ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

About the Role

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Rhode Island invites applications for a tenure‑track faculty position at the assistant professor level in environmental engineering. The anticipated start date is August 2027. This is a broad search; candidates from all areas of environmental engineering are encouraged to apply, with particular interest in air pollution, indoor air quality, links between climate and air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and ocean–atmosphere interactions.

The successful candidate will contribute to the growth of environmental engineering research at URI and help advance the launch and long‑term success of URI’s new Bachelor of Science degree program in Environmental Engineering. The position is in‑person.

URI is Rhode Island’s flagship public research university. In 2025 URI achieved Carnegie R1 status, placing it among the nation’s highest research activity universities, and was ranked the No. 1 public university in New England by The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. The Kingston campus is located near Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic coast, with access to Providence, Boston, New York, and the coastal communities of southern Rhode Island. Rhode Island is an EPSCoR‑eligible jurisdiction, providing faculty with access to targeted federal funding opportunities that support research capacity, collaboration, and innovation.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is housed within URI’s College of Engineering and is entering an exciting period of growth. The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in civil and environmental engineering and is launching a new BS degree in Environmental Engineering. Faculty and students work in the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering (FCAE), a 190,000‑square‑foot facility designed to support interdisciplinary engineering research and education. Research themes include clean water, sensors and instrumentation, alternative energy, advanced materials, robotics, biomedical technology, and nanotechnology. FCAE also houses the Shimadzu Analytical Core, the RI Water Resources Center, and the RI Consortium for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Responsibilities

• Develop a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in environmental engineering.
• Publish high‑impact scholarship.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Mentor undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D. students.
• Contribute to the development and success of the B.S. in Environmental Engineering curriculum.
• Participate in service to the department, college, university, profession, and broader community.
• Perform other duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• A terminal degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, environmental health engineering, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Evidence of potential for excellence in research and teaching.
• A strong record of scholarly activity appropriate to the candidate’s career stage.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of potential to secure external research funding.
• Experience advising or mentoring students.
• Ability to teach core undergraduate and/or graduate environmental engineering courses.
• Interest in Environmental Engineering B.S. degree program development.
• Professional Engineering licensure or the ability to pursue licensure.

Position Details

Start date: August 2027. Appointment: Academic Year, Full‑time, Permanent. Union: AAUP (American Association of University Professors). Location: Kingston campus. Grant funded: No. Environmental conditions: Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Equipment: Personal computers, printers, word processing, database management, and spreadsheet software.

Search timeline: Open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by November 15, 2026; applications received after that date may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.