Assistant Professor Faculty Position in the Department of City Planning and Urban Affairs, with a focus on Livable and Resilient Cities

Boston University Office of Research Boston, United States
Faculty / Professor Urban Studies Political Sciences Anthropology 30 Nov 2026

About the position

Position Description The City Planning and Urban Affairs (CPUA) program at Boston University’s Metropolitan College invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in environmental planning and climate resilience, land use planning, or housing and community development. We particularly welcome candidates whose scholarship employs qualitative, community-engaged, and applied research approaches to understand urban planning challenges and inform planning/policy practice and implementation. This position is part of BU’s major investment in convergent research, bringing together bold ideas, deep expertise, and perspectives from across disciplines to take on society’s most critical challenges. The position is part of a University-wide cluster hire in Livable and Resilient Cities, which builds on BU’s strength in Urban Development & Resilience. Spanning anthropology, biology, civic data science, environmental health, journalism, learning sciences, political science, sociology, and urban affairs, the cluster draws together BU’s strengths in urban scholarship to advance new approaches to creating healthier, more equitable, and adaptable cities. The City Planning & Urban Affairs (CPUA) program prepares students to address complex urban challenges through experiential learning, evidence-informed practice, and inclusive community engagement. With a focus on creating more equitable and resilient cities, the program connects planning knowledge with practice and prepares graduates to become impactful practitioners across public, nonprofit, community, and private-sector settings. Faculty research and teaching engage with pressing urban challenges, with a strong commitment to applied and community-engaged planning practice. Since its founding in 1839, Boston University has embraced a mission of openness and access, becoming one of the first universities in the nation to welcome all students of ability regardless of race, gender, or creed. That tradition shapes our enduring commitment to academic freedom, free inquiry, and the robust exchange of ideas. Please visit https://www.bu.edu/values/ to learn more about our shared values. We seek scholars who will contribute to our community of teachers and researchers through excellence in innovative scholarship, engaged teaching, and participation in the intellectual life of the University. Boston University provides an environment where faculty and students work together across disciplines, perspectives, and experiences to advance knowledge and address society’s most pressing challenges. Position Qualifications Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent degree in City Planning and Urban Affairs or a related field, active external funding to support their program of research and scholarship, and a commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching, education, and mentorship of students. Successful candidates will be expected to lead an independent research program; actively engage in collaborative research; teach and mentor students; and provide rank-appropriate service to the department, university, and profession. The salary allocated for these roles is $105,000 to $115,000. Final salary determination and rank placement will be based on the candidate's academic record, research background, years of qualifying experience, and a variety of other factors, including but not limited to licenses, specialty, departmental budgets, training and internal pay comparison. The stated hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Application Requirements Applicants should provide a personal statement that describes the candidate’s interest in both the convergent area of Livable and Resilient Cities and the department; curriculum vitae; a research statement describing their research interests and experience; a teaching and mentoring statement detailing their approach to teaching and mentoring in an inclusive and diverse learning environment; and the names and contact information of 3 references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until November 30. Boston University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Retaliation is also prohibited. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Under Massachusetts law, we may not require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Boston University, consistent with the AAU’s Principles on Preventing Sexual Harassment, conducts background checks for final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. As part of this process, we ask current and past employers of the last seven years whether there has been a substantiated finding of sexual misconduct under their policies. To move forward, final candidates must complete and sign an “Authorization to Release Information” form after receiving an offer to enable this background check.

Keywords

Urban Studies

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