Chair, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Harvard University

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Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) invites nominations and applications for the next Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences. This is a full-time 12-month appointment at the rank of associate professor or full professor, based upon credentials and qualifications. In partnership with the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the ideal candidate will be eligible for a joint faculty appointment in the Department of Bioengineering.

The Chair will lead strategic planning in alignment with the School’s vision and mission. The successful candidate will maintain and advance a high-impact research program while providing strategic leadership for the department’s broader research portfolio, spanning preventive and restorative dentistry, digital technologies, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, and regenerative, implant, and biomaterials sciences. The Chair will contribute to teaching across dental and medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, and will serve as a core member of the HSDM Leadership Team. The Chair will also provide mentorship, career development guidance, and broad faculty support.

The successful candidate should have academic experience, a national reputation for excellence, documented success in strategic change leadership, and a strong record of scholarship and research. The Chair provides leadership for the vision, strategic direction, and long-term growth of the department in alignment with the mission and priorities of the HSDM and SEAS. The Chair is also responsible for overseeing departmental operations, faculty and staff supervision, curriculum management, and fiscal stewardship. This role includes mentoring and evaluating faculty, including providing input on promotion, tenure, reappointment, and merit processes, as well as ensuring didactic and clinical education excellence.

The Chair reports to the Dean of HSDM. HSDM offers a unique interdisciplinary environment for teaching, research, service, and clinical activity, central to our mission at HSDM and the University. The Chair works collaboratively with other members of the Dean’s leadership team, including department chairs and associate deans, to support effective education, patient care, research, and faculty development. The Chair communicates regularly with the Dean, participates in and represents the school and university in leadership and committee meetings, and serves as a key liaison between departmental faculty and School administration.

HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE

Located in the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) occupies a distinctive position within one of the world’s most concentrated communities of biomedical research, clinical care, and health professions education. HSDM’s integration with Harvard Medical School and proximity to Harvard’s extensive network of affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutions create exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across medicine, dentistry, engineering, basic and translational science, and population health. Faculty benefit from a rich intellectual ecosystem extending across the Longwood Medical Area and the broader Harvard University community, providing extraordinary opportunities to build collaborations, advance discovery, translate research into clinical practice, and develop new approaches to oral and systemic health. For the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences in particular, this environment offers substantial opportunities to build interdisciplinary programs and partnerships spanning biomaterials, regenerative medicine, bioengineering, translational science, and clinical innovation.

Established in 1867, HSDM was the first dental school in the United States to be connected with a university and coordinated with its medical school—a legacy of integration that continues to define the School today. HSDM is also the only school within Harvard University with its own clinical facility providing direct patient care. The School seeks to continue setting a standard of excellence in interdisciplinary dental education, state-of-the-art clinical practice, and cutting-edge basic, clinical, and translational research. Guided by this vision, HSDM is dedicated to developing a community of global leaders who advance oral and systemic health. More information about the Harvard School of Dental Medicine is available online here.

The Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences encompasses biomaterials, endodontics, implant dentistry, operative dentistry, and prosthodontics, and houses the Division of Regenerative and Implant Sciences. With 10 full-time and more than 75 part-time faculty, it is HSDM’s largest department and carries primary responsibility for didactic and clinical instruction in the predoctoral curriculum. The department supports a broad portfolio of clinical, basic, translational, and scholarly activity. Its faculty contribute to research and clinical programs across HSDM and Harvard’s broader network of affiliated academic, healthcare, and research institutions, creating significant opportunities for the next Chair to strengthen existing collaborations and develop new interdisciplinary initiatives across the Harvard ecosystem. More information about the department is available online here.

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:

An earned DDS, DMD, and/or Ph.D., or equivalent from an accredited institution (whether the successful candidate is a clinician or not, there will be an opportunity for the new Chair to appoint a deputy to oversee the clinical operations of the department)

An experienced academic leader with the ability to set and articulate vision and strategy to a wide range of constituents and to engage them in its implementation

An inspirational, creative, and caring change agent who can lead transformation by investing time to learn about, and build upon, the legacy strengths of the Department

Demonstrated experience in developing new research programs either by leveraging existing expertise or creating new initiatives, all based on strategic collaboration

An established record of strong, collaborative, and forward-looking leadership, along with an empathetic, creative, and transparent leadership style that fosters an environment of shared faculty governance and collaboration

The ability to recruit, retain, mentor, and advocate for top faculty and staff talent

A strong track record of building research capacity

Strong financial acumen and fiscal management

A broad understanding of the biomaterials sciences landscape, including academic, research, industry, funding, and policy trends to identify unique opportunities and establish meaningful internal and external collaborations

A dynamic communicator who can elevate the Department’s profile and articulate its unique strengths to inspire internal stakeholders and external partners, including donors

Applicants should submit the following two documents:

1. An up-to-date and detailed curriculum vitae.

2. A brief (2-4 pages) letter of interest (upload as cover letter) describing why you are interested in becoming the Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at HSDM, why you would be successful based on your professional experience, and why now is a good time for you to consider this opportunity.

For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by October 7, 2026.

Senior Client Partner

Higher Education and Academic Medicine

Korn Ferry

HSDM is dedicated to offering competitive and equitable compensation that accurately reflects each candidate’s experience, expertise, responsibilities, and performance. The salary within the range will be determined by several factors, including the individual’s education, experience, discipline, rank, internal equity, and available budget.

Professor – $250,000-$385,000
Associate Professor – $165,000-$285,000