Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture

Job Title
Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture

Requisition Number
FE04766

Working Title

Department Name
8N100:School of Architecture

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Type of Position
Faculty

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track

Required Education

Professional and terminal degree in Architecture or equivalent.

Required Related Experience

Professional work experience, teaching experience at the university level, and a research/practice agenda on integrated building design technology and/or digital fabrication.

Required License/Registration/Certification

NCARB or equivalent architectural registration (preferred).

Job Summary

The School of Architecture at the University of Kentucky (UK) invites nominations and applications for the position of Assistant Professor in the Regular Title Series. This full-time tenure-track academic position comes with a 9-month appointment, and an anticipated start date of August 1, 2026.

The School of Architecture is deeply committed to further advancing its design technology and digital fabrication curriculum. It is a growing part of our school, and we seek a colleague who will help further shape this mission. We invite applications from candidates with a strong interest in building design technology and/or digital fabrication. Candidates whose research and teaching focus on environmental systems, climate responsiveness, innovative building systems, design-build initiatives, digital fabrication, and its related topics will be given preference.

The School encourages candidates with a research/practice agenda that’s dedicated to an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to design. Candidates are expected to articulate how their research/practice endeavors advance the field of architecture and how they affiliate their research and teaching towards the education of future architects by reflecting on the challenges of our discipline on a vulnerable planet. We encourage candidates with experience in or a well-articulated plan for collaboration across disciplines.

Candidates should demonstrate a strong track record of teaching through creative instructional approaches and effective communication with their students. We are interested in applicants with the pedagogical agility and creativity necessary to advance our curriculum through instruction, course development, and faculty collaborations that promote an overall integrated and interdisciplinary approach to architectural design.

Responsibilities:


The successful candidate will teach at the undergraduate and/or graduate level: two architecture studios, as well as either a required lecture course in our core curriculum or a seminar and/or elective related to their specific field of expertise. Candidates will maintain an active, interdisciplinary research agenda in their area of expertise, as evidenced by peer-reviewed scholarship and/or creative work of national and international standing. Candidates are also expected to engage in service to the school, college, university, profession, and community.

What we offer:


The appointment comes with start-up support to launch a research program that produces scholarly or creative output of national and international standing. Additional funding support, through the School, the College, and the University, is also available to help faculty develop their teaching and research. We are invested in supporting new faculty through dedicated mentoring for career advancement.

The School offers a dynamic environment that bolsters freedom of creativity and experimentation in both research and teaching. Our newly updated facilities at the award-winning Gray Design Building provide opportunities to produce multiple-scale projects. The School has an established Design-Build initiative that offers an undergraduate certificate and a strong track record of collaborative, interdisciplinary partnerships across campus.

Minimum Qualifications:


- Advanced degree (Terminal Master’s in Architecture or equivalent; Ph.D. candidates are welcome to apply)

- Well-rounded architectural experience with an emphasis on integrated building design technology and/or digital fabrication

- Body of research in the form of built work, design research, or scholarship disseminated through publications, exhibitions, public lectures, and/or recognized by grants or design awards

- Teaching experience at the university level and professional experience, preferably in practices internationally recognized for advancing architecture.

Desired Qualifications:


- Professional licensure in Architecture

About the School of Architecture


The University of Kentucky (UK) is a Research-1, land-grant university with sixteen colleges and more than 250 undergraduate and graduate programs. As part of the College of Design, the School of Architecture offers the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s sole NAAB-accredited Architecture program. The School is home to a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and two- and three-year Master of Architecture programs. Established in 1965, the School of Architecture today employs 30 full and part-time faculty, who teach over 300 graduate and undergraduate students.

The School is undergoing an exciting period of transformation, as we have recently moved with Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Historic Preservation, and Product Design into the new, award-winning Gray Design Building. In addition to collaborative work across the College, the Architecture faculty lead several collaborative, interdisciplinary partnerships across campus, most notably with the College of Engineering, College of Agriculture, and Environmental & Sustainability Studies. With this new facility, new resources, and an interdisciplinary design environment, our program looks towards an outstanding, vibrant future.

The School of Architecture has a rich academic tradition as an open-minded setting that supports different intellectual approaches within a rigorous architectural curriculum. Throughout its history, Kentucky’s academic environment, one which balances intellectual diversity with connectivity and ingenuity, has attracted outstanding faculty and students, enabling many to reach the highest levels of national academic and professional achievement. On the University of Kentucky’s flagship campus in Lexington, the School strives to fulfill the University’s bold Land Grant Mission by delivering exceptional design thinking to improve our region’s built environment and the lives of its citizens.

We at the University of Kentucky School of Architecture are committed to fostering an academic environment where all individuals are respected and supported. We aim to create a safe, accessible, and collaborative learning setting that encourages a wide range of ideas and the free exchange of viewpoints. We value openness, connection, transparency, accountability, and fairness. Our program empowers students to become leaders in advancing the public good through the creation of accessible and innovative built environments.

The School of Architecture values and supports dual-career considerations; however, the University cannot guarantee spousal or partner appointments. We are committed to assisting successful candidates in exploring available dual-career resources, but candidates should not rely on the possibility of a spousal or partner appointment when making employment decisions.

Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by February 1, 2026, will be assured of full consideration. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Galo Canizares, Chair of the Search Committee, galo.canizares@uky.edu. For more information about the College of Design and the University of Kentucky, please visit: https://design.uky.edu

Application


Please apply directly via the UK Jobs System. A complete application must include and will be evaluated based on the following materials:

· Cover Letter (2-3 pages) – addressing your interest in this position, identifying your teaching and research area, and alignments with the minimum and desired qualifications listed above. The letter should articulate a clear research agenda and teaching philosophy, with emphasis on collaborative and interdisciplinary work and how you see your contribution to the advancement of the field within and beyond the School. The statement should also provide a framework for the content of the portfolio and how the discussed work has advanced the values of architecture’s inclusive reach and diverse intellectual perspectives.

· Curriculum vitae

· Specific Request 1 – Portfolio of Work

· Specific Request 2 – Portfolio of Teaching, including Syllabi and Student Work

Please also include the names and contact information for three additional references when prompted in the application. This information will not be solicited without applicant’s consent, after achieving finalist status. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications received by February 1, 2026, will be assured full consideration.

About the University of Kentucky

UK is a public, land-grant, Research I, Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University, and is the Commonwealth’s flagship institution. UK plays a critical leadership role in improving people’s lives through excellence in teaching, research, health care, cultural enrichment, economic development, and societal engagement. The campus is home to more than 36,000 students, 2,600 full-time faculty, and 14,000 full-time staff. The University is one of eight institutions in the country with a major academic medical center, land grant status, and a full spectrum of academic colleges and professional schools on one contiguous campus. As such, UK is an incubator for transdisciplinary research. These collaborations allow researchers and learners to address the rapidly changing needs of Lexington, the Commonwealth, and global society.

The University of Kentucky consists of 16 academic and professional colleges where students can choose from more than 200 majors and degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The scholarly community is supported by a comprehensive library system, off-campus centers for research and teaching, and the Cooperative Extension system in the state. UK’s student body represents more than 100 countries, every state in the nation, and all 120 Kentucky counties. The University has reached historic enrollment, retention, and graduation rates in recent years, while enrolling a significant proportion of first-generation students.

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

N/A

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No

Preferred Education/Experience

N/A

Deadline to Apply

Open Until Filled
Yes

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.