Urban Science Faculty Fellows (2025) 

NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress

Center for Urban Science and Progress

New York University’s Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) is seeking faculty fellows with a strong academic record.

CUSP is an interdisciplinary research center located in Downtown Brooklyn and is dedicated to the application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the service of urban communities across the globe. Using New York City (NYC) as our laboratory and classroom, we strive to develop novel data- and technology-driven solutions to advance our understanding of cities and help address the complex challenges they face. CUSP’s research and educational initiatives focus on high-impact areas such as climate change and resiliency, improving public health, designing modern urban infrastructure, and promoting the ethical and equitable design, collection, and deployment of data and technology in cities.

CUSP strives to benefit NYC and other partners with research that is both mission- and impact- oriented. We develop and integrate data analytics and technologies for the common good. Our interdisciplinary research teams bring together experts in computer and data science; civil, electrical, environmental, biomedical, and mechanical engineering; design and interactive technologies; and the social sciences. 

Expectations

Successful applicants are expected to work on interdisciplinary projects to contribute to both methods and foundational knowledge in their core disciplines, as well as to novel data- and technology-driven applications. Ideal candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Evidence of or interest in conducting multi-disciplinary research with potential broad impact for urban communities 

• Strong publication record

• Experience and/or interest in teaching and mentoring

• Interest in writing grants and establishing a record of externally funded research

• Outreach experience (with stakeholders, city agencies, community) and transitioning research into practice is encouraged, but not required.

Applicants must identify at least two CUSP core or affiliated faculty members who would serve as mentors. The applicants’ proposed research must span areas of expertise. Successful applicants will be expected to start new projects and collaborations and/or engage in existing projects with faculty. CUSP’s strategic areas of focus are public health; climate change and resiliency/sustainability; modern infrastructure; and fairness, privacy and equity in urban tech and data science. Our methodological areas of interest include but not limited to (a) data science, (b) ML/AI and robotics; (c) urban sensing and IoT; and (d) modeling and complex systems. We encourage applications in this wide range of areas and in other relevant areas in urban science domains. 

Responsibilities:

Conduct groundbreaking research both independently and as part of interdisciplinary teams; contribute to existing projects under the supervision of sponsoring faculty, and start new projects and research collaborations as appropriate; participate in the development of funded research proposals; build bridges between CUSP and other Tandon/NYU labs, groups, and centers; publish in top venues in smart cities, urban science, and/or their fields of specialization; contribute to scholarly life at CUSP through the organization of seminars, mentoring of students and other service; and teach a maximum of two courses per academic year.

Salary range:

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $75k/year with competitive benefits, plus funds for travel and professional development. The expected start date is January 15, 2025.

Urban Science Faculty Fellows are full-time, fixed-term positions, with initial one-year appointment, and additional annual appointment renewal opportunity based on satisfactory performance.

Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field (granted by the start of the position), and an active agenda of research and publication with a strong focus on smart cities, urban science, or other areas with potential for direct application to cities. A record of transitioning research into practice, particularly as applied to critical urban challenges, is desirable.

Applicants should submit the following as part of the application package:

• Cover letter (1 page)

• Curriculum vitae

• Personal statement (1 page): The document should describe how this position contributes to the applicant?s future career. It should also describe your commitment to diversity, and teaching and mentoring style.

• Statement of research interests (two pages): This document should describe your research interests and plans at CUSP. It should also highlight how the applicant?s previous research prepared the applicant to conduct the proposed investigation. The statement should also mention the names of one or more core or affiliated faculty members from CUSP. 

• Contact information for two references; the search committee will reach out to recommendation letter writers at a later date.

Applications received by December 31, 2024, will receive full consideration. Any questions may be directed to Qi Sun.

For people in the EU, click here for information on your privacy rights under GDPR: www.nyu.edu/it/gdpr

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

Sustainability Statement 

NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability

About New York University

Founded in 1831, New York University is now one of the largest private universities in the United States. Of the more than 3,000 colleges and universities in America, New York University is one of only 60 member institutions of the distinguished Association of American Universities.

Connections working at New York University