Assistant Professor of Housing & Community Development

Description

The School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in the Community and Regional Planning program, beginning in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will join the program as an Assistant Professor (though exceptional candidates at higher ranks may be considered) and will contribute to the School's mission through teaching, research / creative practice, and service.

This position focuses on addressing critical urban issues such as housing precarity and insecurity, and their implications for urban policy and planning. The individual will play an integral role in shaping a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes the intersection of housing access, community development, and participatory decision-making. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in qualitative research methods and the range of historical and theoretical perspectives on housing and community development.

We seek an individual with a focus on how we "read" the city and understand the lived experiences of those most impacted by urban housing problems. This position invites candidates who are committed to understanding the complex dynamics of urban spaces-particularly how planners can engage with communities to facilitate fair access to resources and decision-making processes. We are particularly interested in candidates who engage these critical housing issues through qualitative, community-based research and teaching. We seek a scholar who will create and teach housing- and community development-focused electives, and who will contribute to CRP's core courses in Planning Theory, History and Ethics, or Qualitative and Participatory Methods. We welcome applications from candidates who also bring a commitment to international research or experiences that broaden our understanding of urban issues across different cultural and geopolitical contexts.

Faculty in the School of Architecture are expected to pursue scholarly or practice-based work that contributes to the advancement of their field and to mentor students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The successful candidate will work primarily within the Community and Regional Planning program but will also be hired into the School of Architecture as a whole, which is non-departmentalized. This structure ensures that all faculty participate in dialogue and collaboration across programs, strengthening the interdisciplinarity that characterizes the School.

The School of Architecture offers professionally accredited and post-professional degree programs in Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Community and Regional Planning, as well as advanced research degrees in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Sustainable Design, and Urban Design. With approximately 700 students across its programs, the School benefits from a strong studio culture, research-oriented initiatives, and an engaged community of faculty and students.

Faculty across the School conduct community-oriented research, drawing in expertise from non-profit partners to develop collective projects that address housing, environmental, and community development priorities. Our faculty's close and productive working relationships with City of Austin departments and other partners advance praxis-oriented research. Examples of projects that bridge theory and practice include the Canada Project, Donde Corre el Agua, and Planning with the Future. Faculty members in the School of Architecture are also involved in crucial university-wide and external research initiatives related to housing and community development, including the Texas County Judges Forum, The Uprooted Project, and the St. John neighborhood's neighborhood development project. These initiatives offer robust platforms for faculty collaboration and interdisciplinary research, supporting the school's overarching mission to address pressing housing and community development challenges.

University Context :

The School of Architecture is home to two internationally recognized research centers. The Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) manages externally funded projects in areas such as housing, urban resilience, and environmental planning, with annual research expenditures totaling $4.5 million. The Center for American Architecture and Design (CAAD) advances scholarship in theory, history, and contemporary practice across the Americas. Together, these centers form the backbone of a research ecosystem that encourages faculty to pursue interdisciplinary, sponsored, and collaborative projects.

UTSOA maintains strong collaborations with other colleges at the university, reflected in a robust set of dual-degree programs. Planning students may also pursue dual masters' degrees with Law, Public Affairs, Latin American Studies, Urban Design, or Sustainable Design. Faculty benefit from this interdisciplinary community and from opportunities to teach and mentor students who are exploring connections between design, policy, and broader societal concerns.

As one of the largest and most highly regarded public universities in the United States, The University of Texas at Austin offers faculty access to extensive infrastructure and research networks. The university is home to more than 200 research centers and units and is committed to fostering interdisciplinary work across its colleges and schools. Faculty at UT benefit from both internal and external research opportunities, as well as robust support for teaching and professional development.

Austin itself offers a unique context for the study of the built environment. As the 11th most populous city in the United States and the anchor of a rapidly growing megaregion, Austin is experiencing rapid urban transformation, providing a living laboratory for faculty research, and teaching. The city's cultural vibrancy, entrepreneurial environment, and rich natural surroundings, combined with its challenges of growth, affordability, and environmental vulnerability, provide fertile ground for engaged scholarship and professional education.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a PhD in urban planning or a related field with an emphasis on housing and community development. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of past and potential contributions to research and teaching that would warrant successful tenure in equivalent programs. We welcome candidates who have applied and / or interdisciplinary experience, as part of or in addition to their research. The faculty member will be responsible for teaching, student mentoring, and research, as well as contributing to program- and school-wide administrative duties that are expected of all faculty. Course loads typically consist of two courses per semester. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials online : a cover letter; curriculum vitae; statement of research; statement of teaching interests and approach; relevant sample of scholarly writing; a sample of project-based research (if applicable); and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin on December 1 and continue until the position is filled.

Contact for questions : Miriam Solis, Associate Professor, solis@austin.utexas.edu

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.