Interior Design Professor Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Description
The School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in the Architecture 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 architectural design. The individual hired will play a critical role in shaping a dynamic curriculum, teaching both required and elective courses in their area of expertise, while advancing their own research/creative practice. We are seeking candidates whose design work and experience offer inspiring, relevant, and innovative perspectives on discipline-specific issues through research, scholarship, critical practice, collaboration, and pedagogy. The successful candidate will engage with interdisciplinary opportunities available at the school, the university, the city, and beyond.
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 Architecture 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.
University Context:
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.
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.
Faculty at the School benefit from access to a suite of labs that support advanced teaching and research. The Materials Lab houses one of the country's largest collections of material samples, available for teaching, research, and public exhibition. The Technology Lab provides equipment for digital simulation and visualization, including VR/AR tools. The Build Lab and the Wood Shop support full-scale prototyping, construction, and fabrication. These resources enable faculty to integrate design, research, and experimentation into their teaching and practice.
The School of Architecture is recognized for its vibrant studio culture, where students and faculty across programs work in shared spaces that encourage exchange and experimentation. This collaborative environment allows faculty to explore cross-disciplinary teaching and to engage with students from different professional backgrounds, enriching both pedagogy and practice.
UTSOA maintains strong collaborations with other colleges at the university, reflected in a robust set of dual-degree programs. Students may combine architecture or planning studies with degrees in Law, Public Affairs, Latin American Studies, or Sustainable Design, among others. 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.
Faculty across the School regularly partner with community organizations and local government to address pressing urban issues in Austin and beyond. These partnerships - with groups such as the City of Austin, non-profit housing coalitions, and regional planning authorities - create a platform for praxis-oriented research and allow faculty to directly connect their scholarship to real-world impact.
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, creative practice, 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.
Beyond its professional relevance, Austin is known for its high quality of life. The city combines a thriving music, food, and arts scene with extensive access to natural environments, including the Barton Creek Greenbelt, Lady Bird Lake, and the Texas Hill Country. Faculty relocating to Austin find a city that is both culturally vibrant and family-friendly, with year-round outdoor activities and a welcoming community.
Qualifications
Candidates must hold a terminal professional degree or PhD, as appropriate to the field, demonstrate potential for significant contributions in research/creative practice, and show evidence of effective studio teaching. The successful candidate will clearly articulate their future research and scholarly trajectory and their plans for contributing to the advancement of the field.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Please note that the School of Architecture will not be able to guarantee employment-based visa sponsorship for this position.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following materials online: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research/creative practice, statement of teaching philosophy, design portfolio, and contact information for three references. We also welcome a teaching portfolio and scholarly writing samples. Review of applications will begin on December 15 and continue until the position is filled.
Contact for questions: Professor Elizabeth Danze, Architecture Program Director, edanze@utexas.edu