CCEE - Assistant Professor – Non-Tenure, Renewable Contract - 521872

Department/Organization
214231 - Civil Const and Env Engineering

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering (CCEE) at The University of Alabama is seeking applications for a non-tenure track renewable contract research faculty position. This position is aimed at exceptional candidates with a specialization in water treatment, material science, and membrane technology within the context of civil, construction, and environmental engineering. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct innovative research in the application of these specialties to address challenges in environmental engineering, sustainable construction practices, and the enhancement of water resources management.

Detailed Position Information
The CCEE Department is interested in candidates who can contribute to advancing wastewater treatment processes. Research areas of interest include but are not limited to:

• Developing and optimizing polymeric and inorganic membranes for water purification and wastewater treatment.
• Application of nanotechnology and advanced materials in environmental engineering.
• Sustainable novel materials with enhanced durability and environmental benefits.
• Integration of life cycle assessment in environmental systems for improved efficiency and sustainability.
• Water resource management strategies incorporating advanced material science.

Candidates will be appointed to a one-year non-tenure track Research Assistant Professor position, with the possibility of annual renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Hold a Ph.D. in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a closely related field with a focus on water treatment, membrane technology, or material science applied to environmental systems.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-impact scholarly articles in top-tier academic journals related to water treatment, material science, and membrane technology.
• Proven track record or potential for securing extramural funding to support research activities.
• Strong capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with researchers in the fields of environmental science, chemistry, and materials engineering.

Preferred Qualifications
•Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• Post-doctoral or equivalent post-graduate research experience in water treatment, material science, or membrane technology.

• Experience with experimental design, characterization techniques, and computational modeling in material science or membrane technology.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Candidates should submit an application package comprising a cover letter, CV, a detailed statement of research interests and plans highlighting their expertise and aspirations in water treatment, material science, and membrane technology, and contact information for at least three references. The cover letter should clearly indicate how the applicant's research interests align with the position's focus areas. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed continuously until the position is filled.

About the Division/College/School
As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA’s College of Engineering is committed to conducting leading-edge basic research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, translating fundamental advancements through applied research into impactful solutions for many of the challenges facing humankind, providing unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate level, producing the next generations of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us, and providing service to our many professional disciplines and to the community, state, and nation to continue to advance our professions, the economy, and opportunities and lives of all those whom we impact.

The College of Engineering is comprised of seven departments: (1) Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, (2) Chemical and Biological Engineering, (3) Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, (4) Computer Science, (5) Electrical and Computer Engineering, (6) Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and (7) Mechanical Engineering. These seven departments deliver 15 different undergraduate degree programs and 16 different graduate degree programs. Overall the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the approximately 40,000 students on the UA campus.

While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, The University of Alabama has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise over the past decade. Since 2014, research activity as measured by yearly total research awards has more than tripled, growing by more than 330%. More recently, in June 2019 the UA Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED) launched its most recent five-year strategic plan. That plan for the 2019-2024 period – emanating from UA’s overarching goal to, “increase the University’s productivity and innovation in research, scholarship, and creative activities that impact economic and societal development,” – focuses on six strategic themes: (1) Research Environment, (2) Alabama Research Institutes, (3) Transformative Initiatives, (4) Translating Intellectual Property, (5) Economic and Business Engagement, and (6) Assessing Progress and Impact. The overall goal of ORED’s strategic plan when initiated in 2019 was to help the University double its research enterprise in five years and position itself firmly as one of the premier comprehensive research institutions in the southeastern United States and the country as a whole. Through the efforts of the University, ORED, and in particular the departments, centers, and faculty of the College of Engineering, UA’s research enterprise has indeed surged dramatically higher in just the last four years. In the last four fiscal years alone (2019-2022), total sponsored awards across UA have increased by more than 80% and are well on track to more than double by the end of the strategic plan period in 2024. This growth rate strengthens UA’s position as one of the two fastest growing research institutions in the nation. For the College of Engineering specifically, total research awards have more than doubled in the last five years, growing by 250% in 2023 from their level in 2018.

This constantly increasing volume of research and the educational activities of the College of Engineering are supported by both a tremendous faculty and staff and by a set of outstanding facilities that are the envy of its peers. The College of Engineering currently has more than 170 faculty members, and is in a period of rapid faculty growth having added more than 20 faculty last year and with plans to add an additional approximately 30 faculty this year. In terms of facilities, the College of Engineering has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 15 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the departments in the College by the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million. In addition to the traditional engineering departments, there are more than 10 different major research centers housed within the College that span research areas ranging from cybersecurity to additive manufacturing to functional polymers to water to transportation to many more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and from around the University to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing humankind and the planet today and well into tomorrow.

Overall, with its hundreds of award-winning faculty and staff members, its outstanding and growing student body, its tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, its diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the UA College of Engineering has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with unlimited potential.

About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.

A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.

As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.

It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.

With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf