Tenure-Track Faculty position in Computation, Equity, and the Health of the Planet

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP), in collaboration with the Schwarzman College of Computing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, has established a new joint faculty position that connects three pillars for building a Healthy Planet: Urban Planning, Computation, and Equity. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated interest in the equitable design of computation tools and their use in planning practice that will advance racially and socially just solutions for planetary health and health equity. We are especially interested in candidates whose research focuses on marginalized or under-represented communities, particularly African American and Indigenous communities. This is a full-time, tenure-track (pre- tenure) faculty position at the rank of assistant or associate professor, commensurate with experience. The faculty appointment will begin July 1, 2021, or on a mutually agreed date thereafter. The successful candidate would have a shared appointment in both the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and also the Schwarzman College of Computing, in either the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), or in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS).

Background & Job Description: Over the past decade the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at MIT have developed a strong research and teaching agenda focused on understanding the role of information technologies, Artificial Intelligence, data, sensors, networks, and other computational tools in the planning and development of urban environments. We are searching for candidates who can build on and extend this agenda through teaching and research focused on the health of the planet. Examples of specialization we are looking for may include: climate change, mitigation, or adaptation modeling; energy, food, air, water, or waste systems; energy and natural resource conservation; ethical, sustainable, and racially just approaches to monitoring and sensing in the urban environment; computing’s contributions to understanding the political, cultural, social, and economic dimensions of climate, and other applications that advance racially and socially just solutions for planetary health and health equity. Applicants should be able to interrelate theory, research, and professional practice. They should also show demonstrated capabilities in interdisciplinary endeavors as well as to local, national, and international service.

Faculty duties include teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, advising students, conducting original scholarly research and developing course materials at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Successful applicants will be expected to engage with undergraduate, masters and doctoral students.

Qualifications: The candidate’s knowledge should bridge across computing and related fields -- such as artificial intelligence, data science, remote sensing, simulation and modeling, sensing, or programming -- and urban planning related fields, such as environmental planning and policy, geography, participatory planning and policies, healthy community planning, the design of places, or infrastructure design and development. The use of computation in meeting the needs of cities and communities and the ethical concerns involved, as well as in teaching and connecting to urban design or policy, is of utmost importance.

Successful candidates are expected to have by the start of the employment a Ph.D. in a field related to Urban Planning, Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Geography, Atmospheric or Climate Science, Civil Engineering or a similar discipline.

Applications from under-represented minorities, particularly from Black and Indigenous applicants are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications should be submitted through the Interfolio web site at: apply.interfolio.com/80566

A complete application package includes a cover letter, c.v., statement outlining current and future research and teaching interests; and the names, affiliations, and email addresses of at least three referees.In addition, candidates should provide a statement regarding their views on diversity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as their vision and plans for the future in these areas.

Due Date: All application materials are due by midnight (EST) on December 15, 2020.
For technical issues, please contact Interfolio staff 877-997-8807 or help@interfolio.com. Other questions can be directed to Jesse Kaminsky at kaminsk@MIT.EDU
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For more information about MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning see: http://dusp.mit.edu For more information about MIT Schwarzman College of Computing see: https://computing.mit.edu/

MIT is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. We will take affirmative action to ensure that individuals historically discriminated against by race or gender are represented in our workforce and promoted within our institution.