program to attract competitive national and international research funding and long-term industry investment.
• Build and lead interdisciplinary research networks involving HCT faculty, international partners, and UAE-based SMEs and government entities.
• Attract and host high-impact collaborators, including visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and research fellows.
• Ensure strategic alignment between program activities and institutional research KPIs, using structured performance management tools (e.g., milestone-based RAG system).
• Represent HCT and the Research Program in strategic academic, industry, and policy forums, enhancing visibility and impact.

Operational Role

• Secure and manage internal and external research funding through competitive proposals and partnerships.
• Lead the operational execution of the research program, including budgeting, procurement, ethics approvals, contracts, reporting, and compliance with institutional and national policies.
• Oversee the delivery of funded projects to ensure timelines, deliverables, and research quality are met, including appropriate supervision of research assistants, fellows, and support staff.
• Foster student participation in research, including capstone projects, internships, and junior researcher roles.
• Foster a culture of applied research among faculty through mentoring, publication support, grant coaching, and research skill development.
• Coordinate effective use of institutional research infrastructure, including core labs, shared facilities, and technical support.
• Implement a milestone-based performance monitoring framework (e.g., traffic light system) to track group-level KPI progress and risk indicators.
• Prepare and submit accurate progress reports, financial statements, and risk updates to the Director of Applied Research.
• Ensure proper documentation, dissemination, and visibility of research outcomes, including publications, patents, commercialization, and media engagement.

*Teaching load is: 3/3/0 (Fall/Spring/Summer)

Qualifications

• A doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated record of applied research leadership, with evidence of publications, project execution, and funding aligned to real-world problems.
• Recognized academic or professional standing in the research community, at the level of Associate Professor, equivalent or above.
• Strong command of English, meeting institutional language proficiency standards.

Experience

• Sustained research leadership experience (typically 5–10 years), including leading interdisciplinary research teams or programs.
• Proven success in securing and managing externally funded or industry-partnered research projects.
• Demonstrated ability to align research programs with national or regional priorities and to build strategic partnerships.
• Track record of mentoring junior researchers and students, fostering innovation and knowledge transfer.
• Experience participating in or leading research governance (e.g., ethics committees, funding panels, research centers).
• Familiarity with the UAE R&D ecosystem is preferred but not required; international candidates should show readiness to engage with national priorities.

Key Result Areas

• Establish, lead, and continuously develop a capability-driven research program aligned with ARC focus areas and UAE R&D priorities, with a clear trajectory toward Research Center status.
• Ensure achievement of group-level research KPIs, including publications, patents, capstone projects, external collaborations, and innovation outcomes, using milestone-based performance monitoring.
• Secure and manage internal and external research funding (e.g., grants, commissioned projects, industry sponsorships), in line with institutional and national funding priorities.
• Build an active research culture by mentoring faculty, engaging students in applied projects, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across campuses.
• Lead strategic partnerships with SMEs, government agencies, and international universities to enhance the societal and economic relevance of the program.
• Oversee operational delivery, risk management, reporting, and compliance with research ethics, finance, and quality standards, in coordination with the Office of ARIE.
• Establish and grow research capacity within the program, including the recruitment and supervision of RAs, postdocs, and visiting scholars.

Selection Criteria Instrument: Research Program Chair

Each fulfilled criterion earns 1 point. To be considered, candidates must meet at least 6 of the 10 criteria. A score of 7–8 is preferred; 9–10 reflects highly competitive leadership readiness.

• Peer-reviewed Publications : ≥ 8 Scopus-indexed articles in last 5 years, incl. ≥ 3 in Q1/Q2 journals
• Applied Project Leadership : Led ≥ 3 externally funded or industry-sponsored research projects with 80%+ delivery
• Grant Income Secured : ≥ AED 250,000 total over past 5 years (across projects or roles)
• IP / Innovation Output : ≥ 2 outputs: patent filed, tech deployed, licensing, startup, or commissioned prototype
• Strategic Collaboration : Co-developed ≥ 2 projects with industry/gov partners, OR ≥ 1 long-term MoU
• National / Global Alignment : Clear, documented linkage of proposal to UAE RDI agenda or UN SDGs
• Recognition & Visibility : ≥ 1 award (national/international) AND ≥ 3 invited talks, editorial or expert roles
• Research Mentorship : Supervised ≥ 3 research staff (e.g., RAs, postdocs) AND ≥ 2 faculty or 15 capstone students
• Leadership Roles : Held ≥ 2 formal leadership roles (e.g., PI, lab head, ethics committee, cluster lead)
• Compliance & Risk Management : Handled ≥ 3 formal research approvals (ethics, IRB, IP, etc.)

Requirements added by the job poster

• Doctor of Philosophy