Assistant Professor or Associate Professor

Position Function:

Mississippi State University seeks an energetic and collaborative candidate with research interests and expertise at the intersection of design computing and visualization, and data science. This is a joint appointment between the School of Architecture and the Data Science Academic Institute. We seek a scholar whose research and teaching engage both computational methodologies for building performance analysis and advanced data science techniques, with a special focus on visualization and digital twins. The ideal candidate is expected to support and expand the current graduate and undergraduate visualization curriculum and to engage in interdisciplinary research and teach topics such as data visualization, digital twins, computational simulations for energy modeling and building performance analysis, machine learning applied to the built environment, and AI for predictive building modeling. The ideal candidate is expected to engage in interdisciplinary research, to teach undergraduate and graduate students, and to advise graduate thesis and capstone projects.

As members of a leading public, land-grant, research institution, our faculty view our tripartite mission of excellent teaching, high-quality research, and public engagement as synergistic. We seek a colleague who embraces this view and further strengthens this synergy.

The School of Architecture offers a design education that enables our graduates to be change agents in the world, creating meaningful spaces and forms that serve communities. The school also recognizes the importance of integrating Data Science and AI into its educational program to prepare students for the growing demands of a digitally driven economy. As the only accredited professional architecture program in the state, we approach thinking and making as an essential skill that provides our students with the ability to be effective from the first day they begin their careers. The School’s curriculum stresses problem-based learning and provides a collaborative, immersive, and interdisciplinary learning environment in partnership with other units in the College of Architecture, Art, and Design. The School of Architecture has an active and engaged industry advisory board and is dedicated to continuing to expand our industry partnerships.

Salary Grade: UC

For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The School of Architecture (housed in the College of Architecture, Art and Design) offers a design education that enables our graduates to be change agents in the world, creating meaningful spaces and forms that serve communities. As the only accredited professional architecture program in the state, we approach thinking and making as an essential skill that provides our students with the ability to be effective from the first day they begin their careers. The School’s curriculum stresses problem-based learning and provides a collaborative, immersive, and interdisciplinary learning environment in partnership with other units in the College of Architecture, Art, and Design. The School of Architecture has an active and engaged industry advisory board and is dedicated to continuing to expand our industry partnerships.

The Data Science Academic Institute at Mississippi State University equips graduates with the skills to represent the world as data objects, extract actionable insights, transform these insights into discoveries and decisions, and create artificially intelligent systems that automate tasks and decisions historically requiring human cognition. MSU’s approach to data science extends beyond mere data analytics, embracing a vision in which data drives the digital transformation of every field of human endeavor. The Institute is the hub for MSU’s data science instruction and scholarship initiatives and is located within the Office of the Provost. The Institute offers a B.S. in Data Science, an undergraduate minor, a Graduate Certificate in Data Science Pedagogy, and an online Master of Applied Data Science. With ten concentrations developed in collaboration with MSU’s colleges, the B.S. program prepares students to apply data science expertise to a wide range of disciplines.

Area of Specialization:

Architecture

Anticipated Appointment Date:

August 16, 2025

Tenure Track Status:

Tenure Track

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Successful candidate will be expected to teach in various levels of architecture design studios as well as lecture and lab courses in the data science undergraduate and graduate curriculum.

Successful candidates shall receive a recurring 9-month appointment throughout the tenure-track process. The typical faculty workload consists of teaching a combined total of eighteen credit-hours per academic year. This includes 2 six-credit hour studio classes and 2 three-to-four-hour lecture or lab classes.

As a Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University, Mississippi State is ranked among the National Science Foundation's top 100 research institutions. Successful candidates will pursue a research agenda that has the potential to create a national reputation. To support their research, successful candidates will receive a research start-up package.

Service to the institution, including committee assignments and/or public outreach activities, is also expected of successful candidates.

Minimum Qualifications:

A PhD in Architecture, Data Science, Engineering, or a closely related field with a focus on building performance simulation, computational design, or data science is required. At least one professional degree in Architecture (Bachelor or Master) is required.

Level of appointment commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Professional experience and licensure in architecture are desirable but not required of candidates. Experience in teaching design studios and elective courses in both Architecture and Data Science is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Successful candidates will have qualifications to support design-studio teaching (in a NAAB accredited program) and have an established research agenda related to design computing and data science.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Standard office and professional environment.

Instructions for Applying:

All applications must apply online at http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu and attach a cover letter, current resume or curriculum vitae, portfolio, and the complete contact information for a least three professional references.

All applications should be addressed to: Dr. Bimal Balakrishnan, Faculty Search Committee Chair, School of Architecture, Mississippi State University. Application PDF package must include: 1) Cover letter; 2) Curriculum vitae; 3) Research Statement; 4) Statement of Teaching Philosophy; 5) PDF Portfolio of scholarly and/or creative work; and 6) List of three references with telephone and email addresses [NOTE: Portfolio MUST be packaged in one single PDF file; file size must be 25MB or smaller; do not upload "zipped" files]

Review of materials will begin on February 7, 2025, and continue until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or [email protected].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or [email protected]. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.