Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning

The University of Texas at Austin seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning in the School of Architecture. The role involves addressing climate issues through interdisciplinary research and teaching in the Community and Regional Planning program. Candidates should utilize quantitative methods and collaborate across disciplines. The position emphasizes curriculum development and leadership within the school, contributing to sustainability research initiatives and enhancing the university's research identity.
The School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin is seeking applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Environmental Planning. The successful candidate will join the Community and Regional Planning (CRP) program while establishing meaningful connections with Urban Design and Landscape Architecture disciplines. This position focuses on addressing issues related to climate mitigation, adaptation, and the environmental impacts of urban and regional planning in community-based scholarship.

We are particularly interested in academics who use quantitative and scientific methods, such as scenario planning and mapping technologies, to enhance our understanding of global climate change and its regional impact. Evidence of interdisciplinary research and teaching that bridges environmental science with planning and design is preferred. The individual chosen for this position will be expected to take a leadership role in fostering connections between the various programs within the school, particularly in curriculum development between CRP and Urban Design. This collaborative work will strengthen the school’s interdisciplinarity and contribute to the core mission of advancing research and education that integrates environmental science to plan and design socially and environmentally sustainable communities.

Faculty in the School of Architecture are expected to develop research paths that contribute to advancing their fields and fostering the next generation of leaders. This position will strengthen our professional and university research identity in the abovementioned areas. The University of Texas at Austin offers extensive infrastructure and resources that support this work. For instance, faculty members in the School of Architecture are involved in crucial university-wide and external research initiatives related to climate, environment, and sustainability, including projects such as Planet Texas 2050, the UT-City Climate Co-Lab, the UT Austin Energy Institute, the Southeast Texas Urban Integrated Field Laboratory, and the new Extreme Weather Adaptation Lab. These initiatives offer robust platforms for faculty collaboration and interdisciplinary research, supporting the school’s overarching mission to address pressing global and regional environmental challenges.

Furthermore, the School of Architecture is home to two research centers: the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) and the Center for American Architecture and Design (CAAD). The CSD supports externally funded research for faculty across the School of Architecture, with annual research expenditures totaling between $2.5–$3.0 million. CAAD focuses on advancing scholarship related to the theories, histories, and practices of architecture and urbanism in the Americas. Both centers are critical components of the school’s research ecosystem, providing valuable support and opportunities for faculty to engage in interdisciplinary research. Candidates are encouraged to consider how these resources may enhance their scholarly activities.

This position is situated within the Graduate Program in Community and Regional Planning. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of past and potential contributions to research and teaching that would warrant successful tenure in equivalent programs. Applicants must have a PhD in urban planning or a related field with a strong emphasis on environmental planning. The faculty member will be responsible for teaching and research, with potential administrative duties within the CRP program and involvement in school-wide service. Course loads typically consist of two courses per semester, and this position includes potential contributions to the Urban Design program, in recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of the role. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, although distinguished candidates at other ranks are also encouraged to apply.

University Context

The School of Architecture offers both a Master of Science and a PhD in Community and Regional Planning, along with graduate degree programs in Architecture, Interior Design, Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Sustainable Design, and Urban Design. Additionally, our PhD community includes studies in Architectural History and Sustainable Design. With an approximate school-wide population of 700 students, we also benefit from competitive undergraduate programs in design. We offer several dual-degree programs, expanding the scope of interdisciplinary education. The dual-degree programs affiliated with CRP include partnerships with Law, Latin American Studies, Public Affairs, Sustainable Design, and Urban Design, fostering a holistic approach to planning education.

UT Austin has an internationally distinguished faculty, making it one of the world’s leading research universities. The university embraces interdisciplinary research and is home to more than 200 dedicated research units, centers, and research grand challenges. The Community and Regional Planning program has a 65-year history of emphasizing the social and environmental dimensions of planning. Our teaching, research, and service are deeply guided by the belief that addressing the health, welfare, and beauty of both the natural and built environments is essential for improving the quality of life for people in their communities. In many ways, Austin offers a meaningful context for exploring these challenges, particularly as the city grapples with some of the fastest urban population growth in the US, unfolding within an environmentally vulnerable natural setting.