Assistant Professor of Architecture; Tenure-Track in Design Research and Computational Design

Details

The School of Architecture (SoA) within the University of Utah’s College of Architecture + Planning invites applications for a tenure‑track Assistant Professor position in design research and computational design. We welcome applicants with expertise in architecture as a liberal art, design research, and computational design. The position is a full‑time, nine‑month appointment (1.0 FTE) beginning July 1, 2026.

The University of Utah School of Architecture seeks to strengthen its research and design profile. The school has expanded its research activities and creative work and plans to broaden this further. With a strong research and design profile, the SoA is one of the most active schools of architecture in the region and nation. Our aspirations align with the university’s goal of being among the top public institutions in the country.

The successful candidate will be part of this initiative.

The SoA offers an accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program, a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS), and a Master of Science in Architectural Studies (MSAS). A newly created Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies (BAAS) began in Fall 2025, and a new PhD program in Architecture is planned for the near future. In recent years a new integrated curriculum has been developed with immersive design studios that flow from bachelor to master to a capstone individual design project supported by architectural research.

We are committed to teaching creative critical thinking, community engagement, design excellence, design research, pedagogy, ecological resilience, global citizenship, leadership, and risk‑taking. Our work is interdisciplinary and integrated, championing place‑based engagement, social justice, and environmental stewardship. We convene national conferences, publish the critical journal Dialectic, and serve as a test bed for ideas on campus. We are risk‑takers and innovators, guided by an ethic of care that underlies all teaching, scholarship, and service.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a strong background in architectural design research at the intersection of liberal arts architecture and computational design. This includes knowledge of design process, materials, sketching, hands‑on making, design inquiry, imagination, joinery methods, the connection between design, aesthetics, and technology, and computational design. The candidate should be able to develop undergraduate or graduate design programs and teach studio, lecture, and seminar courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

A high level of integration with studio and core courses and the ability to lead curriculum are essential. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in computational design research.

Candidates will conduct quality research and produce scholarly work in an R1 university setting. Successful applicants will have a strong research trajectory and may hold a PhD. The SoA expects candidates to (1) seek competitive external funding, (2) maintain high‑quality publications and creative works, and (3) mentor students through research. Candidates should also commit to supporting the School of Architecture’s core beliefs—design excellence, responsibility, resiliency, respect, and response—which align with the College’s commitments.

Service assignments to committees will also be expected.

Review of applications will begin January 15, 2026 and remain open until filled.

• An accredited degree in architecture with an advanced degree in architecture, design research, or computational design.
• Previous academic teaching and/or professional experience with examples.
• Demonstration of research and/or creative work and a trajectory of excellence.
• Ability to teach design studio courses and seminars in which students develop innovative architectural designs for moderately complex projects and forms.

• A PhD or doctoral degree in architecture with a focus on design research in computational design or architecture as a liberal art.
• Integration of architectural research with design projects.
• Awards or recognition for teaching and/or design.