DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES

Position Description

SEARCH FOR DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES

Koç University – Istanbul, Türkiye

Koç University invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Sciences. The university seeks a visionary, internationally recognized academic leader with a distinguished record of research, administrative excellence, and strategic innovation to guide the College into its next era of academic preeminence and global impact.

The Dean will serve as the College’s chief academic and administrative officer and will develop and implement a pioneering, transformative strategy across education, research, and innovation, in close alignment with the University’s strategy. The Dean will provide thoughtful, decisive, and inclusive leadership, fostering a culture of trust, excellence, and shared purpose across the College to cultivate a thriving, high-impact academic community while strengthening engagement with the broader University and external partners.

Key responsibilities include advancing an exceptional, student-centered educational experience for high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students through innovative, future-ready curricula; advancing the College’s research profile through strategic leadership for cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary inquiry, and external funding; and fostering an environment in which faculty at all career stages can thrive through the attraction, retention, mentorship, promotion, and professional development of outstanding scholars. The Dean will provide effective stewardship of the College’s academic and financial resources, strengthen its visibility and strategic partnerships, support internationalization and stakeholder engagement, and advance opportunities for innovation and technology transfer, thereby enhancing its broader impact and global standing. As a member of the university executive leadership, the Dean contributes to institutional governance and strategy.

The College of Sciences is one of Koç University's primary research engines and plays a foundational role in driving STEM education across the institution. The College encompasses the departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Molecular Biology & Genetics, and works closely with other colleges, Koç University’s premier research centers, central facilities, and the Koç University Hospital.

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a discipline within the College of Sciences or a closely related quantitative/natural science field, with a distinguished record of scholarly achievement, international recognition, and external funding commensurate with appointment at the rank of Full Professor. Demonstrated administrative leadership experience in a research-intensive academic institution is preferred. The candidate should also bring an open and transparent leadership style that inspires excellence, supports shared governance, and advances a globally engaged academic community. Due to national regulations, Turkish citizenship is required for the position.

About Koç University
Founded in 1993, Koç University (ku.edu.tr) is a premier non-profit foundation institution in Istanbul defined by an elite faculty recruited from leading global institutions and a vibrant student body of ~9,000 high-achieving scholars (80% undergraduate / 20% graduate). Operating fully in English, the university is the premier destination for the nation's top-ranked undergraduate talent, and with 44 dynamic graduate programs structured to train world-class research leaders, it attracts top-tier graduate students. Consistently ranked as the #1 research university nationally, Koç University holds Türkiye’s dominant share of European Research Council (ERC) grants. Koç University has a strong interdisciplinary approach to both education and research and is ranked #28 globally for interdisciplinary science (THE Rankings).

Application & Nomination Process
Applications should include a cover letter describing the candidate’s leadership philosophy and vision for the College, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for five professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately, with full consideration given to those received by November 30, 2026; however, exceptional applications received after this date may still be considered. Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be submitted electronically in full confidence to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (vpri@ku.edu.tr, Subject: Dean of CS Search – Full name).

• University Website: ku.edu.tr
• College of Sciences Website: science.ku.edu.tr