Job Description
The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University (Ithaca campus) invites applications for a tenured faculty position in Environmental Engineering from exceptional scholars whose work is redefining the sustainability of critical technologies that underpin modern society. We seek a creative, forward-looking experimentalist who is poised to lead transformative advances at the interface of fundamental science and real-world systems. We anticipate hiring at the Associate or Full Professor levels and welcome applicants across all tenure-track faculty ranks (Assistant, Associate, and Full). It is preferred that applicants currently at the Assistant Professor level be nearing promotion. The successful candidate will establish a bold, internationally recognized research and teaching program that addresses pressing environmental challenges at any scale-from molecular and materials design to process and systems-level implementation. We are particularly interested in researchers developing new experimental approaches rooted in materials science, chemistry, or microbiology to enable breakthroughs in water and air quality, resource recovery, and circular manufacturing. The successful candidate will couple fundamental discovery with a clear vision for translation into scalable, impactful technologies. The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering has recently completed the construction of an approximately 2,000 square foot state-of-the-art wet laboratory that is ready to support a world-leading research program in any of these areas. We are especially interested in candidates who engage deeply with sustainability challenges emerging from critical, resource- and energy-intensive sectors, including (but not limited to) critical minerals extraction, artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. The ideal candidate will pioneer and experimentally validate new processes, materials, and treatment strategies that dramatically reduce environmental footprints, enhance resource efficiency, and strengthen system resilience. Their work will not only advance fundamental understanding but also reshape how industrial systems are designed and operated under real-world constraints. We seek individuals whose research trajectory reflects both intellectual leadership and the capacity to define new directions for the field-advancing sustainable technologies that will be foundational to the next generation of environmental and industrial systems. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. and will be expected to maintain a rigorous, well-funded program of leading-edge research and contribute to the undergraduate and graduate course curricula. The ability to lead large interdisciplinary research teams that take advantage of broad collaborative expertise that exists at Cornell will be viewed favorably.
Qualified applicants should submit:
1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position; 2) a Curriculum Vitae; 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals; 4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 5) copies of three relevant publications, and 6) names and contact information for three references. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32161 . Applications received by December 1, 2026 will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Inquires may be directed to:
cee_search@cornell.edu Consistent with Cornell's practice, appointment to academic positions requires candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct. Pay Ranges:
The salary range reflects an aggregate of qualifications and disciplines across Cornell University. Associate Professor:
$99,200 - $250,900 Full Professor:
$121,200 - $357,300 The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria: Prior relevant work or industry experience. Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position. Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary). Unique applicable skills. Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area. Pay Range:
Refer to Posting Language Pay Ranges:
The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria: Prior relevant work or industry experience. Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position. Academic Discipline Unique applicable skills. Employment Assistance:
For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu . If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu . Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu . Notice to Applicants:
Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant. EEO Statement:
Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. About Us Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City. We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.
