Who we are

Why Rensselaer? Join Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's dynamic global community of changemaker including some of the world’s leading researchers, students, alumni, and faculty who ask the important questions and devise the scientific and technological innovations that make the world a better place for all of humanity.

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, Rensselaer is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and an IBM Quantum One computer - the first university-based quantum computer in the U.S. 

Are you ready to change the world? Apply now!

Job Summary

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is pleased to invite applications for Adjunct, Lecturer, Sr. Lecturer, and Professor of Practice openings in several areas. These appointments may be made for one to three years, and are renewable, contingent upon available funding, enrollment, satisfactory performance, and the business needs of the School of Science. Adjunct appointments are made for a single semester. All appointments are renewable.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates are expected to have a terminal degree in an area related to the subject matter of their teaching.  Candidates must be able to provide evidence of effective teaching or instruction.

An Adjunct classification is a non-tenured temporary academic appointment. An Adjunct Faculty must have the prerequisite academic teaching experience and credentials in the course subject area and discipline.

A Lecturer must demonstrate expertise and/or experience in a specific academic course subject, academic discipline area, and must have had prior substantive teaching experience and/or experience as a practicing professional at a senior level. A Sr. Lecturer must also have attained a significant level of scholarly and/or research activity and/or funding.

A Professor of Practice has obtained unique professional experience, has distinguished research, and/or has performed at an executive or officer level, and has made a significant impact within a subject matter or discipline in a field important to Rensselaer’s research and academic programs. A Professor of Practice is expected to have substantial leadership experience of at least (10-15 years) and generally a national or international reputation for excellence in their field of expertise.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Applicants must be skilled communicators in multiple settings and methods, including teaching, presenting, writing, and electronic communications
Proficient in current electronic devices and personal computing technology

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a short profile, and contact information for three referees.  Please be ready to upload your current Curriculum Vitae, a cover letter, evidence of effective teaching and a statement of diversity.

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

Expected hiring ranges:  

1. Adjunct: $6000 - 7500 per semester
2. Full time Lecturer: $57000 - 80000 per academic year
3. Full Time Sr. Lecturer: $70000 – 100000  per academic year
4. Full Time Professor of Practice: $115000-130000 academic year

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the specific discipline in which the selected candidate will teach, 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.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis for Spring 2025.

Culture of Safety at Rensselaer

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.

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.