Assistant/Associate Professor - Water Resources Engineering Faculty and Extension Specialist

Overview The Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Utah State University (USU) seek applicants for an academic year, nine-month, tenure track research and extension faculty position in water resources engineering at the assistant/associate professor level. The successful candidate will be expected to establish a research and extension program related to large river basin management in Utah, with particular focus on the Colorado River, aligned with Utah State University’s land grant mission.  Water management in Utah has become more challenging as drought continues to adversely impact the Western U.S. It is critical to find novel ways to adapt to the ever-increasing limitations of water supply in the face of increasing demands. The current state of the Colorado River basin highlights the complexity of the policy, economic, social, and engineering challenges that must be considered and overcome when establishing possible solutions. USU is seeking an individual to provide leadership and support for applied research and extension outreach that will collaboratively work to solve Utah’s water management needs in the context of the Colorado River and other complex river basins. The successful candidate must have demonstrated knowledge and expertise in water management within the Colorado River basin along with a vision for how that experience can be extended and/or applied within other large river basins within Utah, the western U.S., nationally, and abroad. The UWRL and USU Extension provide many collaborative opportunities across disciplines to address the social, economic, and policy aspects of water resources problems. Additionally, they provide immediate connections to the statewide Cooperative Extension system. Review of applications will begin July 15, 2026, but applications will be accepted and fully considered after that date until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2026. Further inquiries should be made to: Dr. Jeff HorsburghSearch Committee ChairEmail: [email protected] Responsibilities This position will be a nine-month, tenure track appointment with a role assignment of 50% research, 40% extension, and 10% service.  50% Research: The successful candiate will establish a nationally recognized, applied research program focused on water resources engineering and large river basin management options that are economically viable and environmentally and socially responsible with particular focus on the Colorado River. This includes: Securing extramural funding adequate to support a nationally recognized research program. Publishing research results in peer reviewed journals Developing, leading, and participating in collaborative research and extension teams with a wide range of scientists and professionals at USU, other universities, and with federal, regional, and state agencies. Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students to the successful completion of their degree programs. 40% Extension: The successful candidate will establish a high-quality extension program that engages stakeholders and provides practical, data-driven solutions to critical issues facing Utah and the surrounding region. Preferred areas of focus include surface water management in river basins. This may include:   Developing need assessments and evaluations of prioritiy extension opportunies in the areas of water resources engineering and large watershed management. Establishing working relationships with Colorado River Basin stakeholders. Developing  collaborative extension programming that includes publication of white papers, fact sheets, bulletins, videos, data products, and other related extension materials that inform Colorado River management options to meet the needs of water managers in Utah and throughout the western U.S. Securing extramural funding for extension programming. 10% Service: The successful candidate will participate in department, university, and professional service and outreach along with service to the broader community through professional societies, committee memberships, reviews, and other leadership activities. Qualifications Required Qualifications: An earned Ph.D. in Civil and/or Environmental Engineering, water resources engineering, watershed science, hydrologic sciences, or related field by the time of hire. Established record of research experience appropriate for the candidate’s rank. Demonstrated ability to publish in academic journals. Working knowledge, experience, and training in water resources management and associated modeling tools. Demonstrated knowledge of Colorado River Basin science, western U.S. water resources management, and policy issues. Demonstrated ability to cooperate with diverse stakeholder groups and experience working with key stakeholders throughout the Colorado River Basin.  Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse research and extension audiences. Capability to develop an externally funded research program that complements extension efforts. Preferred Qualifications: Research experience that demonstrates leadership in water resources engineering and large river basin management and modeling. Demonstrated ability to secure extramural research funding. Demonstrated potential for effective collaboration with the UWRL, CEE, and USU Extension faculty and staff. Required Documents Along with the online application, please include: Curriculum Vitae to be uploaded as a PDF document at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV" The documents listed below to be uploaded as PDF documents at the beginning of your application in the Candidate profile under “Documents 1-10”: Cover Letter. A concise research statement of up to 2 pages that describes research accomplishments, current work, and potential future research dir