Assistant Teaching Professor - The Design Lab

Assistant Teaching Professor: The Design Lab
University of California, San Diego

The Design Lab at UC San Diego (http://designlab.ucsd.edu) and the Department of Visual Arts (https://visarts.ucsd.edu/) at UC San Diego seeks candidates for an Assistant Teaching Professor faculty position across multiple disciplines to begin July 1, 2023. The teaching professor series offers security of employment (analogous to tenure) and focuses on specialized technical education, with a primary focus on teaching and teaching assistant development. While this position is not a research faculty position, members of the series are expected to maintain an ongoing level of activity in their field which might include research, professional service, or publishing.

The Design Lab at the University of California is an interdisciplinary, multi-departmental unit, working with all departments and divisions of the University, including (but not restricted to) the School of Arts and Humanities, Jacobs School of Engineering, School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, Rady School of Management, School of Medicine, School of Social Sciences, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The Design Lab fosters research and practice that centers people and communities in designing interdisciplinary solutions to complex, socio-technical problems. This position requires teaching of university students and the successful candidate will be expected to originate and teach courses to expand the Design Lab's and Department of Visual Arts' undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Particular emphasis is placed upon product, service, and experience design taught in a hands-on studio and maker space environment that employs rigorous human-centered design processes and an iterative prototyping and testing approach. Course work is expected to employ a wide range of prototyping approaches, from basic through advanced methods (manual, CNC, additive, subtractive, forming, etc.), embodying a wide range of materials (soft goods, foam, wood, metal, plastic, electronic, digital, light, sound, structures, space, etc.) as a pedagogical tool to foster a deeper understanding of and engagement with design methods, along with the acquisition of hands-on skills and the appreciation of the value of design artifacts. The ability to connect design practices and outcomes within larger organizational, systemic, and community needs, such as sustainability, value creation, cradle-to-grave manufacturing, competition and strategy, is especially desired.

For the 2022-2023 hiring cycle, the Design Lab is partnering with the Visual Arts Department in the School of Arts and Humanities. Candidates whose work is at the intersection of multiple research interests are encouraged to apply. We are also seeking scholars who engage major societal issues at the intersections of race, ethnicity, indigeneity, migration, gender, sexuality, disability, class, and other manifestations of power and difference.

The successful applicant will be expected to establish a vigorous program of high-quality, design teaching and research. Preferred candidates will be able to demonstrate the potential for teaching excellence as they will be expected to supervise and teach graduate and undergraduate students in design-related courses; demonstrate the highest standards of scholarship and professional activity; and contribute to an institution that is deeply committed to justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity. Inter- or transdisciplinary perspectives, experience with multiple or mixed methodologies, and community-driven design is highly valued. Candidates with demonstrated experience with or willingness to engage in activities that contribute to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion at UC San Diego are especially encouraged to apply.

We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had a substantial impact on academic productivity. In our academic hiring processes, we will be keeping this in mind as we consider achievement relative to opportunity. We encourage you to reflect on constraints on opportunity in your field that were caused by the events of the pandemic and where applicable, to discuss your achievements in this light.

Basic qualifications: Candidates must have a PhD degree (or equivalent) or advancement to candidacy in the fields of Visual Arts, Design, or another Design-related field at the time of application.

Apply link: https://apptrkr.com/3701060

The University of California, San Diego is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, covered veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy). All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to Appendix F, Section I1.C. of the policy for the deadlines applicable to new University of California employees. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.