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Job Summary

The School of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY seeks a candidate with expertise in Architectural Lighting Design at the Assistant Professor level (on tenure-track) or Associate Professor level (with tenure) who will teach Lighting courses as part of the Graduate Lighting, Bachelor of Architecture, and Master of Architecture degree programs.

Rensselaer is renowned for its contemporary, interdisciplinary, and forward-looking academic and graduate research programs in architecture, including the Architectural Acoustics program, the Center for Architecture, Science, and Ecology (CASE), and the Lighting Research Center (LRC). The School of Architecture is committed to new forms of innovation and discovery as we prepare our graduates for future leadership in the profession. Given this broad context, the successful candidate will be expected to take advantage of Rensselaer’s extensive interdisciplinary resources.

Qualifications & Evaluation Criteria: The successful candidate will be accomplished in the general area of architectural lighting design, whether that is defined by design work in the areas of professional practice or application and /or laboratory experimental research areas such as digital computation, environmental technology, building and construction systems, or product development.

Important criteria that will be used throughout the evaluation process include:
• A track record of teaching experience at university undergraduate and graduate levels is desirable.
• A strong track record of lighting and lighting product design work and/or research as demonstrated by, but not limited to, the following: experimental projects supported by grants or other sources of research funding, client-based projects supported by private or public commissions, public distribution, and recognition of research and/or design work in the form of publications, exhibitions, conferences, lectures, etc.
• An ability and vision to develop the Lighting Research Center and lighting education program at Rensselaer.

To be considered as Assistant Professor, candidates must have completed a Master’s or Doctorate degree (or foreign degree equivalent) in architecture, or a terminal degree in a closely related field. Candidates must be engaged in pursuing a record of design, scholarly research, and/or publications in nationally recognized books, journals, and conferences that demonstrate a contribution to the teaching or practice of architectural lighting.

To be considered as an Associate Professor with tenure, candidates must also possess an established national or international reputation and track record in the area of architectural lighting, and have a portfolio of related design, scholarly research, and/or publications in nationally recognized books, journals, and conferences. All candidates must demonstrate promise of success as an educator.

Duties and responsibilities of the successful candidate include teaching lighting at the graduate and undergraduate levels in addition to continued development of the candidate’s body of work, i.e. research, design work, and scholarship, as required by the tenure-track promotion and tenure process at Rensselaer. The successful candidate will contribute substantially to the intellectual content of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum and will sustain a substantial research, proposal development, and scholarly enterprise to the innovative practice of architectural lighting.

Questions may be directed to Lori A. Gregware-Greenough, Executive Assistant to the Dean,
School of Architecture: gregwl@rpi.edu

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range:

• Assistant Professor: $90,000 - $100,000
• Associate Professor: $105,000 –$120,000 

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education, and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief application with contact information for three (3) referees and be prepared to upload the following materials:
• A general statement of interest (500 words max.).
• A teaching statement that includes a description of the courses the applicant has taught and/or is qualified to teach.
• A research and/or practice statement that provides an overview of the applicant’s research and/or practice and how that research and/or practice aligns with the interests of the school (550 words max)
• A curriculum vitae
• A PDF portfolio (maximum 10 pages and 20Mb file size, formatted at 8.5”x11”)
• A diversity statement comprised of a paragraph about how the applicant views diversity and the importance of diversity in the university environment.

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit
no later than Monday, March 18, 2024

Rensselaer is committed to providing a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment for its faculty, staff and students.  As such, we strongly recommend that faculty, staff and students obtain a COVID-19 vaccination and remain current with available boosters to protect themselves, as well as to protect vulnerable members of the community.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Rensselaer is recognized locally and nationally for the depth and breadth of its compensation and benefits program. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).

We welcome candidates who will bring diverse cultural, ethnic, national and international perspectives to Rensselaer’s work and campus communities.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Race/Gender/Veterans/Disability Employer.