Assistant Research Professor

This is a non-tenure-track Assistant Research Professor position in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CIE) at the University of Maine. The initial appointment is a two-year, fixed-length, academic-year role, beginning January 1, 2027.

About the role

The successful candidate will lead research activities for the Accelerated Soil Stabilization (AS2) project, focusing on accelerated mineral carbonation for soil stabilization. Responsibilities include supervising graduate and undergraduate students, developing and evaluating laboratory- and field-scale testing methodologies, analyzing research data, and preparing scholarly and technical products such as peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, and conference presentations. Field testing may occur at federal, military, or secured facilities requiring background screening and access authorization.

The position also involves teaching two courses per academic year—typically one undergraduate and one graduate course in geotechnical engineering—based on departmental needs and the candidate's expertise. The candidate will be encouraged to develop complementary research initiatives, pursue external funding, and mentor students.

Responsibilities

• Lead research activities for the AS2 project, including supervision of graduate and undergraduate students.
• Develop, evaluate, and document laboratory- and field-scale testing, demonstration, and implementation methodologies.
• Analyze and interpret research data; prepare scholarly and technical products (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, conference presentations).
• Conduct field testing at federal, military, or secured facilities, requiring site-specific background screening and access authorization.
• Teach two courses per academic year (one undergraduate and one graduate course in geotechnical engineering).
• Develop complementary research initiatives, pursue external funding, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering or a closely related field by the position start date.
• Demonstrated research experience relevant to geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization, geomaterials, mineral carbonation, cementitious materials, or related chemical and physical processes.
• Evidence of ability to conduct and communicate high-quality research (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, conference presentations).
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, project sponsors, and external partners.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain authorization for access to federal, military, or secured research sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Research experience in ground improvement, chemical stabilization, mineral carbonation, soil-binder interactions, geomaterials, or laboratory/field testing of stabilized soils.
• Experience developing or conducting laboratory-, pilot-, or field-scale research.
• Experience supervising or mentoring undergraduate or graduate researchers.
• Teaching experience or demonstrated potential to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in geotechnical engineering.
• Experience preparing research proposals or contributing to externally funded research.
• Record of peer-reviewed scholarly publication.

About the University

The University of Maine (UMaine) is the state’s primary graduate-degree-granting institution and Maine’s designated Land Grant and Sea Grant university, with an R1 Carnegie Classification. Located in Orono, UMaine serves over 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students and employs 2,500 staff. The university is a public research institution dedicated to high-quality teaching, research, and service.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is part of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), which integrates engineering disciplines with computing to address workforce and innovation needs. Collaborative research opportunities exist through centers such as the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center, Advanced Structures and Composites Center, Climate Change Institute, and Advanced Research Computing, Security, and Information Management (ARCSIM).

Benefits

• Tuition benefits for employees and dependents.
• Comprehensive insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability).
• Retirement plan options.

Pay

Typical hiring salary for this position is $80,000 - $90,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Location

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine, offering a high quality of life with cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high-quality medical care, and a reasonable cost of living. The greater Bangor area is known for its affordability, outdoor recreation, and community amenities.