Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, Tenure Track

Auburn University; Alabama; On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor for Environmental Design (ENVD), starting August 2027. The role emphasizes teaching, research, and service across the ENVD units, with a focus on foundation and early design education and cross-disciplinary methods.

The successful candidate will develop an active scholarly/creative program, contribute to the Design Core, and participate in outreach and collaboration within

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a design field and evidence of scholarly activity.
• Eligibility to work in the United States at employment start date.
• Strong foundation in contemporary design education and representation methods.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate workshops, studios, lectures, and/or seminars aligned with ENVD units.
• Coordinate the Design Core sequence and contribute to one or more program units.
• Develop and maintain an active program of scholarly and/or creative work in the discipline.
• Contribute to teaching, research, outreach, and service within the academic community.

Skills

Design pedagogy

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Design representation

Education

Terminal degree in design

Experience in Environmental Design or related fields

Tools

Rhino

Grasshopper

ArcGIS

Digital fabrication

Job description

Overview

The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) at Auburn University, a comprehensive land-grant and research institution, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Environmental Design program (ENVD) commencing August 2027.

For more than 118 years, APLA has educated designers across a range of allied fields while contributing to the region and the design professions through scholarship, creative practice, outreach, and community-engaged design. In addition to the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design, APLA offers the Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Science in Architecture, Bachelor of Interior Architecture, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, and Master of Landscape Architecture. The school’s commitment to public-interest design is exemplified by its two off-campus centers, Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama, and Urban Studio in Birmingham, Alabama. As part of Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction, APLA works alongside the McWhorter School of Building Science and the School of Industrial + Graphic Design to prepare future leaders in design and construction while fostering collaboration across the School, College, and broader University.

Auburn’s Environmental Design program brings together four interconnected units of study; Scenographies, Ecologies, Narratives, and Matters, to explore design across physical, digital, social, and environmental systems. Rather than treating the allied design disciplines of the school and college as a series of isolated domains, the ENVD program looks to overlap their methods and scales into an integrated approach of design inquiry and visualization allowing students to develop the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries and address complex spatial and cultural conditions. Through lab-based lectures, project-driven seminars, and immersive studio/workshops, students develop the critical and technical capacities necessary to navigate contemporary design practice. Preparation for study in these four units is supported through our program’s Design Core sequence of courses that serves as a foundation for student work to follow.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the appointment include teaching, research, and service. Successful candidates for this position will be able to teach undergraduate workshops/studios, lecture courses, and/or seminars aligned with their area of focus in one of the program’s four units of study. They should demonstrate expertise in foundation and early design education, with a pedagogical approach that integrates an array of representation modes and interdisciplinary design methodologies. An ability to teach within and coordinate the Design Core sequence is essential, however an interest or research agenda situated in one or more of the program’s four units is welcomed and will be supported. Candidates will be expected to develop and maintain an active program of scholarly and/or creative work within the discipline. APLA is particularly interested in candidates who can contribute to the excellence of the academic community through their teaching, research, outreach, and service. Excellent interpersonal skills are required.

Review of applications will begin on 11 January 2027 and continue until the position is filled. If applicants have questions or need assistance in completing the application, including reasonable accommodations, please email Olivia Rodriguez: [e-mail]

Environmental Design Faculty Search

School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture

104 Dudley Hall

Auburn University, AL 36849

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must hold a terminal degree in a design field at the time employment begins and present evidence of research/creative scholarship or the ability to develop and maintain an active research/creative scholarly program. The candidates selected for these positions must be able to meet eligibility requirements for work in the United States at the time of employment and continue working legally for the proposed term of employment. Auburn University is an EEO/VET/Disability Employer.

Desired Qualifications

Desired qualifications include a demonstrated a focus on beginning design instruction, experience with contemporary drawing and modeling techniques (such as analog media, Rhino, Grasshopper, ArcGIS, or digital fabrication), experience in professional practice, experience in teaching, professional registration, and/or advanced degrees in Environmental Design or related fields. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Required submission materials

• Combine into one document and upload your letter of interest including delineation of pedagogical and research interest and current curriculum vitae under the “Resume Upload” section (maximum files size: 5MB). All other documents should be uploaded under “Additional Documents.”
• 1) a letter of interest that identifies an area of teaching specialization and defines your scholarly plan
• 2) a curriculum vitae
• 3) names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three referees
• 4) a print‑ready portfolio containing professional, creative work and/or research, examples of prior teaching experience and sample student works. (12MB maximum)

If your digital portfolio exceeds the file size limit, please upload a Word document that includes a link to your portfolio.

Auburn University is understanding and sensitive to the family needs of faculty including dual-career couples. Please visit the following website for additional information: https://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/pdf/guidelines-dual-career-services.pdf

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to develop and maintain an active research/creative scholarly program.

Ability to teach in courses related to one or more of the four units of the program.

Evidence of outstanding design skills.

The successful candidate will have a strong design philosophy grounded in contemporary design practice and will have a track record of investigating contemporary issues through techniques that translate to a design studio setting.

Contract Type

Continuing

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

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