The Department of Environmental Sciences (DES) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor as part of the new faculty cluster: Advancing STEM Diversity in Environmental Engineering – Urban Environments, Health, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice (https://academicaffairs.rutgers.edu/strategic-diversity-cluster-hires). The cluster is supported by the Faculty Diversity Hiring Initiative from the Office of the President.

As part of this initiative, an Assistant Professor is sought in the general area of Geoenvironmental Engineering or Geoscience of Urban Systems with a focus on interactions among ecosystem functions of soil, water, and natural or anthropogenic materials or structures in the subsurface of urban environments, and on resilient, sustainable urban systems in the face of climate change.

This is an academic year appointment. Applicants are sought to (1) develop an innovative, vigorous, and externally-funded research program, (2) teach courses in Environmental Fate and Transport, Environmental Modeling, Engineered Soils, Urban Subsurface Ecology, Environmental Informatics, Circular Economy or other courses in our ABET-accredited Environmental Engineering program and Environmental Science program, and graduate courses relevant to their research interests; and (3) engage with environmental justice community groups. Rutgers-New Brunswick hosts one of the most diverse student bodies in the United States. Our institutional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), including our priority of diversifying our faculty ranks, is outlined in the Rutgers DEI strategic plan (https://diversity.rutgers.edu/university_plan). We especially encourage applications from individuals with backgrounds underrepresented in environmental science and engineering including Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ scientists or engineers.

We seek outstanding applicants with a B.S. in an engineering or science discipline and a Ph.D. In environmental engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, soil science, geoscience, or related science/engineering disciplines, and who have demonstrated the ability to conduct research, engage in grantsmanship, to teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and to mentor students.

The successful applicants will be expected to develop an innovative, independent, and externally-funded research program that address topics such as those identified in the recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report titled, “Environmental Engineering for the 21st Century: Addressing Grand Challenges”, and those which particularly focus on highly populated cities and urban systems. Teaching expectations include courses such as Engineered Soils, Urban Subsurface Ecology, Environmental Informatics, Environmental Fate and Transport, Environmental Modeling, Circular Economy, or other courses in our ABET-accredited Environmental Engineering program and our Environmental Science program, and graduate courses relevant to their research interests. The successful applicants will also be expected to meaningfully engage with environmental justice community groups. Applicants possessing or having the background necessary to obtain a Professional Engineering license are especially desired.

The Department of Environmental Sciences (DES) is the oldest environmental sciences department in the nation, with a history dating back over 100 years. In addition to its programs in Environmental Science, DES offers a joint Environmental Engineering program with the School of Engineering, as well as undergraduate and graduate programs in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, respectively.

The facilities of the DES include high performance computing systems and an array of state-of-the-art laboratory and field instrumentation. DES enjoys a strong working relationship with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. DES also has a strong presence in Extension through faculty involvement in the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station that is part of the University’s Land-Grant mission.

A member of the Big Ten and the Association of American Universities, Rutgers-New Brunswick is America’s eighth oldest institution of higher learning and New Jersey’s premier flagship public research university. The city of New Brunswick is situated in the heart of America’s vibrant and diverse northeast corridor, which runs from Boston to Washington, D.C. The Rutgers University system includes two other campuses in Newark and Camden as well as Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.

We desire to hire faculty who seek to develop an interdisciplinary research program that connects with faculty from other programs, departments, and units at Rutgers, including the Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Marine and Coastal Sciences, or the School of Public Health. The successful applicants will be eligible for membership in a variety of university-wide institutes that foster collaboration, including the Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, the Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, and the Center for Green Building. Applicants should also have an interest in networking with professional societies and connecting students with professional networks.

Interested candidates should submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) statement of research interests, (4) statement of teaching philosophy/experience and (5) statement of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that outlines the candidate’s past efforts and future commitment to DEI as a faculty member (see Rutgers diversity initiatives at (https://diversity.rutgers.edu/); and (6) names and contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will begin on October 21, 2022, with an intended position start date of September 1, 2023.