Assistant Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Railway Transportation Engineering
The Grainger College of Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

***REVISED***

The Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks highly qualified candidates to fill a tenure-track Assistant Professor full-time faculty position. Exceptional applicants in all areas relevant to Rail Transportation and Engineering will be considered. Some example areas of interest are Railway Systems, Operation, and Safety with expertise in one or more of the following areas: rail capacity analysis and modeling, rail network planning and analysis, rail freight and passenger transportation operation, advanced train control, computer-aided railway traffic control, rail system and operational optimization, automated/autonomous train operating systems, train operating mechanics, train dynamics including wheel/rail interface, railway energy efficiency and motive power, integrated passenger and freight railway system safety and risk analysis, railway terminal system design and operation, rail transit, high-speed and intercity passenger rail. The successful candidate will be capable of working with a variety of industry and government sponsors and partners.

The CEE department is committed to building a culturally inclusive educational environment. We are seeking faculty who can teach in these and other areas while contributing to the excellence in our programs and courses through their research, teaching, and service.

Successful candidates are expected to initiate and sustain a vigorous, independently funded research program, demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring of students at all levels, and provide service to the department, the university, and the profession.

The CEE Department in the Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois has a long tradition of excellence in fundamental and translational research, teaching, and service. The Department is home to the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) that leads the recently formed Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE), enjoys a long-term, funded, research partnership with the Association of American Railroads (AAR), and has established extensive partnerships with railroads, the rail supply industry, and public sector rail organizations. Illinois has the most extensive rail engineering curriculum in North America, including a cooperative, virtual course exchange program with KTH in Sweden, and attracts top quality students worldwide. RailTEC operates the Research and Innovation Lab (RAIL) the most extensive rail infrastructure lab of its kind in North America. Details about the departments research portfolio, facilities, equipment, and programs can be found at cee.illinois.edu.

Our faculty and students are affiliated with and have access to world-class experimental and computational facilities located in on-campus multidisciplinary research (fundamental and translational) centers and laboratories, including: Applied Research Institute, Advanced Materials Testing and Evaluation Laboratory, Aerodynamics Research Laboratory, the Coordinated Science Laboratory, the Center for Hypersonics and Entry Systems Studies, Materials Research Laboratory, Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Lab, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.

A doctoral degree in Civil, Systems, Industrial, or other related Engineering field is required at the start date, and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The budgeted salary range for the position is $110,000 to $135,000 at the Assistant Professor level, for a 9-month service basis. Full consideration will be given to applications received by April 16, 2025. Applications will be evaluated as received. Applications received after that date may be considered until the position is filled. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. A start date is expected on August 16, 2025; however, this is negotiable.

To apply for this position, please create a candidate profile at jobs.illinois.edu. The application package should include: 1) a curriculum vitae, 2) a statement of teaching goals and interests, 3) a statement of previous research accomplishments and future research plans, 4) a statement of service and value, 5) a publications list, and 6) names and contact information of four references (no letters), all in a single PDF file as an upload in the Resume/CV section. The service and values statement should describe some notable experience you might have in service to your institution or professional organization and/or address one or more of the Grainger College of Engineering values listed as part of the College strategic plan (grainger.illinois.edu/about/strategic-plan). For further information regarding application procedures, please address questions to Stacie Mertes at smertes@illinois.edu.

We have an active and successful dual-career partner placement program and a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff (provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/work-life-balance).

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.