Professor in Architecture | Regenerative Design

Canadian University of Dubai; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Dubai is seeking a Full Professor in Architecture specializing in regenerative design and the circular economy. The position involves teaching, supervising student research, and engaging in high-quality research and scholarship. A Ph.D., at least 10 years of academic experience, and a strong record of research are required. The successful candidate will contribute to sustainability transitions through design innovation and receive a competitive tax-free salary with various benefits.

Benefits

Competitive Tax-free salary

Generous academic annual leave

Housing & Transportation allowance

International health insurance

Relocation/shipping allowance

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Architecture with expertise in Regenerative Design, sustainability, or the circular economy.
• Minimum 10 years of academic experience with undergraduate and graduate teaching.
• Record of research excellence with publications or funded projects.

Responsibilities

• Teach 12 credits per semester at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Engage in research aligned with regenerative design and produce publications.
• Supervise student research and mentor academic development.

Skills

Fluency in English

Experience in sustainable or circular design

Proficiency with digital tools supporting sustainable design

Education

Ph.D. in Architecture

Tools

LCA

BIM

Parametric modelling

Digital twins

Job description

Professor in Architecture, Regenerative Design

School: School of Architecture and Interior Design

Department: Department of Architecture

Position: Full Professor

Location: Dubai, UAE

Contract Type: Two-year fixed-term contract, renewable upon mutual agreement.

Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is seeking a highly qualified faculty at the rank of Full Professor with expertise in regenerative design and the circular economy to join its growing academic team in the Department of Architecture. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including design studios and theory courses, and will play an active role in research and academic leadership. The position requires a strong commitment to advancing sustainability transitions in the built environment through design innovation. The successful candidate will develop and lead research and practice-based projects that explore circular and regenerative approaches across architecture, urban systems, and materials. Candidates with prior administrative experience and leadership in academic or institutional settings are encouraged to apply. Professional experience in architectural practice or consultancy related to sustainability, regenerative design, or environmental innovation will be considered an asset.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A Ph.D. in Architecture with specialization in Regenerative Design, sustainability, or the circular economy
• Minimum Ten years of academic experience, including teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels
• A record of research excellence evidenced by publications, funded projects, or creative practice in relevant fields
• Experience in academic administration or leadership, including program coordination, committee chairing, or curriculum development
• Demonstrated ability to integrate design thinking, environmental science, and systems innovation in teaching and research
• Fluency in English

Desirable assets

• Professional practice or consultancy experience in sustainable or circular design
• Familiarity with Canadian higher education systems or professional standards
• Proficiency with digital tools and data-driven methods supporting sustainable design, for example LCA, BIM, parametric modelling, digital twins
• Candidates with a Canadian education background and/or professional practice in Canada will be given priority

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach 12 credits per regular semester, typically comprising one design studio and two taught courses, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
• Supervise student research and mentor academic and professional development
• Engage in high-quality research and scholarship aligned with regenerative design, the circular economy, and sustainability innovation, producing at least 2 publications in reputable, peer-reviewed journals (preferably Q1/Q2 Scopus-indexed)
• Contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations across the School and the MSc in Design Innovation for the Circular Economy program
• Pursue external funding opportunities and industry partnerships to support research and design initiatives
• Participate in departmental and university service, including curriculum development, student activities, and committees
• Undertake administrative and leadership responsibilities within the Department or School as required

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Competitive Tax-free salary
• Generous academic annual leave
• Housing & Transportation allowance
• Annual flights for self, spouse, and dependent children
• International health insurance for self, spouse, and dependent children
• Life Insurance
• Children’s education allowance
• Relocation/shipping allowance
• Professional development opportunities
• Full access to campus facilities
• Research and innovation funding support
• Paid sick leave, Maternity leave, Paternity leave, and other leave categories as applicable
• Working visa and residence permit in the UAE for self, spouse, and dependent children

RESIDENCY AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at CUD is regulated by UAE labour law and must comply with the regulations of the national government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

CUD is committed to an inclusive and equitable academic community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and celebrate diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All appointments are made on the basis of merit and in accordance with UAE laws and University policies.

ABOUT CUD

Established in 2006, CUD is one of the most promising universities in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, QS ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide, #1 in Dubai, and 21st in the Arab Region according to the QS Arab Region Rankings 2025.

Our expanded City Walk campus hosts state-of-the-art amenities with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. Combining all the essential elements of technology, the avant-garde campus brings a new experience to students, featuring: laboratories, research facilities, media studios, high-tech classrooms, a multipurpose theatre, gymnasium, student centre, dining and entertainment options, and more.

With one of the world’s fastest growing populations, Dubai offers a diverse, multicultural environment with outstanding lifestyle and employment opportunities. For detailed information about the University, please visit www.cud.ac.ae.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN

With a faculty that contributes experience in practice and research in more than ten countries, the international make up of the School of Architecture and Interior Design at CUD is unique in the UAE. The School brings together traditions and innovations from the east and the west, the north and the south, and seeks to provide the best of this broad cultural background in design, offering new views on the local context from a global perspective. CUD offers an environment where Canadian values of higher education meet creatively and complementarily with local culture and academic higher education regulations. The School understands architecture and interior design as manifestations of social and cultural life in space. It conceives architectural and interior design as creative processes that give spatial form to human values by organizing material and environmental conditions in the urban context, and considers that architectural design creations must provide an inspiring enclosure for human activity and thinking to thrive. The School offers a five-year Bachelor of Architecture, a four-year Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, and a three-term Master of Science in Design Innovation for the Circular Economy, while expanding its educational ecosystem to shape a more comprehensive design landscape.