Assistant Professor in the Transport and Fate of Waterborne Pathogens in Terrestrial Water Systems

Position Title / Rank: Assistant Professor in the Transport and Fate of Waterborne Pathogens in Terrestrial Water Systems

Department: Department of Civil Environmental and Water Resources Engineering

Position Description:

The College of Engineering at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track position, at the Assistant Professor level, in the area of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) transport and fate in the natural terrestrial water environment, using innovative field and lab measurement, monitoring and/or modelling approaches.

This position forms part of a cluster hire around the CERC for Waterborne Pathogens. The candidate will work closely with others on campus (CERC, The Morwick G360 Groundwater Institute, and colleagues across the Engineering programs) to develop a research program on the surveillance and control of waterborne pathogens and AMR in the terrestrial water cycle (i.e., stormwater and wastewater impacts to the groundwater-surface water system). The candidate will have demonstrated potential to: collectively establish an internationally-recognised research program; align with the strategic direction of the university (https://www.uoguelph.ca/president/strategic-plan/) and align with the CERC on Waterborne Pathogens (https://www.cerc.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/index-eng.aspx and Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute (https://www.g360group.org); attract, develop and retain excellent trainees/students/researchers; lead a team which commits to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) practices; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering and core engineering; and, provide service to the College of Engineering, University of Guelph, and the wider community.

The College of Engineering (CoE), building on decades of achievement and the strong legacy of the University’s School of Engineering, is a well-established academic unit with a strong reputation for innovation in sustainable systems, emerging technologies, interdisciplinary design, and experiential learning. The College is entering a period of significant momentum, marked by expanding undergraduate and graduate enrolments, increasing research intensity, ongoing faculty renewal, and planned future investments in infrastructure and facilities.

Research-intensive and learner-centred, the University of Guelph is recognized nationally and internationally for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. As a comprehensive university with strengths across engineering, the sciences, business, social sciences, arts, and agricultural and veterinary sciences, Guelph advances innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful solutions to complex societal challenges.

Qualifications

The candidate must hold a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, Earth Systems Engineering, Hydrogeology, Earth or Environmental Sciences, or a related field. The successful candidate will conduct high impact research, supervise graduate students and teach undergraduate and graduate courses. The candidate will have demonstrated experience and expertise in: the sources, transport and fate of pathogens and/or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into and through the soil, vadose and groundwater zones, with linkages to source water protection and water supplies.

Professional accreditation, or eligibility for such, would be an asset, for example Professional Engineers (P.Eng.), Professional Geoscientists (P.Geo.), etc. For questions regarding eligibility for registration as a P.Eng., please refer to pertinentPEO guidelines and P.Geo. Ontario guidelines.

Term and Appointment

The successful candidate will be appointed as a tenure-track faculty member at the rank of an Assistant Professor. The tenure-track faculty member will be appointed in accordance with Article 19 of the UGFA Collective Agreement. A Letter of Appointment outlining specific responsibilities will be provided.

Application Process

Assessment of applications will begin on August 23, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #2475) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):

(1) a cover letter;

(2) a curriculum vitae;

(3) a statement of teaching vision (max. 4 pages);

(4) a statement of research and development vision (max. 4 pages);

(5) A statement to provide evidence of commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) (max. 1 page);

(6) two recent scholarly publications relevant to the position; and

(7) the contact information for three referees. Please note that referees will be contacted only for short-listed candidates.

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page: SuccessFactors: Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

Applications should be sent to the attention of:

Dr. Andrew Binns

Professor and Interim Chair

Department of Civil, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering

College of Engineering

University of Guelph

Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

Questions about this position may be directed to Andrew Binns at [email protected].

Questions about the application process may be directed to the depermental administrative assistant, Piyali Mukherjee Roy at [email protected].

Date Posted: 05/22/2026
Deadline: 08/22/2026 or until a suitable candidate is found.

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA).

The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time, our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.”

The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.

The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness or contact OHW at [email protected].