JOB OPPORTUNITY
Job title: Assistant Professor in Urban Informatics/Analytics (University of Utah)
Hiring institution: City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah | United States
Application deadline: Open until filled
The University of Utah seeks to fill a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level to begin in Fall 2025. This is a joint hire between the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning and the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute at the University of Utah. We seek a colleague with a commitment to excellence in teaching and demonstrated ability to obtain research funding and publish high-quality peer-reviewed research. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to our university’s Strategy 2035 and the Responsible AI Initiative.
We invite applicants with interest in practical urban planning applications of computational and data-enabled techniques into research approaches, with a commitment to enhancing knowledge discovery through computational modeling and data visualization as well as familiarity with emerging opportunities presented by increased availability of data and data-driven methods (e.g., based on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, use of Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality). Applicants with a focus on planning for social justice or in underserved communities in the areas of smart cities, digital cities, urban infrastructure, equity in housing, equitable transportation access, urban systems, urban data science, urban data analysis, urban informatics, spatial analytics are highly desirable. Qualified candidates may have research interests across the globe, and with an interest in developing a research program in Utah and the Intermountain West. A doctoral degree in planning or a related field is required by July 1, 2025.
About the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning
The successful candidate will join a dynamic group of engaged faculty members who are recognized leaders in their fields and highly value collaboration and collegiality. This person will also benefit from the University of Utah’s strong commitment to sustainability and interdisciplinary initiatives. The Department’s BA/BS undergraduate degree in Urban Ecology focuses on exploring the interrelationships among social, environmental, and economic systems, aiming to enhance the vitality and sustainability of places and communities. The Urban Ecology degree is also taught at the Utah Asia Campus in Songdo, South Korea. The Master of City and Metropolitan Planning (MCMP) is an accredited professional degree emphasizing ecological resiliency, smart growth, and social justice through effective communication, collaboration, and innovation. The Ph.D. in Metropolitan Planning, Policy, and Design is a research-focused program that trains academic leaders of the future. The department also offers a Master of Real Estate Development (with School of Business) and Graduate Certificates in Urban Design, Community Engaged Practices, and Real Estate Development. Applicants are encouraged to consult the department website at http://www.plan.utah.edu/.
The Department of City & Metropolitan Planning is committed to building a welcoming intellectual community and encourages applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply. The University of Utah recognizes that a diverse faculty benefits and enriches the educational experiences of the entire campus and greater community. This institution offers benefits to same-sex and to different-sex domestic partners. This institution offers benefits to spouses.
The Department of City and Metropolitan Planning is one of the four units of the College of Architecture and Planning, which also includes the School of Architecture, the Division of Games, and the Division of Multi-Disciplinary Design.
About the SCI Institute
Over more than two decades, the SCI Institute has established itself as an internationally recognized leader in translational innovations across computational and data science with leading research and training programs in the areas of visualization, scientific and biomedical computing, and image analysis applied to a broad range of challenging problems. For example, the SCI Institute is ranked by CSRankings (http://csrankings.org) as housing the top visualization and High-Performance Computing group internationally. Alongside its research goals is a passion to educate students and staff. The SCI Institute is proud to have supported over 400 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and nearly 100 undergraduates to achieve an education at the cutting-edge of research. SCI graduates move into faculty positions with universities internationally and become innovators with companies such as Apple, Exxon Mobil, Nvidia, Google, Intel, Boston Scientific, Orthogrid, Philips Medical, and Medtronic. Additional information about the Institute and current faculty can be found at http://www.sci.utah.edu.
The University of Utah is a Carnegie Research I Institution and member of the Association of American Universities (AAU); the SCI Institute is a trans-college, research-focused partnering entity at the University of Utah consisting of faculty from 4 academic units in 2 colleges along with students, and staff (185 current personnel). The SCI Institute’s vision is to see applied computing bring transformation across disciplines in a way that benefits the University of Utah and society at large. Its mission is to bring together excellence in diverse domains applied to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary problems of societal importance. The Institute accomplishes these goals through the collaborative development, assembly, and/or application of applied scientific and data computing, imaging, and visualization tools.
About the University
The University of Utah (the U) is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate and 90 graduate degree programs, and an enrollment of more than 32,000 students. In 2019, the University joined the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only, prestigious group of 65 leading research institutions marked by excellence in academic expertise and research impact, student success, and securing resources in support of core missions, which are focused on serving the increasingly diverse student population at the U. In Fall 2021, domestic students of color accounted for more than 30% of the undergraduate population-up from 18% in 2009.
The U is located in Salt Lake City, one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing-economically and culturally-metropolises in the U.S. The city is uniquely situated to offer both unmatched outdoor and exciting urban experiences, with mountain vistas only a few steps away and vast red-rock desert landscapes within reach of a scenic afternoon drive. Additionally, the Utah Asia Campus was established in 2014 and is located in Songdo International Business District in South Korea. Students attending the Utah Asia Campus find the same world-class U.S. academic experience offered at the campus in Salt Lake City.
At the U, you’ll find world-class research, education, and clinical care complemented by a lively social, cultural, and athletic campus experience. An unparalleled spirit of entrepreneurship, collaboration, and community service has enabled the U to innovate across fields, pioneer new programs with social impact, generate path-breaking discoveries, fuel critical research, and inspire innovative approaches to education.
The U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation, and the world. The U’s reputation for excellence draws top-tier faculty and attracts motivated students nationally and internationally. Students bring diverse experiences and outlooks – representing traditional and nontraditional students alike – thereby enhancing the exceptional educational experience the U offers.
Responsibilities:
- developing and maintaining an ongoing program of scholarly research that involves computational modeling and visualization of data for application within urban planning and development;
- developing meaningful collaboration with faculty in SCI, the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, and other academic departments;
- meeting the teaching requirements in the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning;
- engaging as a member of the SCI Institute faculty;
- training and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students;
- developing and submitting research funding proposals to national agencies and foundations;
- participating in faculty governance at the department, college, and university levels.
All faculty are expected to conduct research and/or creative work within an R1 university setting. The university policy defining career-line vs. tenure-line faculty is linked here: https://regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-300.php.)
Required Qualifications
- A doctoral degree in urban and regional planning or a related field by July 1, 2025.
Preferred qualifications
- A record of research in urban Planning or related field using computational modeling and visualization of data.
- Teaching experience at the university level.
- Peer-reviewed research and grant writing experience.
The review of applications will begin on January 30, 2025.
Inquiries regarding the position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Alessandro Rigolon, alessandro.rigolon@utah.edu
Apply here: https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/172714
