Professor of Practice

Professor of Practice Position in River-Coastal Science & Engineering

The Department of River Coastal Science and Engineering (RCSE) at Tulane University invites applications for a Professor of Practice position to begin on August 1, 2027. Successful candidates will have a PhD (or MS with extensive professional experience) in Civil Engineering. We are interested in a candidate with background and experience in the Structural or Geotechnical Engineering area. Experience in teaching structural and geotechnical engineering courses is beneficial.

This is a 9-month appointment that focuses on teaching undergraduate courses during the academic year. Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. 

Our friendly and collaborative department currently has eight tenure-track/tenured faculty with a commitment to grow over the next few years. In our research and teaching, we take pride in our focus on river and coastal science and engineering and their interdisciplinary applications. More information about the department, its faculty team, and its undergraduate and graduate programs can be found at https://sse.tulane.edu/river. 

Tulane Professors of Practice in the School of Science & Engineering are faculty who design, enhance, and teach courses primarily at the undergraduate level as well as at other levels determined by the department’s needs, while also contributing service to the department, school, and university. Many of RCSE’s courses for advanced undergraduates are also available to graduate students. Professors of Practice hold term appointments that are renewable every three years (initially), and every five years after promotion to Senior Professor of Practice. The typical teaching load is three sections per semester with approximately two preparations. Our present course offerings are listed at https://catalog.tulane.edu/science-engineering/river-coastal-science-engineering/#coursestext.  

Tulane supports excellence and innovation in teaching through the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT), teaching assistants, and course assistants. Faculty interested in instructional innovation, engineering education scholarship, curriculum development, and experiential learning will find substantial institutional support for their efforts.

The successful candidate will have a record of excellent teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate level, and commitment to student-centered teaching and to increasing diversity in the classroom.

The selected candidate will participate in an interdisciplinary dual-degree program with the School of Architecture and Built Environment. This joint program offers a MS degree from RCSE and MLA from TuSABE (MLA-MS RCSE (https://landscape-engineering.tulane.edu). 

Tulane University is a private Carnegie-R1 university and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Tulane brings together bold and creative scholars, scientists and students who are committed to crossing boundaries. Data-intensive discovery lies at the heart of research and education at Tulane and is fueled by Tulane’s new Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science. Tulane resides in historic New Orleans, Louisiana – a city that takes the utmost pride in its vibrant music scene, world-class restaurants, rich confluence of cultures and traditions, and festive Mardi Gras parades. “The things that make life worth living – eating, drinking and the making of merriment – are the air that New Orleans breathes.” - Adam Karlin, Lonely Planet. The Princeton Review ranks Tulane at or near the top for Most Engaged in Community (#1), College City (#1), Happiest Students (#4), Best-Run College (#4), and Quality of Life (#9). 

Required Applicant Materials:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• Curriculum Vitae
• A teaching statement including teaching evaluations
• Contact information for at least three professional references

For further inquiries about this position, please email Dr. Ehab Meselhe, at emeselhe@tulane.edu

The successful candidate will:

• Teach undergraduate and, as needed, graduate-level courses in structural and geotechnical engineering.
• Teach and maintain courses that may include:
  • River Structures
  • Coastal Structures
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Professional Development
  • Capstone Design
• Develop, update, and enhance course content to support student learning and professional preparation.
• Mentor and advise undergraduate students.
• Contribute to curriculum development and the continuous improvement of academic programs.
• Participate in departmental, school, and university service activities.
• Support interdisciplinary initiatives, including collaboration with the School of Architecture and Built Environment and participation in the MLA-MS RCSE dual-degree program.
• Foster an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that supports student success and engagement.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Civil Engineering or a closely related field with expertise in structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, or related disciplines.

OR

• MS in Civil Engineering with substantial professional engineering experience relevant to the position.
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and student engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, river engineering, coastal engineering, infrastructure systems, or related fields.
• Prior university-level teaching experience.
• Experience teaching structural engineering and/or geotechnical engineering courses.
• Professional Engineering (PE) licensure, or eligibility and willingness to obtain licensure within three years of appointment.
• Experience advising or mentoring students.
• Commitment to inclusive teaching practices and creating a supportive learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds.
• Interest in curriculum innovation, experiential learning, and engineering education.