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Job Summary

The Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the areas of equitable design, sustainability and design, design justice, collaborative or participatory design, product design, industrial design, or object design. The person hired for this position will conduct research at the intersection of design and STS, which may include publications, exhibitions, commissions, or collaborative projects.

The position is 40% teaching, 40% research, 20% service. The selected candidate will teach required and elective courses for the major in Design, Innovation, and Society (DIS). Studio courses are the curricular core of this program, where students engage in design practices informed by STS theory and research, with an emphasis on social justice and sustainability. The successful candidate will teach both studio courses and undergraduate seminars such as such as “Politics of Design” and “Design, Culture, and Society.” Additionally, the selected candidate will teach courses and mentor students in the PhD program in Science and Technology Studies, a program that emphasizes scholarly inquiry about the mutual shaping of science, technology, and society.

We seek a scholar who will contribute to the STS Department’s broader commitments to socially engaged STS and design of alternative futures. Applicants should have a record of creative research and/or design practice and show promise of advancing the STS Department’s mission of synthesizing design practice with the social sciences and humanities.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a terminal degree in design (such as an MFA, DDes., or PhD), a PhD or foreign equivalent in Science and Technology Studies, or PhD or foreign equivalent in a closely related field in the humanities or social sciences.

Candidates must demonstrate, through accomplishment, promise of academic, scholarly and/or research achievement in their discipline. Candidates must be able to present evidence of effective teaching. We seek a versatile educator who can teach in studio, introductory, and seminar classroom. 

Preferred candidates will have design skills and knowledge, such as digitally assisted design, prototyping, design processes, and visualization skills, among others. Priority will be placed on scholarship that considers perspectives from marginalized communities, as well as pedagogical practices that value diversity and inclusivity.

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range: $80,000 - $90,000 per 9-month academic year

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 online profile and contact information for three professional references. Please be ready to upload your

• CV/Resume
• Cover letter
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching, including evidence of teaching effectiveness
• Diversity Statement 

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

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Applications received by January 10, 2025 will receive first consideration. 

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.