Assistant Professor of Practice - 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 non-tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Practice beginning in August 2025. This position will be an integral part of the growing B.S. Coastal Engineering program.

The department seeks a candidate to help deliver high-quality instruction in undergraduate coastal engineering courses that incorporate real-world industry examples and projects. This candidate will help design and update curricula to reflect current industry trends, mentor students on academic and career development, and foster industry partnerships to provide internship and employment opportunities. They also contribute to program development, serve on departmental or university committees. participate in community outreach and promote the engineering program. The role blends professional experience with academic responsibilities, enriching students' education and bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Specific teaching responsibilities include teaching up to four courses per semester. These courses range from foundational courses in civil engineering (e.g., statics, mechanics of solids, and engineering graphics and computer-aided design) to specialized courses in coastal engineering (e.g., dredging and beach nourishment) and senior design/capstone courses.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

Professional Engineering license active in at least one state is required.

The Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography is an academic unit currently within the College of Arts and Sciences. 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 and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

At the University of North Carolina at Wilmington ( UNCW), our culture reflects our values of inclusion, diversity, globalization, ethics and integrity and innovation and we are committed to providing equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons without regard to 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. UNCW believes that embracing the unique contributions of our faculty, staff and students is critical to our success and paramount in being recognized for our global mindset.

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 03/06/2025. 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. Statement of teaching interests and philosophy
4. List with contact information for three professional references.
5. If needed, applicants may upload additional materials in the "Other" category

Note that all requested components must be submitted to meet the application requirements.

For questions regarding the search, contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Joe Long at longjw@uncw.edu. For questions regarding the online application process, contact Cheryl Humphrey at humphreyc@uncw.edu.