Design Research Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Information

The School of Architecture (SoA) within the University of Utah's College of Architecture + Planning invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position in design research and computational design. We welcome applications from candidates with knowledge and expertise of architecture as liberal art, design research and computational design. This position will be a full time, nine-month appointment (1.0 FTE) to begin on July 1, 2026.
The University of Utah School of Architecture envisions to strengthen its current research and design profile. The school has been expanding on research activities and creative work of faculty and plans to increase this further. The SoA is one of the most active schools of architecture in the region and nation with a strong research and design profile. Our aspirations strongly align with that of the university to be among the top public institutions in the nation. The school anticipates the successful candidate will be part of this initiative. The SoA offers an accredited Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS), and a Master of Science in Architectural Studies (MSAS). Additionally, the SoA started offering a newly created Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies (BAAS) in Fall 2025. In the near future, the SoA will add a new PhD program in Architecture to the portfolio of the programs offered. In the last several years, a new integrated curriculum has been developed with a sequence of immersive design studios with integrated courses (technology, research, theory, design communication, etc.), building up from bachelor to master to a capstone experience of a student-driven individual design project prepared and supported by architectural research.
We are committed to teaching the practices of creative critical thinking, community engagement, design excellence, design research, pedagogies and practices in architecture, ecological resilience, global citizenship, leadership/collaboration, risk taking/exploration, among others.
Our work is interdisciplinary and integrated. We are known as champions of placebased engagement (including our signature DesignBuildUTAH program), social justice, and environmental stewardship. We convene critical conversations, host national conferences, foster community dialogues, publish the critical journal Dialectic, and serve as a test bed for ideas on the university campus. We are risk takers and innovators, and we do so driven by our ethic of care, which underlies all we do in our teaching, scholarship and service. For more information, please visit http://soa.cap.utah.edu.
The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a strong background in architectural design research at the intersection of architecture as a liberal art and computational design. This may entail enriched knowledge and understanding of design process, materials, sketching, physical act of making with different materials, design inquiry and engagement, design thinking and imagination which can provide invaluable form of liberal-arts inquiry, traditional and innovative joinery methods, connections between design, aesthetics and technology, computational design, and design research to attain architectural design excellence. The successful candidate should possess knowledge of developing an undergraduate or graduate design program to generate a new band of knowledge. Candidates are expected to teach studio and hold lecture classes and seminars in their area of expertise at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Knowledge and a critical understanding of design research and computational design is essential. There will be a high level of integration with studio and other core courses, and the ability to take a leadership role in this area of the curriculum is critical for this position. Preference will be given to candidates who have expertise in design research in computational design.
Candidates will be required to conduct quality research and produce scholarly work within an R1 university setting. Based on the research expectations for this position, successful candidates will have a strong research trajectory and may hold a PhD degree. The SoA's expectations of candidates' during retention and promotion reviews include (1) seeking competitive external funding to support research and creative work, (2) maintaining strong publication and creative works of the highest quality, and (3) supporting mentoring students through research.
Candidates will be required to show commitment in promoting the School of Architecture's core beliefs - design excellence, responsibility, resiliency, respect and response. These four core beliefs also align with the College of Architecture + Planning's core commitments that include responsibility, respect, resilience, and response. Additionally, candidates will take up responsibility for committee and service assignments. Candidates should possess a quality of mind displaying high levels of intelligence, clarity of communication, analytical competence, critical judgment, originality, and initiative. Candidates should be individuals who value, advocate, and encourage free analysis and representation and constructive, mutually respectful relationships with faculty, staff, and students.
Minimum qualifications:
An accredited degree in architecture with an advanced degree in architecture, design research within computational design.
Previous academic teaching and/or professional experience (with examples).
Demonstration of research and/or creative work, and demonstration of trajectory of excellence in these areas.
Ability to teach design studio courses and seminars in which students develop innovative architectural designs for moderately complex projects, forms, and outputs.

Preferred qualifications:
A PhD or doctoral degree in architecture (with focus on design research in computational design, architecture as a liberal art).
Integration of architectural research with design projects.
Awards or recognition for teaching and/or design.
Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2026 and remain open until filled.
Application

Qualified applicants must submit:
a) A letter of intent including qualifications and areas of expertise/teaching interests. The letter of intent should also include the candidate's approach to our school's core beliefs and the college's commitments.
b) Curriculum Vitae.
c) Teaching philosophy (one page) - please submit under "Teaching Statement".
d) Research statement (one page).
e) A scholarly/design portfolio including architectural design work, design research, and computational design (i.e., architecture, design practices, design research, architecture from the perspective of liberal arts, etc.) and examples of student work (8MB max or a link to a digital portfolio). - Please submit under "Applicant Document - Other".
f) Names and contact information of three references (with phone, mail, and email addresses). References will not be contacted prior to receiving the candidate's consent to contact. All materials should be uploaded via https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/. Candidates may be asked to provide additional information during the search process. Please address questions about the search for this position to the Search Committee Chair, Professor Patrick Tripeny: tripeny@arch.utah.edu.
Questions pertaining specifically to the School of Architecture may be directed to Chair of the School, Dr. Timothy O. Adekunle: timothy.adekunle@utah.edu.

Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2026 and remain open until filled.