Assistant Professor in Urban Planning and Data Analytics

You will contribute to a range of education-related activities, primarily in support of our MSc Urban Analytics and AI for Planners. In addition, you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others carry out theirs.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment, and (b) enhancement of the student experience and employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods with a particular focus on approaches suitable for urban planning data science and AI applications.

You will be expected to deliver excellent teaching that inspires students and is informed by discipline-based research or professional experience in urban analytics and data-driven planning, ensuring alignment with industry and accreditation standards, while delivering high-quality teaching across all programmes including MSc Urban Analytics, the MSc Urban Planning and MSc Sustainable Urban Design and BSc Sustainability.

Develop and teach as part of modules in urban data analytics, AI for planning, GIS and spatial modelling, smart cities, and urban systems design, while supervising postgraduate dissertations and research projects focused on data-driven urban solutions. Innovate teaching methods such as through AI-driven tools, computational approaches, or urban simulation models, and enhance the curriculum by integrating industry-led case studies and practitioner engagement.

Main Duties

Education, Research and Knowledge Exchange

You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:

• Contribute to curriculum development and/or renewal for urban analytics and AI in planning.
• Develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in data-driven urbanism.
• Advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment.
• Play an important role in student academic support.
• Inform your teaching practice from discipline-based research and/or professional practice in urban analytics, GIS, and AI for planning.
• Update your subject expertise and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection using student and peer review feedback.
• You may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students.
• Contribute to research-led teaching.

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates and postgraduates (contact and online settings), including (as appropriate):

• Teaching and examining modules at a range of levels, with teaching activities also taking place during weekends and evening.
• Planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same.
• Designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning, and assessment.
• Competent in using digital resources; for example AI-driven spatial analysis and transport modelling including Autodesk Forma, UNA, UMI, Space Syntax; effectively to support learning and assessment.
• Undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining.
• Developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.
• Devising and supervising student dissertations, and practical work.

Academic Leadership, Management and Administration

To contribute to programme and School administration. This may include:

• Contributing to the administration/management of teaching within the School.
• Leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g., new MSc programme or a recruitment drive).
• Advising on personal development of colleagues and students.
• Making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g., accreditation processes, programme committees).
• Developing and making contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, public engagement, and collaboration with industry professionals.
• Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring, evaluation, and active engagement.
• Collaborate with faculty in the UK and Dubai campuses to enhance interdisciplinary teaching and research.

Industry and Professional Engagement

• Strengthen links with local and international urban planning consultancies, smart city initiatives, AI and tech firms, and government agencies.
• Promote student employability by integrating real-world projects, internships, and applied research opportunities.

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• Pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently.
• Demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduations, School committees).
• Demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice.
• Willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School projects).
• Positively engaging in School strategic initiatives.
• Proactively supporting and engaging in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• Normally, a higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications and/or professional experience in Urban Analytics, Urban Planning, Urban Design, Data Science, GIS, or a related field.
• Teaching experience and scholarship and/or training within subject specialism.
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a team environment, collaborate with colleagues, and communicate ideas clearly to others.