Research Assistant Professor
Job Location:
New Orleans, LA - USA
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Tulane University School of Architecture and Built Environment (TuSABE) invites applications for a Research Assistant Professor (RAP) position affiliated with the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism (CCU) beginning Fall 2026 through Spring 2027. The position is designed to mentor an early career academic and researcher whose presence will advance the research mission of the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism while contributing to the broader academic community at TuSABE.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to interdisciplinary research addressing critical climate challenges through design-based interventions at multiple scales. The RAP will assist in planning and executing a symposium on Material Strategies for Climate Adaptation planned for January 2027 and will co-edit a related edited volume. Additional responsibilities include contributing to the CCUs research and programmatic activities.
ABOUT THE CENTER ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBANISM
The mission of the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism within the School of Architecture and Built Environment at Tulane University is to advance a more holistic understanding of the role of the built environment in causing mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Through multidisciplinary research CCU is tasked with providing and translating new forms of knowledge to support public private and civic sector stakeholders in their stewardship of the built environment. Through design studios courses applied research and the dissemination of pedagogical innovations CCU is invested in the education of the next generation of built environment professionals who are tasked with addressing climate change in all aspects of design planning management and preservation.
By balancing normative design research with scientific and social scientific methodologies CCU offers a unique platform for testing experimenting prototyping validating and communicating the opportunities for a more ethically responsible socially just ecologically sensitive and environmentally sustainable future. With a geographic focus on North America Latin America and the Caribbean CCU is centered on advancing teaching and research on the cutting-edge of climate change scholarship and practice.
ABOUT THE TULANE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TULANE UNIVERSITY
The Tulane University School of Architecture and Built Environment provides global leadership through excellence in design research and practice in the built environment. The School includes undergraduate and graduate Architecture programs and several other allied programs and degree paths. Faculty members teach coursework and collaborate as appropriate to their expertise across the Schools programs including Architecture ( BSA and ) Landscape Architecture and Engineering (MLA-MS RCSE) Real Estate Development (BSRE MSRED) Historic Preservation (MSHP) Design (BADes) Sustainable Urbanism (BS SURB) Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (Undergraduate Minor) and Climate Change: Science and Practice (Undergraduate Minor). Other schools programs and centers at the University provide ample opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
The School is recognized for robust initiatives in community-engaged design (The Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design) design-build (URBANbuild) interdisciplinary research studios and research initiatives supported by the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism. Over the past five years the School has experienced significant growth across all its programs and in spring 2025 the School returned to its newly renovated home Richardson Memorial Hall complete with new studios fabrication shops classrooms exhibition space and offices. Located in New Orleans Tulane University is a tier-one research university in the United States and a member of the selected group of top research universities integrated in the Association of American Universities (AAU). Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment is an innovator at multiple scales from materials to buildings to neighborhoods and from urban landscapes to regional planning.
The City of New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta are our natural domains of research with the social and ecological challenges of this complex region at the forefront of contemporary discourses in global rural and urbanized territories cities and towns. The citys culture and community is steeped in a long history of action and exchange. The University has firm commitments to build a welcoming community and foster opportunity goals which the School pursues in multiple ways through curriculum research and practice. We are dedicated to serving society and to climate action charting a path for climate change education across each of our representative programs and recognizing that social equity and climate are interconnected phenomena that demand new approaches to the built and unbuilt environments.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To be considered for the position please submit the following documentation in PDF format through Tulanes Academic Positions website:
- Current curriculum vitae (CV)
- Letter of Interest describing your research objectives and relevance to broader issues of climate change/adaptation/mitigation
- Sample work or portfolio of research and/or creative work (20 pages max.)
- Contact information for three (3) references. Only candidates who reach the final stage of the interview process will have their references contacted.
Review of applications will begin on 1 July 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. If applicants have questions or need assistance in completing the application please email Adam Marcus at .
*Please follow the application website guidelines for maximum upload file size
Responsibilities
CONTRACT AND COMPENSATION
- Duration: One academic year beginning in August 2026 through June 2027 with the opportunity to extend for one additional academic year.
- Compensation: $70000 annual salary benefits
- Effort Distribution: 70% Research / 30% Program Administration (see descriptions below)
RESPONSIBILITIES
Research (70%)
Research activities will be defined by the CCU Research Director and will support the mission of the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism. Through this position the RAP will develop and deepen expertise in design research including:
- Support planning and execution of symposium on Material Strategies for Climate Adaptation to be held in January 2027.
- Serve as co-editor of the edited volume to be published following the symposium. Serve as primary point-person for book layout graphic design logistics and communication with contributing authors with the support of Graduate Research Assistant(s).
- Work with CCU Research Director to conduct research on advanced materials and fabrication techniques linked to ecological and environmental performance. Work to include design research digital modeling digital fabrication drawing and data-driven diagramming graphic and written synthesis of research outputs.
Program Administration (30%)
- Provide programmatic support for the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism.
- Serve as editor and primary point-person for CCU publication on TuSABEs climate-related academic studio and research work.
- Participate in studio reviews for CCU-related studios and coursework.
- Contribute to ongoing development and future direction of the CCU through assisting in grant applications.
Optional / Additional
- Additional teaching opportunities available at the adjunct rate (to be overseen by Architecture Program Director)
MENTORSHIP AND EVALUATION
This position reports directly to CCU Research Director Adam Marcus. The RAP will work under Prof. Marcuss guidance and direction to support his and the CCUs research agenda with the symposium and book project as the primary focus. The RAP will work with the full CCU team including CCU Director and Managing Director.
Success in this position will be measured by:
- Ability to meet deadlines set by Research Director
- Quality and timeliness of organizational support for the symposium and editorial support for the book project
- Adherence to established project guidelines and research frameworks
- Professional responsiveness and collaboration with the Research Director and broader CCU team
- Successful completion of administrative tasks that support CCUs larger
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should hold a terminal degree in architecture (Master of Architecture) or an equivalent graduate professional degree or a doctorate/Ph.D. in architecture or a related field. Recent graduates are especially encouraged to apply. The position is intended for early-career academics.
Preferred qualifications include:
- Demonstrated research interest in the built environments role in climate change climate adaptation and/or climate mitigation especially through the lens of material performance.
- Experience in design research writing visual communication and graphic design. Software experience with InDesign Adobe Suite and Rhino.
- Experience and fluency with applied material research such as biomaterials computational-physical workflows digital/robotic fabrication and/or additive manufacturing.
- Commitment to interdisciplinary research and pedagogy.
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
Required Experience:
Junior IC
About Company
Tulane University is a comprehensive research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tulanians see challenges as opportunities, and strive to improve the lives of others in our own community and around the globe.
