Emerging Scholar in Design

The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture invites applications and nominations for its 2026 - 2028 Emerging Scholar in Design. The prestigious two-year fellowship offers promising individuals at the beginning of their academic careers in architecture and its allied fields the opportunity to develop a distinctive body of work and provides a unique teaching experience in the context of a supportive academic environment. The school is seeking a candidate that is highly motivated and positioned to integrate their scholarly trajectory with their pedagogical agenda.

The scholar will teach two design studios and an elective or support course each year. Teaching responsibilities may involve both graduate and undergraduate programs. In addition to teaching, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the school's intellectual life by engaging in critical theoretical or creative work, which they will develop during their time as the emerging scholar and present to the university community in the last semester of their appointment through a public format, such as a lecture or exhibition.

University Context:
The School of Architecture offers professionally accredited and post-professional degree programs in Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Community and Regional Planning, as well as advanced research degrees in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Sustainable Design, and Urban Design. With approximately 700 students across its programs, the School benefits from a strong studio culture, research-oriented initiatives, and an engaged community of faculty and students.

Faculty at the School benefit from access to a suite of labs that support advanced teaching and research. The Materials Lab houses one of the country's largest collections of material samples, available for teaching, research, and public exhibitions. The Technology Lab provides equipment for digital simulation and visualization, including VR/AR tools. The Build Lab and the Wood Shop support full-scale prototyping, construction, and fabrication. These resources enable faculty to integrate design, research, and experimentation into their teaching and practice.

As one of the largest and most highly regarded public universities in the United States, The University of Texas at Austin offers faculty access to extensive infrastructure and research networks. The university is home to more than 200 research centers and units and is committed to fostering interdisciplinary work across its colleges and schools. Faculty at UT benefit from both internal and external research opportunities, as well as robust support for teaching and professional development. The School of Architecture is home to two internationally recognized research centers. The Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) manages externally funded projects in areas such as housing, urban resilience, and environmental planning, with annual research expenditures totalling $4.5 million. The Center for American Architecture and Design (CAAD) advances scholarship in theory, history, and contemporary practice across the Americas. Together, these centers form the backbone of a research ecosystem that encourages faculty to pursue interdisciplinary, sponsored, and collaborative projects.

Austin itself offers a unique context for the study of the built environment. As the 11th most populous city in the United States and the anchor of a rapidly growing megaregion, Austin is experiencing rapid urban transformation, providing a living laboratory for faculty research, creative practice, and teaching. The city's cultural vibrancy, entrepreneurial environment, and rich natural surroundings, combined with its challenges of growth, affordability, and environmental vulnerability, provide fertile ground for engaged scholarship and professional education.

Candidates must hold a terminal professional degree, as appropriate to the field, demonstrate potential for significant contributions in research/creative practice, and show evidence of effective studio teaching. The successful candidate will clearly articulate their future research and scholarly trajectory and their plans for contributing to the advancement of the field.

Application review will begin on January 15th and will continue until the position is filled. To be considered for the Emerging Scholar in Design, please submit the following materials through Interfolio:

• A statement of interest describing your research and teaching objectives for the fellowship
• A current CV
• A PDF portfolio of creative work or scholarship not to exceed 20 pages
• Contact information for three references

Contact for questions: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Kory Bieg, bieg@utexas.edu

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.