Open Rank Faculty - Geotechnical Engineering for Resilient Infrastructure

Department: ENGR-Civil & Environmental

About the University of Georgia:

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university https://www.uga.edu/. The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department:

The College of Engineering has significant expertise in basic and translational research that supports programs in resilient infrastructure, transportation systems, smart structures and autonomous construction. Especially noteworthy is the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, which has become a global leader in resilience and engineering of integrated conventional and natural infrastructure systems. Building on these strengths, the College has established nationally recognized capabilities in transportation engineering, including infrastructure resilience, transportation asset management, intelligent transportation systems, safety, and data-driven approaches to planning, design, and operations.

The UGA College of Engineering currently enrolls over 3,700 engineering majors and has 125 full-time engineering faculty across 15-degree programs. The college also jointly administers the School of Computing in collaboration with the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, an academic unit that comprises over 1700 computer science majors and 44 full-time faculty. The College of Engineering is currently comprised of four interdisciplinary schools: the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering; and School of Computing. However, as of January 2027, the School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering will be reorganized into two new schools: the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the School of Mechanical and Agricultural Engineering.

Significant investments in infrastructure have resulted in an expansion of laboratory facilities for research and scholarship, and new classrooms and instructional labs. College of Engineering faculty have interdisciplinary research facilities in two major capital projects on campus. Our main instructional facility, Driftmier Engineering Center, has also undergone a complete renovation to create flexible classrooms that enable a range of teaching modalities and the incorporation of interdisciplinary instructional labs. The common instructional facilities also foster a sense of community by allowing faculty, staff, and students to interact and collaborate in a single facility.

College/Unit/Department website: engr.uga.edu/schools/ecam

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Anticipated Start Date: 08/01/2027

Job Posting Date: 10/21/2026

Open until filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Review of applications will begin on December 1st, 2026; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position should be directed to the chair of the search committee, Stephan Durham (sdurham@uga.edu), in the College of Engineering.

Applicants are asked to submit the following information along with their application:

• A cover letter (not to exceed one page) addressing the candidate’s experience relative to the responsibilities of the position.
• A detailed curriculum vita.
• A teaching statement not to exceed 2 pages.
• A research statement not to exceed 2 pages.
• The names, titles, and contact information for five professional references.

Selected applicants will be required to submit transcripts and a background investigation demonstrating eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia.

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Statement:

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement:

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Classification Title: Open Rank

Faculty Rank: Open Rank (Tenure Track)

Contract Type: Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status: Tenure Track or Tenured

Minimum Qualifications:

All candidates must have a Ph.D. in civil engineering or related discipline.

Position Summary:

The College of Engineering at the University of Georgia invites applications for an open rank, academic year (9-month) faculty position in civil engineering with a focus on geotechnical engineering for resilient infrastructure to begin August 1, 2027. Preference is for candidates at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenure-track or tenured), although exceptionally strong candidates at the Full Professor rank will be considered. This position will be centered in the College of Engineering’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and supervised by the CEE School Chair.

This position is part of a campus-wide presidential hiring initiative that builds on the economic development opportunities that exist within Georgia and the southeast region. The state has an extensive multi-modal transportation network that includes the busiest airport in the world – Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport – an expanding port in Savannah, and a robust interstate highway system that serves as a hub of the region. With the State of Georgia and the federal government investing heavily in infrastructure renewal, the University of Georgia is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure due to the comprehensive nature of the university and its network across the State and region.

Faculty hired as part of this initiative will join a rapidly growing College of Engineering that combines interdisciplinary research and scholarship with excellent instruction and service.

Additional Requirements:

Candidates considered for the associate professor or professor rank must have qualifications and academic credentials that are commensurate with the Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure of Academic Rank Faculty at the University of Georgia. Candidates must also have a documented research background appropriate for the appointment rank.

To be eligible for tenure-upon-appointment, candidates must be appointed as an associate professor or higher rank, have been tenured at a prior institution, and bring a demonstrable national reputation to the institution. Candidates must be approved for tenure upon appointment prior to hire. Specific criteria for Associate Professor and Professor level are summarized here.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification:

Candidates with a Professional Engineering (PE) license or completion of the FE examination with plans to pursue PE registration are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:

The successful applicant will have a strong foundation in geosystems engineering or a closely related discipline along with specific research expertise in one or more of the following areas: geohazards, groundwater and seepage, foundation engineering, soil-structure interaction, coastal geotechnical systems under extreme events, and advanced numerical modeling to design safer and more resilient geotechnical structures. We seek highly qualified candidates with specific research expertise in areas including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence and machine learning for geotechnical engineering, smart sensing and infrastructure monitoring, digital geotechnics, analysis and optimization for resilient geosystems, and transportation geotechnics.

Is this a Position of Trust?: No

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?: No

Does this position require a P-Card?: No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?: No

Is driving a responsibility of this position?: No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?: No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals or medications): No

Credit and P-Card policy:

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy:

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.