"Assistant Professor in Spatial Planning for Sustainability"

Position Description

The School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Spatial Planning for Sustainability, to begin in August 2026. We seek a scholar whose research focuses on urban planning, sustainable development, transportation, land use, and/or environmental sustainability, with a strong emphasis on the use of emerging technologies, such as geospatial artificial intelligence (AI), smart city and/or digital twins, to address pressing challenges in cities, regions, human-environment interactions, and related policy and organizational issues.

The successful candidate will have an active research agenda that advances knowledge in one or more areas such as:

• Urban planning, urban growth, and development dynamics.
• Geospatial AI, smart cities, digital twins, and other computational methods in urban analytics.
• Sustainability, resilience, and social innovation.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting innovative, policy-relevant research on sustainability and planning.
• Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses related to spatial planning in cities, regions, human dynamics, sustainability, resilience, or related global issues (such as United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals).
• Advising and mentoring students on research projects that engage with real-world geospatial and policy challenges.
• Contributing to the collaborations among faculty across the departments, schools, and university.

Evidence of ability to secure external research funding is required.

The appointment commences for the fall 2026 semester.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience: A PhD in urban sciences, geography, GIScience, public policy, sustainability science, urban affairs, urban policy, or a related discipline is required prior to employment; those with ABD status will be considered at the application/interviewing stage. Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, engaging, and dynamic environment comprised of individuals with a range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. We are seeking candidates able to produce research and scholarly or creative achievements that enhance the program and the discipline, and able to deliver high quality teaching using evidence-based practices to effectively engage students from a range of backgrounds and experiences.

Preferred Education and Experience: A PhD in urban sciences, geography, GIScience, public policy, sustainability science, urban affairs, or urban policy.

Application Instructions

Applicants should upload the following:

• Full curriculum vitae and cover letter summarizing their interests and qualifications for the position.
• Statement of teaching philosophy describing their conceptualizations of teaching and learning, and teaching and assessment methods, and how their teaching practices will engage students from a range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Research statement describing past, present, and future research, including how they mentor (or will mentor) student researchers and foster (or will foster) collaborative research environments.
• A writing/publication sample; and
• Full contact information for at least three academic or professional references.

Priority will be given to completed applications received by November 10, 2025. Reviews will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed on March 1, 2026.