Assistant Professor of Civil and Infrastructure Systems Engineering

non-transportation interdependent civil infrastructure networks. We seek candidates with particular interests in water distribution systems and networks. Core Responsibilities The faculty member will be expected to establish and sustain a vibrant, externally funded research program focused on systems-level analysis, modeling, and protection of critical infrastructure assets. Educational duties include developing and delivering high-quality undergraduate and graduate courses in civil systems engineering (including fluid mechanics, water resources engineering, water distribution network analysis), risk and reliability analysis, and/or network optimization, alongside mentoring Ph.D. and Master’s students in computational infrastructure research. Additionally, the candidate will engage in professional service by participating in departmental committees and actively collaborating with ASCE/EWRI and prominent international systems engineering societies such as INCOSE, INFORMS, iEMSs, and IEEE. Additional collaborative opportunities exist with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. The initial Distribution of Effort (DOE) expectations are 50% research, 45% instruction, 3% service and 2% professional development. Targeted Research Areas We welcome candidates with demonstrated technical expertise in modeling, optimizing, or securing critical non-transportation systems. In the domain of water and wastewater networks, this includes advancing smart water grids, optimizing hydraulic distribution, modeling contaminant propagation, and analyzing the water-energy nexus. For smart power grids and energy systems, research should focus on integrating renewable energy into municipal grids, designing decentralized energy architectures, and strengthening microgrid resilience. Key areas of interest also encompass interdependent cyber-physical networks, specifically analyzing cascading failures across telecommunication, data, water, and power networks. Furthermore, the position emphasizes disaster resilience and adaptation, leveraging algorithmic decision-making for real-time infrastructure recovery and efficient resource allocation during extreme events. Required Qualifications Applicants must possess a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Systems Engineering, Operations Research, or a closely related field by the start date of the appointment. Candidates must demonstrate deep technical proficiency in fields such as network optimization, machine learning, control theory, or stochastic modeling. Crucially, the ideal candidate must have a proven track record of viewing civil infrastructure through a holistic, interconnected “system of systems” perspective, showing a clear capacity to bridge the gap between traditional engineering disciplines and modern systems-level complexities. Note, State law requires faculty members teaching engineering design to become licensed as Professional Engineers in Kentucky within four years of being employed. The city of Lexington is ranked #3 Best City to Raise a Family, #21 Best Places to Live in America, and #31 Most Educated City in America. The University of Kentucky is the flagship university for the Commonwealth and is one of only eight universities in the United States that house colleges of agriculture, law, business, engineering, medicine, and pharmacy on a single campus. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with many rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits. To apply, please visit the UK Jobs site. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a full curriculum vitae, a research statement (3-page limit; upload as Specific Request 1), a teaching statement (2-page limit; upload as Specific Request 2), and contact information for 3 references. The priority application deadline is October 30, 2026. Review of applications will begin shortly thereafter and will continue until the position is filled. The desired starting date for this position is August 1, 2027.