Assistant Professor - Coastal Engineering

The Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography ( https://uncw.edu/phy/index.html) in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a full-time, nine-month tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor starting in August 2026. This position will be an integral part of the growing B.S. Coastal Engineering program.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate courses in coastal engineering and related areas, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality instruction, curriculum development, and a willingness to engage in continuous learning. This position carries a full-time 3:2 teaching load of 15 contact hours per year. The candidate is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting the outreach and growth of the department's program, including mentoring students, collaborating across disciplines, and engaging with the broader academic and professional community.

The successful candidate is also expected to establish a robust, externally funded research program addressing critical challenges in coastal engineering using experimental, field, and/or computational methods. The research program should actively involve undergraduate and graduate students in various projects.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

No Required Certifications or Licensure

The Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography is an academic unit currently within the College of Science and Engineering. The department provides quality programs leading to B.S. and B.A. degrees in Physics, Coastal Engineering, or 3+2 Physics/Electrical Engineering degrees. Within a physics degree, students can focus coursework on General Physics, Applied Physics, Environmental Physics, or Physical Oceanography. Faculty in the department conduct a wide range of research activities from nuclear and particle physics, theoretical physics, remote sensing, and complex coastal ocean processes. As part of our applied learning commitment, faculty in the department are continuously engaged in providing research opportunities to students at the undergraduate level.

The B.S. Coastal Engineering degree is the only program of its kind in the nation with a new facility that includes a new experimental wave flume for teaching and research. The program is training a new generation for the coastal engineering workforce with specialized classes in numerical modeling, field methods with hands-on data collection and processing, coastal wave mechanics, and a senior design project focused on overcoming challenges in coastal areas related to coastal resilience.

The College of Science and Engineering offers a variety of programs leading to Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, as well as Doctor of Philosophy degrees in applied coastal and ocean sciences; pharmaceutical chemistry; integrative, comparative, and marine biology; and psychology degrees. The college also offers combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in information technology/computer science and information systems, computer science/computer science and information systems, and B.S. in mathematics/M.S. in mathematics. To implement its academic programs, the college provides instruction and research opportunities in the natural and behavioral sciences, information technology, data science, computer science, mathematics, pre-engineering, and engineering. The eight academic departments in the college provide courses of study in each of these areas, in addition to interdepartmental programs in information technology, cybersecurity, and digital arts. A 2+2 in engineering; and 3+2 programs in computer science and electrical or computer engineering; and physics and electrical engineering, are also offered in the college. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs in environmental studies, applied statistics, and geographic information science are also available.

CSE students work with distinguished faculty and scientists, use cutting edge technology, and conduct impactful research. Faculty-directed research projects empower CSE students to apply what they learn inside the classroom and laboratory to real-world situations and prepares them for a variety of careers or advanced study.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM EST on 12/04/2025. To apply, please complete the online application process available at https://jobs.uncw/edu/ and attach the following materials as an Adobe PDF document including:

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Teaching Philosophy
4. Research Summary
5. List of 3 Professional References **if ABD at time of application, one reference must be from Dissertation Chair.

Note: all requested components must be submitted to meet the applications requirements.