The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Transportation Engineering, beginning in Fall 2027. We seek an innovative teacher-scholar who will establish a nationally recognized, externally funded research program integrating transportation engineering with artificial intelligence (AI), advanced computing, optimization, control, and robotics to advance the analysis, design, and operation of safe, sustainable, resilient, and equitable transportation systems. The successful candidate will also be an outstanding and dedicated educator who is committed to evidence-based teaching, student mentoring, and the success of learners from diverse backgrounds, and who will contribute enthusiastically to our collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered academic community.
We welcome candidates with a strong and forward-looking research agenda in one or more of the following areas:
• Connected and automated mobility. Multimodal sensing and perception, including vision-language models; prediction of road-user behavior; decision-making, trajectory planning, and control of automated vehicles; cooperative driving and interactions with human drivers and other road users; and safety and reliability under uncertainty.
• Traffic flow and network control. Traffic flow theory and modeling; optimization and control of mixed traffic involving human-driven and automated vehicles; traffic signal control, corridor management, and network-wide operations; and links between vehicle-level decisions and system-level traffic performance.
• AI and optimization for transportation and logistics systems. AI-enabled modeling, optimization, and control of passenger transportation, freight networks, and logistics operations to improve efficiency, reliability, resilience, and sustainability. Topics include network disruption modeling and disaster response and recovery, energy efficiency and emissions reduction, autonomous trucking and last-mile delivery, and warehouse robotics and intralogistics.
• Intelligent infrastructure for future mobility. Planning, design, and management of physical transportation infrastructure and digital systems to support connected, automated, and electric mobility. Topics include transportation digital twins, roadside sensing and cooperative perception, electric vehicle charging networks and power-grid integration, and AI-enabled infrastructure monitoring and asset management to improve safety, reliability, and resilience.
We value research that advances transportation science and engineering through original theoretical insights, innovative computational methods, or novel system-level solutions. Interdisciplinary approaches grounded in transportation engineering are encouraged.
About UMass Lowell, the Francis College of Engineering, and the City of Lowell
UMass Lowell is a Carnegie R1 public research university located approximately 25 miles northwest of Boston, offering an engaging setting for faculty who value collaboration, student learning, and real-world impact. The University’s talented and diverse students benefit from hands-on educational experiences, strong connections with industry and government, and opportunities to participate in meaningful research and community-based projects. The Francis College of Engineering supports fundamental and applied research across engineering, computing, and related fields, with opportunities for collaboration through the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center, the Center for AI Computing Research (AICORE), and the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC). Together, these resources create a welcoming, interdisciplinary environment in which faculty can build innovative research programs, mentor students, and develop partnerships throughout the Greater Boston region. Situated along the Merrimack River, Lowell combines a rich industrial heritage with a vibrant arts scene, historic neighborhoods, and the Lowell National Historical Park. Its commuter-rail connection to Boston and proximity to the coast and mountains of New England offer access to cultural attractions and outdoor recreation.
The successful candidate will establish an independent, externally funded research program, publish high-quality scholarship, and advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Teaching responsibilities will include core transportation engineering courses, such as traffic engineering, traffic flow theory, and transportation operations and control, as well as courses aligned with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs. The candidate will collaborate across disciplines, work with transportation agencies and industry partners, and contribute to departmental, university, and professional service.
Minimum Qualifications (Required):
- A Ph.D. in transportation engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, systems engineering, or a closely related field by the appointment start date, with research expertise relevant to transportation engineering.
- A record of scholarly achievement appropriate to career stage and strong potential to establish an independent, externally funded research program.
- Demonstrated ability or strong potential to teach core transportation engineering courses, mentor students, and communicate effectively in an interdisciplinary academic environment.
- A collaborative approach to research, teaching, and service, along with the ability to contribute positively and thrive in a diverse academic community.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated research accomplishments or potential for significant contributions in one or more of the identified research areas.
- Experience or potential to develop research partnerships with public agencies, industry, and interdisciplinary teams.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
This position is full-time, benefited and in the MTA/Mass. Society of Professors union. Although the union contract minimum is set at $75,000, we anticipate a hiring range of $115,000 - $122,000.
Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.
Please include the following required documents with your application:
- A cover letter describing qualifications, research and teaching interests, and fit with the position.
- A curriculum vitae and up to three representative publications or research products.
- A research statement outlining past contributions, future research directions, and plans to pursue external funding.
- A teaching statement describing teaching experience and interests, including preparation to teach core transportation engineering courses and potential advanced or interdisciplinary offerings.
- Names and contact information of three professional references will be required during the application process.
All materials should be submitted electronically through the UMass Lowell employment portal.
