| Location | Evanston, Illinois |
| Position type | Assistant/Associate Professor |
| Salary | $133,000 – $143,000 (Assistant) $145,000 – $158,000 (Associate) |
| Hours | Full-time, tenure-track |
| Application deadline | 12/01/2026 |
| Contact | CEEcareers@northwestern.edu |
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in the broad area of artificial intelligence and data science for water. The successful candidate is expected to build and sustain a world-class research program in intelligent, adaptive, and autonomous water technologies for water-resilient communities, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into the design, optimization, and security of next-generation water systems. Candidates working on all aspects of this problem are welcome to apply, including AI-enabled water treatment technologies, optimization of water treatment processes and systems, water resources data analysis and planning, water reuse and resource recovery, and links between water quality and public health. Research approaches can include theoretical, computational, and experimental methods. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or be near completion of their doctoral studies with demonstrated potential to develop an advanced research and education program. The faculty appointment could be made at the level of either assistant professor or associate professor.
Northwestern University is a leading R1 university with a number of highly ranked schools and departments that provide exceptional opportunities for collaboration across a wide range of disciplines. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is ranked 13th in the US, and the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science is ranked 16th. The successful candidate is expected to develop collaborations leveraging Northwestern’s robust research centers and institutes, including the Northwestern Center for Water, Center for Engineering Sustainability & Resilience, Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, and substantial new investments in the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence and the Thriving Planet Institute. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan, just outside the city of Chicago, providing excellent opportunities to engage in water research with high-tech industry and a variety of governmental agencies. Northwestern is a founding member of a regional water hub Current Innovation and the NSF Great Lakes ReNEW Water Innovation Engine, providing a network of collaborators and ongoing funding to support water research.
Application Instructions
Candidates should submit:
- A cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of research
- Statement of teaching
- Names and contact information for three to five references
In the cover letter, candidates should summarize their qualifications in developing research and education programs in artificial intelligence and data science for water. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, all materials should be received by December 1, 2026. Application materials must be uploaded to https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/civil-environmental/careers.html. General inquiries can be sent to the Search Committee Chair at CEEcareers@northwestern.edu.
Compensation
The expected base pay range for this position at the Assistant Professor level is $133,000 – $143,000 and at the Associate Professor level is $145,000 – $158,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. Sponsorship for an H-1B visa may be available for qualified candidates, subject to institutional policies and applicable immigration regulations.
Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal competitors; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available
benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at Northwestern Benefits to learn more.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected
characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job
applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of
Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.