Jobs

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture, together with the Schwarzman College of Computing (SCC) seeks candidates for a tenure-track faculty position in Data and Design to be hired at the Assistant Professor level to begin July 1, 2023 or on a mutually agreed date thereafter.

The need for a sustainable built environment demands new tools and new approaches to design and visualization. We are seeking a new faculty member dedicated to design research efforts that leverage information, creative computation, and digital tools to create new approaches and impacts—from the scale of neighborhoods and communities, to the scale of the planet.

The position is open to multiple interpretations of this challenge; these include design as an interface to information, new conceptions of the role of information in design processes and outcomes, the creation of intelligent design tools, speculative and creative computation, data-rich installations, visualization-as-animation, and critical approaches to spatialized visualization in the context of machine learning and artificial intelligence. We are interested in new modes of practice, and new approaches to the social, cultural and ethical aspects of design in a landscape of data and its application to design problems.

At the Institute level, this position will contribute to larger conversations at MIT about the role of data and computing in creative thinking, culture, expression, and problem solving. Alongside colleagues at the intersection of computing and fields such as music and linguistics, the successful candidate will help reveal how data and computing can inform design, and also, crucially, how design thinking and culture can inform new approaches to computing. While candidates will be expected to situate themselves in a department concerned with the future of the planet and built environment, they may also situate themselves in one or more specific scales at which the department undertakes these efforts; from the design of objects, to landscapes, to physical architecture, which remains at the center of the department’s work.

In addition to this context at the Institute level, this year MIT announced the creation of the MIT Morningside Academy for Design, a new academy which aims to foster collaboration and innovation on campus. The Academy will be housed in the School of Architecture and Planning, and it will create and administer academic and research programs across MIT, especially between the School of Architecture and Planning and the School of Engineering. Launching Fall 2022 it will be a major interdisciplinary center that will build on the Institute’s leadership in design-focused education and become a global hub for design research, thinking, and entrepreneurship. It will act as a center that will encourage design work at MIT to grow and cross disciplines among engineering, science, management, computing, architecture, urban planning, and the arts. The academy will strengthen MIT’s ongoing efforts to tackle pressing issues of global importance, such as climate adaptation, public health, transportation, civic engagement, and social justice.

At the department level, the successful candidate will contribute to teaching in design programs at every level, with an emphasis on research-focused graduate work and undergraduate teaching in architecture and design. The successful candidate will show potential to develop courses that reach across disciplinary boundaries, as part of a larger, Institute-wide conversation on design, to which the Department of Architecture is a central contributor.

Uniquely situated at the intellectual intersection(s) of the Department of Architecture and the SCC, this faculty position will provide strategic linkages between the cultures of architectural design and computation. While the candidate’s tenure process will be located primarily in Architecture, they will contribute actively to the growth and development of the SCC, including teaching courses that support shared SCC and Department goals, and working in service roles contributing across both communities as well. Above all, the successful candidate will be proactive in identifying opportunities for new forms of connectivity between the Department of Architecture and the SCC.

One of MIT’s first departments, and home to the first professional program in Architecture in the US, the MIT Department of Architecture is dedicated to an equitable, sustainable, humanistic and technologically sophisticated vision of design and pedagogy. The academic structure of the department is unique in that each of its five disciplinary areas (1) Architecture + Urbanism, (2) History, Theory and Criticism, (3) Building Technology, (4) Art, Culture and Technology, and (5) Computation work at equal intensity across disciplinary boundaries to create an environment in which innovative research and scholarship fuse with the pedagogical agendas of ongoing design inquiries. The department also engages productively in research and education alliances with the other units in the School (the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, the Media Lab / Program in Media Arts and Sciences, the Program in Art, Culture and Technology, the Center for Real Estate, and Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism). Given this context, the department is explicitly committed to excellence in both pedagogical and research activities.

The SCC is a college that works across all five of MIT’s existing schools. The college is designed to lead in computing education and research across a wide range of disciplines, as well as in computer science, AI, and related fields. The SCC both brings together existing MIT programs in computing and develops new cross-cutting educational and research programs. For existing programs, the college facilitates coordination and manages growth in areas such as computer science, artificial intelligence, data systems and society, and operations research, as well as helps to strengthen interdisciplinary computing programs such as computational science and engineering. For new areas, the college is creating platforms for the study and practice of social and ethical responsibilities of computing, for multi-departmental computing education, and for incubating new interdisciplinary computing activities.

The Department of Architecture and the Schwarzman College of Computing (SCC) are committed to fostering interdisciplinary design work and research that can address grand challenges facing our society. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. The successful candidate will have a shared appointment in both the Department of Architecture and the SCC, in either the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) or the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), with teaching duties within Architecture and SCC, including the Institute-wide Common Grounds initiative in computing education. We seek candidates who will provide inspiration and leadership in design and/or research, and contribute proactively to all levels of teaching in the Department of Architecture and the SCC. The ability to contribute to undergraduate as well as graduate coursework will be a major criterion in the search.

The candidate is expected to participate in the intellectual life of the Institute, and the ability and readiness to teach and develop pedagogical initiatives that transcend disciplinary boundaries. Faculty duties include teaching courses, advising students, and conducting original scholarly research and/or contributing to the disciplines via professional practice.

Candidates are expected to hold an advanced degree in Architecture, Design, or Art/ Media Studies (at the Master’s or Ph.D. level) or a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Physics, or Applied Mathematics or a similar discipline by the beginning of employment. The committee is particularly interested in candidates whose education and understanding demonstrates the ability to engage across these disciplines.

MIT is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national ethnic origin. The Department of Architecture continues to develop its diverse communities of teachers and scholars, and strongly encourage applications from women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and/or members of under-represented groups.

Qualifications

Candidates are expected to hold an advanced degree in Architecture, Design, or Art/ Media Studies (at the Master’s or Ph.D. level) or a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Physics, or Applied Mathematics or a similar discipline by the beginning of employment. The committee is particularly interested in candidates whose education and understanding demonstrates the ability to engage across these disciplines.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit: a statement of interest outlining their interests and qualifications for the position, including major professional, research, pedagogical goals and achievements. We also request a statement on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as vision and plans for the future in these areas. Applicants are encouraged to discuss approaches to fostering an inclusive environment including but not limited to teaching, mentoring, and affirming diverse viewpoints. We request a curriculum vitae; three current references with contact information; and a maximum 36 page, letter-sized portfolio of design, research or scholarly work. Review of applicants will begin November 7th, 2022. Please submit materials to: apply.interfolio.com/101574 . For technical issues, please contact Interfolio staff at 877-997-8807 or help@interfolio.com/101574. MIT is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment; women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. EOE.

Applications will be accepted only online through the Interfolio website at apply.interfolio.com/101574. Materials must be submitted as PDFs in standard US letter size 8-1/ x 11 inches and include: letter of intent, curriculum vitae, one-page statement on research, one-page statement on teaching, selective portfolio of work up to 36 pages, names and complete contact information for three references. We also request a statement on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as vision and plans for the future in these areas. Applicants are encouraged to discuss approaches to fostering an inclusive environment

Description

The Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is seeking to fill a tenure-track faculty teaching position in global Architectural History, 1400-1800, in the History Theory Criticism (HTC) Program in Architecture and Art History. The History, Theory, Criticism program in MIT's School of Architecture and Planning was founded in the 1970s as the first PhD-granting program in a school of architecture, specializing in interdisciplinary research and teaching focused on the intertwined histories of architecture and art. Over this period, HTC has become a leader in the field of architectural history and theory, with alumni in the United States and across the world assuming strong leadership positions in the field.

The successful candidate should have conducted doctoral studies primarily in the historical study of architecture in the period of the fifteenth to the eighteenth century, an era defined by new economic, cultural, military and technological encounters between the different peoples of the world. They will aid the faculty of the HTC program, and the Department, in further extending HTC’s ambition to address critical issues pertaining to this global history and its ramifications for the field today. These issues include the history of environment and politics; the history of materials and material cultures in global trade and exchange; the history of design and manufacturing, the history of inequality (race, class, gender); and studies in technology and society.

MIT has both a strong doctoral and professional program in architecture and its associated disciplines, and applicants should be prepared to contribute to an interdisciplinary program that serves diverse, highly motivated student body pursuing graduate and undergraduate programs not only in architecture, but also the arts, the humanities and social sciences, and the sciences and technology. The selected candidate will be expected to teach both broad survey as well as specialized seminar courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as guiding masters and doctoral research in the history of architecture and art in an internationally recognized School of Architecture and Planning. The PhD is essential, and applicants who also have training in architectural design or urbanism are strongly encouraged to apply. 

In keeping with MIT's culture of faculty self-governance and the Department's expectations of its faculty, the candidate is expected to participate in the intellectual life and administrative functioning of the department, and to contribute to the department's research and pedagogical agendas. The individual should enjoy collaborating with colleagues, be an articulate communicator, and be dedicated to help steer and support the rich, diverse culture of the Department. In pursuing research, teaching or practice, the individual should also be an effective representative of the department to the external world, including professional organizations and the rapidly changing world of academic publishing.

Dedicated to a humanistic and technologically sophisticated vision of design, history, and pedagogy, the Department of Architecture is uniquely positioned within the School of Architecture and Planning and within the larger institution of MIT, which strongly supports innovation and entrepreneurial activity, cross-disciplinary work, and diversity. The Department is actively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and culturally inclusive community of faculty, students, and staff, and a learning and research environment that welcomes and supports diverse interests, orientations, and work. The academic structure of the Department is unique in that each of its five disciplinary areas (Architecture + Urbanism; Art, Culture and Technology; Building Technology; Computation; and History, Theory and Criticism) work at equal intensity, across boundaries, and in collaboration to create an environment in which innovative research and scholarship fuse with the pedagogical agendas of the studios and ongoing design inquiry. 

The Department engages productively in research and education alliances with the other units in the School (e.g., the Department of Urban Studies and Planning; Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism; Media Lab; Program in Media Arts and Sciences; Program in Art, Culture and Technology, and Center for Real Estate). In this exciting context, the Department is explicitly committed to excellence in both pedagogical and research activities. Believing that the cross current between the two creates a charged atmosphere for study and a critical edge for research, we are seeking candidates with an ability to thrive and lead in the Department.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

The position is designed for a junior scholar for whom a hire at the Assistant or Associate without Tenure level is appropriate, depending on scholarly experience in the field. An ability to advance a teaching and research agenda in an academic environment are essential. Candidates should hold a PhD in architectural history and show proven excellence in teaching, scholarship, design practice or a combination thereof. The committee will consider candidates in advanced stages of their PhD studies.

Application Instructions

Please note: offers are contingent upon gaining appropriate work authorization. 

Interested applicants should submit: a statement of interest outlining their vision and qualifications for the position, including major professional, research, pedagogical goals and achievements; a teaching statement along with syllabi for two potential classes the applicant might want to teach; a curriculum vitae; a list of three recommenders and their contact information; a dossier of selected scholarly work composed of no more than three chapters or articles. We also request a statement on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as vision and plans for the future in these areas. Applicants are encouraged to discuss approaches to fostering an inclusive environment including but not limited to teaching, mentoring, and affirming diverse viewpoints. Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. Please submit materials to Interfolio via  http://apply.interfolio.com/108170. Applications will be accepted only online through the Interfolio website. Please address application materials to: 

HTC Search Chair
Dept of Architecture, History Theory and Criticism Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA  02139-4307

For technical issues, please contact Interfolio at (877) 997-8807 or support.interfolio.com/m/62819.

MIT is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment; women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, national or ethnic origin. The Department of Architecture continues to develop its diverse communities of teachers and scholars, and strongly encourage applications from women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and/or members of under-represented groups.

Learn more and apply: https://apply.interfolio.com/108170

Administrative Assistant II, Department of Architecture, to handle a variety of tasks in support of the AKPIA discipline group. Will serve as a source to faculty, graduate students and visitors and serve as a liaison between the discipline group and Headquarters office.

Will provide organizational support of section activities, including, but not limited to, travel arrangements for subject-related field trips; schedule section faculty meetings, as needed; participate in events management related to academic and social activities including Open Houses, lecture and exhibitions openings, end-of-term studio and thesis reviews, student social events, and conferences. Event management includes room reservations, set-up, catering, alcohol permission, advertising, serving as liaison with speakers and collecting RSVP’s, etc.

Monitor expenditures and prepare all forms of purchasing/ reimbursement documents as related to events, classroom supplies, and general office supplies. Provide support for subject offerings, including room reservations, collection of grades and syllabi, guidance of Teaching Assistants as it relates to purchasing procedures.

Will oversee the TA/RA placement and hiring process for every semester for AKPIA. Will also participate in the Dept. of Architecture admissions efforts throughout the year through answering inquiries from prospective applicants as support to the direct activities of the admissions committee.

Other duties may include editing website content, design and brand awareness, and social media. Will be expected to perform routine tasks (mail, photocopying, distribution of office keys, etc.) and participate in regular organizational maintenance of office suite to maintain professional and efficient workspace. Provide support to senior leaders of the group as new initiatives are determined. Position requires occasional compensated extended hours related to special events.

Qualifications & Skills:

REQUIRED: a minimum of three years’ experience in a professional administrative office support position, preferably in an academic environment. Meticulous attention to detail; must possess demonstrated organizational/events management experience. Must have extensive computer proficiency, including standard Office suite, familiarity with MIT SAPWeb, Concur and CANVAS preferred, as is experience with social networking applications. Experience with web CMS helpful. Seek proactive/resourceful individual, with upbeat customer service attitude, who can multitask with calm efficiency in a work environment with changing priorities.