Pramod Khargonekar, the outgoing dean in UF's College of Engineering, is one of three finalists for the position of provost at the University of Arizona.
Khargonekar, who is finishing his seventh year as dean of the engineering college, announced his resignation in December.
Although he had planned to stay at UF to teach and conduct research, he said Thursday he is considering the job at UA.
"If everything works out, certainly it's a very attractive position," he said.
He graduated from UF in 1981 with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
After all the time he's spent at UF, he said it wouldn't be easy to leave.
"I'm a UF graduate, and I've been here for seven years, so I have a lot of attachment to Florida," he said. "But it's an exciting opportunity."
He began his career as an assistant professor at UF. In 1984, he took a position at the University of Minnesota, where he taught for five years as an electrical engineering professor.
He was also a professor at the University of Michigan for 12 years before returning to UF in 2001.
If Khargonekar is chosen for the position at Arizona, he said it would be the highest and most prestigious position he's held yet.
"I expect it will be a challenge, but I think I'm well prepared for it," he said.
Khargonekar said he will visit the UA campus in Tuscon next week to meet faculty members and participate in a campus forum.
Johnny Cruz, a UA spokesman, said the three candidates were narrowed down from about 60 applicants.
The other two finalists are Meredith Hay of the University of Iowa and the University of Utah's Robert Newman.
UA President Robert Shelton will make the final decision, Cruz said.
If Khargonekar isn't chosen for the position, he said it wouldn't be a setback.
"I could stay at Florida for the rest of my career, and I could do it happily," he said.
