Description

The Department of Urban Planning and Policy in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) plans to hire a tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant Professor level beginning in August 2026.

We seek a scholar whose research and teaching critically engages with the legacies of social and spatial exclusion in urban regions and contributes to transformative planning practices that advance equity and redress. We are particularly interested in candidates whose work applies reparative or related frameworks to one or more of the following subfields:

• Community Development: Including neighborhood planning, anti-displacement strategies, and equitable investment in historically marginalized communities.
• Affordable Housing: With a focus on innovative models or policies that address segregation, disinvestment, and housing precarity.
• Urbanism and Development: Encompassing innovative land use or redevelopment strategies that foreground cultural landscapes, historic preservation, or other dimensions of spatial justice and restorative urbanism. 

Candidates must have an earned PhD in urban planning or a closely related field by May 2026. Successful candidates will teach a 2:2 load each academic year. 

The Department of Urban Planning and Policy currently offers an undergraduate program (B.A.) in Urban Studies, and three graduate degrees: the Master in Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP), the Master in City Design, and the Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Policy. Established 51 years ago and comprising five specializations – community development, economic development, environmental planning and policy, spatial planning, and urban transportation – our MUPP program is one of the largest planning programs in North America. The selected candidate will teach in the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs and is expected to develop a research agenda that advances the department’s mission to critically address contemporary urban challenges and reduce social and spatial inequities.

The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs was created in 1995 as part of UIC's Great Cities Initiative. In addition to UPP, the college houses the Department of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics, as well as seven research centers: the Center for Urban Economic Development, the Government Finance Research Center, the Great Cities Institute, the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement, the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, the Urban Transportation Center, and the Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement. 

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 35,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution, an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings, published by U.S. News & World Report, placed UIC among the top public schools in the nation and ranked it 9th among top-performing public universities in social mobility. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and  dependents. This appointment is represented by UIC United Faculty Local 6456, IFT-AFT, AAUP (UICUF) and covered by the terms of UIC's collective bargaining agreement with UICUF. 

The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 to $110,000. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Application Procedure: For full consideration, please apply by December 5, 2025 via the UIC application system: https://jobs.uic.edu (Job ID # 1037609). A completed on-line application and the following attachments are required for consideration: a cover letter of interest, curriculum vitae or resume, and contact information including email addresses of three references. For specific questions about the application, please send an email to Ms. Hazel Brown (memi@uic.edu). For questions about the position, please contact Faculty Search Committee Chair, Dr. Kate Lowe (katelowe@uic.edu). Active screening of applicants begins on December 8, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. 

The University of Illinois Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, Veteran, or disability status. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

• Teach in the department’s graduate and undergraduate programs with a typical teaching load of 2:2 per academic year.
• Develop a research program that makes an identifiable contribution to the study of urban planning, urban studies, or a related subfield.
• Participate in departmental governance and conduct service and outreach that advances the mission of the department, the college, and the university.

Minimum Qualifications (Required) and other Desirable Qualifications:

• PhD in urban planning or a closely related field such as geography, public policy, or urban studies.
• Evidence of potential for significant scholarly contributions in an identifiable area of expertise.
• Evidence of potential for excellence in teaching, including knowledge of inclusive and active teaching practices. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Broad knowledge of contemporary urban planning, urban studies, or related subfields, including major trends and debates in history, theory, and practice. A focus on the U.S. is preferred, but we will also consider candidates with expertise in other world regions.
• A research profile that includes refereed publications in high-impact journals, presentations at national and international conferences and workshops, and success in securing competitive research funding.
• Research experience using interdisciplinary methods to explore how community dynamics, social processes, and policy frameworks shape urban and regional development.
• Demonstrated experience using innovative approaches to teaching in alternative formats including community-engaged studios, workshops, and capstones at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Experience in community-based, participatory, or advocacy research that addresses the needs of diverse, urban communities.
  Practical professional experience in the fields of urban planning and policy or subfields such as community development or affordable housing.