How to Apply
Applicants should submit one PDF (500kb size limit) containing the following:
- Cover letter describing your interest and qualifications for the position
- Curriculum vitae
- Names and contact information for three references
For full consideration, please submit your materials by October 16, 2026.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan (UM) Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning seeks a tenure-track faculty member at the rank of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor to develop field-defining research and teaching in the area of urban technology. We seek applicants whose teaching and research will primarily contribute to our newly approved Master of Urban Technology program, with a planned launch in Fall 2027 at the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit.
The successful candidate will join a vibrant and collaborative community of faculty in the Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Program, home to our highly-ranked Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), the Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning, and the Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology. URP faculty interests, research methods, and expertise are diverse, and we consider ourselves an innovative, welcoming, and inclusive community. Our academic programs span the fields of urban planning, real estate, and urban technology.
This position is being made specifically to expand capacities to launch a Master's of Urban Technology (MUT), which will be offered at the University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI) in Detroit. Consistent with the overall model for UMCI, all academic programs and faculty who teach at UMCI are housed and administered by U-M Ann Arbor units.
Research: We seek applicants whose research advances the urban technology field, which encompasses data, AI, and digital technologies applied to the work of the built environment. We are particularly interested in research that incorporates private-sector perspectives on how urban spaces are planned, realized, operated, and governed, which may include emerging industry areas such as contech, proptech, and AECtech. This research may be in collaboration with other activities at UMCI, Taubman College, and the University as a whole. This may include participation in existing or new research initiatives aligned with the Look to Michigan impact areas, and/or future Taubman College research priorities, and the URP Strategic Plan.
Teaching: Successful applicants must be qualified to teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. The standard teaching load at Taubman College is four courses per year, and all teaching will occur in person. We expect this faculty member to teach three courses per year in Detroit for the MUT program, and one per year in Ann Arbor in one of the existing degree offerings, depending on the candidate's expertise. We especially seek instructors qualified to teach courses in entrepreneurship, digital product development, urban data, AI applied to the built environment, and evidence-based design.
Service: Faculty will also carry service obligations consistent with interest and career rank, and may include service on committees and the potential to serve in academic leadership positions within the College.
This new Master of Urban Technology (MUT) is a 12-month degree completed in 3 semesters. The first semester, under the thematic banner of examining a Radically Better built environment, provides coursework offering in-depth analysis of urban sustainability challenges, a survey of the current landscape of innovation in the sector, and a foundation in data science skills. The second semester, called Radically Integrated, deepens an analysis of cities by introducing a systems perspective, and digging deeper into the industry through immersion in the regional ecosystem. Students are invited to begin exploring creative ideas to deploy innovations using analytics and design. Finally, the third semester, Radically Possible, equips students with the skills to bring their ideas to life through coursework on business models, finance, change management, and a culminating Capstone project.
Vision and Values: The mission of the Urban and Regional Planning Program is to lead the way for better urban and regional futures. We aim to build knowledge, develop capabilities, and imagine possibilities to cultivate flourishing communities, guided by four core values: justice-driven, environmentally minded, future-focused, and action-oriented.
Required Qualifications*
- Terminal degree from a related technical or design discipline, such as design, urban planning, architecture, digital media, human-computer interaction, geography, engineering, or information science.
- Demonstrated experience in, or demonstrated potential for, excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
- Demonstrated experience in, or demonstrated potential to, conduct research in the area of urban technology and design.
Additional Information
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include a retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits. The university is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.
About Taubman College and the Urban and Regional Planning Program
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is one of the leading schools of architecture and planning in the United States, offering degree programs in architecture, urban and regional planning, urban design, and urban technology. The college is housed in a recently expanded studio, classroom, and research complex on the University of Michigan's North Campus, alongside design fabrication labs, visualization facilities, and dedicated space for student-led research and collaboration.
The Urban and Regional Planning Program offers a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning, a Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology, an undergraduate minor in real estate, and a graduate certificate in real estate development. The MURP is consistently ranked among the top planning programs in the country, and the BS in Urban Technology is the first program of its kind in the United States, preparing students to design and govern the data-rich cities of the future. New faculty join a community of approximately 40 planning faculty and 500 students-200 studying real estate-with access to the resources of one of the world's preeminent research universities.
About the University of Michigan
Our location offers a rare advantage: faculty and students work at the doorstep of metropolitan Detroit, one of the most distinctive real estate and planning landscapes in North America, and within easy reach of Chicago, Toronto, and other major markets in the Great Lakes region. The setting supports applied research, partnerships with public agencies and developers, and project-based learning that few peer programs can match.
For questions about the opportunity, contact Taubman College Human Resources at [email protected].
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.