Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning in the School of Architecture. The role involves addressing climate mitigation and adaptation issues through community-based scholarship, utilizing quantitative methods and mapping technologies. Candidates should demonstrate interdisciplinary research linking environmental science with planning and design. The position encourages collaboration across programs and contributes to initiatives like Planet Texas 2050, enhancing the school's research identity in sustainability.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning

College/School/Unit: School of Architecture

Department:

Posted: Oct 12, 2024

Apply By: Open until filled

Description

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.

Qualifications

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.

Application Instructions

Representatives from the search committee will be available to
answer questions and meet with prospective candidates during the
upcoming Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP)
Annual Conference in Seattle, from November 7-9. Interested
candidates are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the search
committee chair via email: klieberknecht@utexas.edu.

Applicants should submit their materials online. The review of
applications will begin on December 9 and continue until the search
is closed.

Required materials include:
• a curriculum vitae;
• a statement of research and a statement of teaching
interests;
• PDF samples of written scholarship and project-based
research;
• Names and contact information for three references who will be
asked to provide letters of recommendation.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal
opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all
applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and
affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of
equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability,
religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and
activities, and admissions.

To apply, visit https://faculty.utexas.edu/career/150839

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