Assistant Professor, Architecture

Job Description

The Virginia Tech School of Architecture, based in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, invites applications for an Assistant Professor position, based at the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC). The WAAC is an intimate educational community of upper-level undergraduates, Master of Architecture students, as well as students pursuing advanced research degrees in Urban Design (MS) and the History and Theory of Architecture (MS/PhD). WAAC full-time faculty work with a small cadre of long-time adjunct faculty to educate the next generation of architects, architectural theorists and historians, and leaders in our fields. We are part of a growing Virginia Tech presence in Northern Virginia, in close proximity to Falls Church, Arlington, and our new, state-of-the-art facility in Potomac Yards, Alexandria with opportunities for cross-college collaborations. Faculty enjoy working closely with active, dedicated colleagues and committed students, and we maintain strong ties to the intellectual community and professional resources of the School of Architecture and the larger College of Architecture, Arts and Design.

The College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech, a land-grant university, affirms a collective responsibility to encourage, build, and embrace the cultural diversity of the world. We do this by acknowledging and addressing our past, recognizing our current responsibility, and acting in the interests of building and sustaining communities that are safe, supportive, and inclusive for all. We are committed to continually and proactively engaging in these efforts for the benefit of our students, staff, and faculty across the college, and the communities around the world we aim to serve, hence the University’s motto: Ut Prosim.

The School of Architecture emphasizes learning through making as well as experimentation, plus disciplinary and professional engagement combined with cross-disciplinary outreach to develop future architects who will holistically integrate diverse ideas while adeptly responding to constantly shifting challenges within the profession of architecture. The School is large, with campuses in Blacksburg, Washington-Alexandria and Riva San Vitale, city labs in Chicago and Boston, and study abroad programs throughout Europe, as well as many degree programs and research centers.

Successful candidates will demonstrate their promise of excellence in realizing Virginia Tech’s three-fold mission of research, teaching, and outreach. The primary teaching responsibilities of this position include offering vertical studios and seminars to students from a variety of backgrounds, including upper-level undergraduates, and advanced first professional degree graduate students, as well as research-focused masters and doctoral students. As part of this role, you will be advising undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students. We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong interest and experience in mentoring student research, being active in organizations such as ACSA, CELA, et al., interest in and willingness to be active in recruiting for the WAAC and an interest in helping to develop an M. Arch III program.

We seek candidates who complement and expand existing research interests and teaching areas and help expand instruction in theory and application of digital representation and fabrication. Areas of interest and expertise at Washington Alexandria Architecture Center have included histories and theories of architectural representation and intersections among landscape architecture, architecture, and the city. Research interests that connect, enhance, and extend these themes into digital practices will be prioritized.

This position is a full-time nine-month tenure track appointment with an anticipated start date of August 2026.

Required Qualifications

• Terminal degree in architecture by the appointment start date
• Teaching experience in design studios and seminars
• Robust research agenda evidenced by a track record of publication and grant funding

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD in architecture or a related field
• Excellence in professional practice of architecture
• Degrees and/or experience working with allied disciplines such as urban design and landscape architecture

Application Materials

For full consideration, interested applicants are required to submit the following:

• Current curriculum vitae
• Brief cover letter that situates their work within the discipline and profession
• Portfolio of creative work and/or research (may be a link to a website or pdf)
• The names and contact information for three current references as an attachment to the application.
• A one-page personal statement of teaching philosophy including the candidate's ideas for supporting an educational environment consistent with the .

Additional materials may be requested and required from shortlisted candidates.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Salary range is $85,000-90,000 per year

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

January 12, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.