School of Planning, Design and Construction
Academic Tenure Track Assistant Professor Position
for the Urban and Regional Planning Program

Proposed Position: Tenure-track assistant professor

Program: Urban and Regional Planning (URP)
Appointment: 45% Teaching, 30% Research, 15% Outreach and 10% Service
Start Date: August 16, 2027

The Urban and Regional Planning Program in the School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applications for a tenure-system faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. This is an academic year (9-month) appointment with a 30% research, 45% teaching, 15% outreach, and 10% service assignment.

The successful candidate will contribute to the School’s vision of creating sustainable and healthy built, natural, and virtual environments. We are seeking candidates whose work advances community-engaged, data-informed, and resilient community planning, with an emphasis on applying emerging methods and technologies to complex planning challenges. We are especially interested in a candidate whose teaching and research incorporates AI and big-data applications to topics such as Transportation, infrastructure, and energy planning; Climate resilience and disaster planning; Urban and community design; or Community-engaged planning and development.

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to secure funded research, publish peer-reviewed scholarship, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in innovative and interdisciplinary research. The position is expected to establish a nationally recognized community-engaged research program that contributes particularly to SPDC’s core scholarly areas of Climate-Resilient Communities and Adaptation, Housing Innovation and Community Development, Healthy Environments for Human Well-Being, and Environmental and Social Impact.

A distinctive component of the position will be its integration with SPDC’s Urban Collaborators initiative and MSU Extension. The successful candidate will leverage these partnerships to identify meaningful research questions, develop long-term community collaborations, pursue external funding, and generate both scholarly publications and applied community outcomes. This integration of research and outreach will strengthen SPDC’s interdisciplinary impact while advancing MSU’s land-grant mission through scholarship that directly benefits Michigan communities.

Required qualifications: Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, or a closely related field. At least one of the candidate’s graduate degrees, either a master’s or doctoral degree, must be from an accredited program in the United States.

All required degrees must be conferred before the start date. Ability to teach within the Urban and Regional Planning core curriculum is essential.

Desired qualifications: Professional planning experience and/or AICP certification is welcomed. Experience in community-engaged research, externally funded projects, interdisciplinary collaboration, and partnerships with communities, public agencies, Extension, or other external organizations is desirable. The candidate should also demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across academic disciplines and with community partners.

Salary and Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. MSU offers a generous benefits package (details at

https://hr.msu.edu/benefits/index.html).

Required Application Materials

All candidates for the position (posting # 1172569) must apply online at http://careers.msu.edu/. Applicants for this position should submit 1) a formal letter of interest addressing your teaching philosophy including summary of your professional experience and skills, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a one-page statement that describes how you will contribute to CANR’s positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging , and 4) the names and contact information for three references (letters are not initially required, but these individuals will be approached for letters before the final interviews).

Special Instructions

Questions regarding this position should be directed via email to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Zeenat Kotval-K, kotvalze@msu.edu. Contact for administrative inquiries: Ms. Mary Beth Graebert, lakemary@msu.edu, 517-353-5274.

Review of Applications Begins/Closing Date

Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. The appointment will commence August 16, 2027.

Program Statement

The Urban and Regional Planning program was established in 1946, the Program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) since 1987. We offer a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (BSURP), a Master of Urban and Regional planning (MURP) and a Ph.D. in Planning, Design and Construction. The Urban and Regional Planning Program is STEM designated at Michigan State University. The overall vision/mission of the Urban & Regional Planning (URP) Program is to create a sustainable built and natural environment that enriches communities through leadership, entrepreneurial creativity, social responsibility and environmentally sustainable planning and policy. Toward that end, the URP program strives to offer exemplary teaching in the programs offered, relevant and timely research, and foster a sense of community among faculty, students, alumni, staff and other stakeholders. For more information, please refer to our website at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/urban_and_regional_planning/index.

School Statement

The School of Planning, Design, and Construction unites four academic programs related to the built environment: Construction Management, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning, with 46 faculty and academic specialists, and 7 staff members. The School offers 9 degree pathways from Bachelors to Ph.D. – including 5 professionally accredited degrees with over 600 undergraduate and 70 graduate students. The School is administered by the Colleges of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

The mission of the School is to advance the knowledge, prepare innovative leaders, and support the practice of planning, design, and construction. Our academic activities address sustainability, health, transportation, economic development and communities. Please refer to the School’s homepage available at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/.