Associate or Full Professor in Water in the Environment

Department: WCAS Earth Environ Planetary

The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS) at Northwestern University (NU) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position to be hired at the rank of associate or full professor in environmental science with an emphasis on Water in the Environment and a proposed start date of September 1, 2027.

We seek a scholarly leader in environmental water science whose research portfolio aims to increase our understanding of the physical, chemical, biological, and/or anthropogenic processes that drive the water cycle. We seek a scholar with expertise in water in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and/or lithosphere whose research expands and bridges existing Earth and environmental science expertise in the department and at the university.

The scholar is expected to bring a robust research program to NU, with subfield expertise in, for example, Earth's water cycle in a changing climate, hydrogeology, hydrometeorology, limnology, oceanography, glaciology, water observation from Earth orbit, water resources, or water-driven hazards. Applicants' research methods may include but are not limited to theory, observation, numerical modeling, geospatial analysis, statistical analysis, stable isotope geochemistry, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence.

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D., will be considered a leader within their field, and will bring a robust portfolio of water-related research and pedagogy to the Department. The candidate is expected to maintain and advance a vibrant, externally funded research program related to water in the environment, collaborate across disciplines, help lead DEEPS and NU in environmental science research, and teach undergraduate and graduate courses. Review of applications will begin October 15 2026.

For updates about the position please visit this department-level web page (https://deeps.northwestern.edu/about/faculty-search.html. For inquiries about this position please contact the search committee chair, Maggie Osburn (maggie@northwestern.edu).

Salary

This is an open rank search. The expected base pay based on rank is as follows:

Associate Professor: $125,000 - $150,000

Full Professor: $150,000 - $225,000

This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation.

Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal comparators; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at Northwestern Benefits to learn more.

Please read ALL instructions and make preparations before proceeding to the application page:

• Applications will only be accepted via online submission (see link below).
• Please prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files, and please be sure all information is entered correctly and accurately (especially names and email addresses), as there will be no opportunity for online revision after your application has been submitted.
• Please also prepare a list of names and email addresses for your external academic references; your references will be contacted directly by the online system and invited to upload their letters on your behalf.
• All required fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before clicking the "Submit" button.
• Be aware that incomplete applications cannot be saved.

Applications accepted here: Apply for Job

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.