The College of Design’s Department of Landscape Architecture and School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, are seeking a new faculty member at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level for a joint appointment in the emerging field of Resilient City Design. We define urban resilience as the ability for cities to develop adaptive approaches to social and environmental conditions that are complex and continually changing, including but not limited to: population growth, shifting urban demographics, water scarcity, food insecurity, social injustice and poverty, economic and health disparities, finite resources, and climate change. We see the fields of Landscape Architecture and Architecture as central to the project of fostering resilient responses to these challenges.
We seek to attract an energetic and collaborative faculty member whose creative and/or scholarly work contributes in significant ways to the creation of resilient urban futures. The successful candidate’s skills and interests will extend and contribute to coalescing extant strengths within the College of Design, the University of Minnesota, and the larger region. Evidence of the capacity to work at a range of environmental scales in multidisciplinary teams is important to our ambitions for this position. We will consider a wide range of approaches to filling it, however the successful candidate will have a strong understanding of education, research and/or practice in architecture and landscape architecture.
This is a 100% time, academic year (9 month) position, suitable for individuals whose education and experience qualify them for a tenured or tenure-track appointment, preferably in both departments. An advanced degree in Landscape Architecture or Architecture, or in a closely related field such as Urban or Environmental Design, is required for this position. At least one accredited degree in Landscape Architecture is preferred. Faculty rank is contingent on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. For tenure upon hire, candidates must possess a record of academic achievement in teaching, scholarly productivity and service that satisfies the University’s criteria for holding an appointment with indefinite tenure. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Expected start date is August 31, 2015.
Possible profiles of successful applicants for this position might be: a M. Arch or MLA with the ability to lead design studios and public projects; a Ph. D. with the ability to lead interdisciplinary research teams, develop a strong publication record, and participate in studio teaching; or other relevant credentials. We hope this hire will add to the diversity and multicultural competencies of our faculty. The insights and experiences of historically underrepresented groups, in the university and the communities where we work, are critical to shaping urban futures characterized by resiliency.
The successful candidate will teach design studios in the MLA and/or M. Arch programs. Courses in environmental design, technology, or graphic representation are among the many possible undergraduate offerings that can be negotiated. The candidate will advise graduate students, including on their capstone and final projects; develop peer reviewed research and scholarship or, for those oriented toward professional activity, assume a leadership role in advancing sustainability within practice. The capacity to garner external funding and engage a wide range of stakeholders beyond the university are desirable.
UMN offers great locational advantages in our quest to become a center of excellence in the emerging area of urban resilience. Set between two urban centers astride the Mississippi, one of the world’s largest watersheds, the University of Minnesota has a wealth of resilience-related centers and institutes. The College of Design, alone, features significant opportunities for collaborative research via the Center for Sustainable Building Research, a major federal and state research center addressing sustainability issues in the built environment, and the Metropolitan Design Center. The UMN Resilient Cities Project addresses the sustainability needs of communities through projects in undergraduate and graduate courses. The larger university has major resources to support cross-disciplinary collaborations in this field of work, including the Center for Transportation Studies, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, and Institute on the Environment. For more information, please visit our website at:
http://design.umn.edu.
Application Instructions:
Please complete online application at:
http://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=125767 (Job # 195330) and include the following required attachments: 1) cover letter identifying your interest in and qualifications for the position; 2) curriculum vitae; and 3) names and contact information for three references. Attachments must be submitted in PDF format via the online employment system.
Applicants who continue through to further consideration will be asked to provide: 1) a more detailed statement of their vision for teaching and research in this position; 2) additional information on their work in an online or electronically submitted portfolio; and 3) three letters of reference.
Priority will be given to applications received by January 9, 2015. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
Process questions to Carrie Vigen, HR Generalist,
cvigen@umn.edu or 612-624-1721. Content questions to Professor David Pitt, Search Committee Chair,
pittx001@umn.edu or 612-625-7370.
Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
