Urban Sustainability Research Group

Opportunities

The University of Michigan is one of the best places in the world to do research, with first-class facilities, a large pool of potential collaborators, and extensive support structures for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty.

Current openings

There are no open positions at this time. Reviewed October 2026.

Doctoral students

Professor Newell is not accepting new Ph.D. students at this time. Prospective doctoral students can see the SEAS faculty list for faculty currently interested in advising new students.

Doctoral advisees from the group have a strong record of placement in tenure-track academic positions at research institutions, with seven alumni now holding faculty appointments. They have won Rackham Predoctoral Fellowships, Dow Sustainability Doctoral Fellowships, National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants, and the ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award.

Alumni and placements [add link]

Master’s students

Professor Newell is not accepting new master’s students at this time. Prospective master’s students can see the SEAS faculty list for faculty currently interested in advising new students.

Master’s students from the School for Environment and Sustainability regularly work in the group, most often on funded projects alongside research faculty.

Postdoctoral researchers

The group has hosted five postdoctoral scholars and research scientists since 2010. When funded positions become available they are posted here.

Undergraduate researchers

The group has hosted undergraduate researchers through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, the Summer Research Opportunity Program, and the Program in the Environment. More than twenty undergraduates have worked with the group since 2011, on projects ranging from mapping urban gardens in Detroit and New York City to characterizing animal feeding operations and tracing commodity supply chains.

UROP · Program in the Environment

Working in the group

The group is deliberately collaborative across levels. Research faculty work actively with doctoral students, who in turn mentor master’s students. Members come from a wide range of national and disciplinary backgrounds.

Research is well supported. The group has held 47 awards totaling $22,077,926 from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Office of Naval Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and philanthropic and corporate partners.

Projects and funding [add link]

Elsewhere at the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan has a range of institutions and student-led programmes committed to urban and general sustainability.