Assistant Professor Interior Architecture and Design in Digital and Analogue Making

Role Title:Assistant Professor Interior Architecture & Design: Digital and Analogue Making

Grade and Salary:Grade 7 37694 - 47389 per annum

FTE and working pattern:Full-time (35hrs per week) Open-ended

Reward and Benefits: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About our Team

The Creative Environments team at the School of Textiles and Design is a dynamic and interdisciplinary group at the forefront of spatial design innovation. We bring togetherexpertisein architecture architectural technology interior architecture retail design product and furniture design digital design technologies and human-centred design to explore how built and virtual environments shape human experience and behaviour.

We are committed to advancing both theoretical understanding and practical applications in architecture interior architecture and design throughcutting-edgeresearch and scholarship including material experimentation digital and analogue fabrication circular design practice and emerging construction technologies. The team fosters collaborative partnerships with industry leaders engages in impactful community projects andmaintainsstrong connections with international research networks leadingparticularlyingenerative AI sustainabledesignand circular economy applications in the AEC industry. Our work spans residential and commercial interiors to healthcare environments and educational spaces always with a focus on creating environments that enhance human wellbeing and sustainable design practices.

The team delivers the BA in Interior Architecture and Design and the MA in Interior Architecture and Design across our Scottish Borders and Dubai campuses.

Creative Environments Heriot-Watt University

Purpose of Role

We welcome applications for one position atAssistantProfessor (Grade 7) level to join the Creative Environments permanent position is based at our Scottish Borders campus in Galashiels but collaboration with our Dubai team is expected and actively to the Global Head of Creative Environments this is a senior appointment that combines research leadership design studio teaching andprogrammemanagementresponsibility.

The successful candidate will bring deepexpertisein design and making spanning digital fabrication analogue craft material intelligence and the space where these practices converge and a strong commitment to integrating hands-on making culture into contemporary interior architecture addition to an active scholarly agenda and a strong presence in the teaching studio the post holder will be expected to take on or grow into the role ofProgrammeDirector for the BA Interior Architecture and Design.

A defining feature of this appointment is the opportunity to help establish and shape theSchoolsnew Makers Lab on the Scottish Borders campus a physical research and making environment that the incoming postholder will play a central role in developing equipping and connecting to the teams design research agenda. This is a rare chance to build something from the ground up and candidates witha clear visionfor how aUniversitymakingfacility can drive both pedagogical innovation and research impact are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

• Serve as or develop into Programme Director for the BA Interior Architecture and Design providing strategic and day-to-day academic leadership for the programme across both campuses.
• Oversee programme quality student experience and curriculum development in collaboration with the Global Head of Creative Environments and colleagues in Dubai.
• Manage programme administration including timetabling assessment management external examiner liaison and annual programme review.
• Act as a point of contact for students supporting their academic progress and wellbeing in coordination with the Universitys student support services.
• Lead on the development of programme partnerships and collaborations with industry maker communities and international institutions in alignment with theSchoolsstrategic ambitions.
• Design teaching material and deliver either across a range of subjects or within a discipline.
• Deliver high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate studio teaching including design project supervision with a demonstrable commitment to excellence in architectural and interiors pedagogy.
• Integrate digital and analogue fabrication methods including CNC laser cutting 3D printing joinery model-making and material prototyping into studio and workshop teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Develop innovative teaching that reflects the Universitys global character and champions the value of making as a mode of design inquiry not merely production.
• Mentor colleagues and postgraduate researchers in fabrication-centred design pedagogy and research methods.
• Supervise student projects field trips and whereappropriate placements.
• Identifyareas where current provisionis in need ofrevision or improvement.
• Contribute to the planning design and development ofobjectivesand material.
• Selectappropriate assessmentmethods assess the work and progress of students on thisbasisand provide constructive feedback to students.

Research andScholarship

• Develop researchobjectivesand proposals for own or joint research.
• Carry out and publish world-class research in design and making digital and/or analogue fabrication material practice or related areas within the context of interior architecture and the built environment.
• Establish lead and sustain a research agenda withclear visionand strategy building collaborative networks with industry practitioners makers manufacturers and international academic partners.
• Pursue and contribute to external research funding applications relevant to fabrication material innovation circular design or design pedagogy.
• Lead the development of the new Makers Lab as a site of research activity connecting its physical capabilities to the disciplines wider scholarly identity.
• Conduct individual or collaborative research projects.
• Identifysources of research funding and secure funds.
• Extendtransformand apply knowledgeacquiredfrom scholarship to teaching research andappropriate externalactivities.
• Disseminate results of research in peer reviewed journals and conferences and/or through other appropriate media.
• Make presentations at conferences or exhibit work at other appropriate events.
• Participate in peer review as an individual reviewer

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post and its general responsibilities. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Person Specification

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.

Essential

1. PhD in Interior Architecture Architecture Design or a closely related field with a strong focus on making fabrication or material practice or equivalent professional achievement with a clear scholarly contribution.
2. Demonstrableexpertisein digital fabrication technologies (such as CNC milling laser cutting or 3D printing) and analogue making practices (such as joinery model-making casting or material prototyping) as applied to interior architecture and spatial design.
3. Strong designstudio skills and a clear demonstrable commitment to excellence in architectural and interiors pedagogy at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
4. A developing publication record or equivalent research output.
5. Demonstrated independence in research with evidence of research vision and strategy.
6. Teaching experience in higher education including studio- and workshop-based teaching.
7. Evidence of or clear readiness for academic leadership and programme management responsibility.

Desirable

1. Recognised teaching qualification e.g. PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning ormembership/fellowship of Advance HE. If the successful candidate does not have a relevant qualification completion of this will be expected within 2 years of appointment
2. Alignment with the disciplines research themes in Design for Circular Economy Material Reuse and Sustainable Fabrication.
3. Experience of establishing managing or developing a workshop fabrication lab or making facility in a higher education or professional context.
4. Experience of programme leadership course coordination or significant administrative responsibility in a higher education context.
5. Evidence of external research funding as lead applicant or contributor.
6. Experience of collaborative cross-institutional or industry-embedded research and making projects.
7. Experience of quality assurance processes in UK higher education.
8. Familiarity with circular economy principles and their application in material and fabrication practice.

How to Apply

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV

Applications can be submitted until 23:55 on Sunday 30^th August 2026.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers .

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.