Assistant Professor, Urban Analytics

Job Description

Virginia Tech’s Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning (UEPP) program in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) invites applicants for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor at our Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, Virginia. We seek candidates with demonstrated scholarly achievement, or potential for such achievement, in urban analytics. Applicants’ foci may be within the domain(s) of land use, housing, transportation, environmental management, or any other domain relevant to urban and environmental planning and policy. We seek applicants that bring reflectiveness and ethical considerations to their research and teaching, alongside strong competency with state-of-the-art analytical tools and approaches. The ideal candidate’s work may draw on a range of disciplinary and methodological approaches.

The expected teaching load is two courses per semester (i.e., four per academic year) and may include graduate level courses in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning, the Doctor of Philosophy in Planning, Governance and Globalization, and Gradate Certificate in Urban Analytics, and undergraduate courses in the Smart and Sustainable Cities and Environmental Policy and Planning undergraduate majors. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop new elective courses within the area of urban analytics and is expected to take on a leadership role with the Urban Analytics Graduate Certificate.

Occasional travel to Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg as well as other locations to engage with project partners and participate in professional conferences is expected.

Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair: Ralph Buehler (ralphbu@vt.edu).

Questions about the online application process should be directed to Ms. Kelly Crist, SPIA Faculty Search Assistant, kcrist@vt.edu, phone: (540) 231-2291.

About the Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning program (UEPP)

UEPP is an action-oriented urban planning and public policy program committed to collaborating with communities at multiple scales to tackle pressing societal, environmental, and technical challenges, and to equipping our students to be effective planning and policy professionals. The program is a high performing team of ~13 faculty engaged in consequential teaching, research, and community engagement that fosters a more sustainable world. We collaborate with others both at Virginia Tech and beyond to produce actionable, policy-relevant, and community-engaged research, and to prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle the most complex challenges. We value our community and treasure the contributions of each member and those we work with.

UEPP is one of three academic units in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) in Virginia Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. The other SPIA programs are the Center for Public Administration and Policy (CPAP) and Government and International Affairs (GIA). SPIA, including UEPP, operates at both the main campus in Blacksburg and in the National Capital Region (Arlington, Virginia). This position will be located at the Arlington campus, in-person. For more information on SPIA and UEPP, please visit https://spia.vt.edu/ and https://spia.vt.edu/programs/uap.html.

How to Apply

Please submit (1) a curriculum vitae (2) a cover letter that addresses: current and future research agendas, an overview of teaching experience and qualifications, and how you can support our strategic priorities in the areas of public interest technology, technology for humanity, and effective engagement at the science-policy interface (3) two samples of written work, and (4) contact information, including email addresses, for three references. Application materials must be submitted online at www.jobs.vt.edu.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Urban Planning or a related field, with an emphasis on urban analytics.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement and ability to work across disciplines and/or topical areas in the domain of urban analytics.
• Potential for societal impacts that inform scholarly discourse and practice in the field.

Preferred Qualifications

• AICP certification is helpful but not required.
• Experience with grant writing.
• Experience with the design and/or instruction of courses related to urban analytics.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with Experience, starting at $90,000

Hours per week

Review Date

November 3, 2025

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.