Assistant Professor of Human-Centered and Sustainable Design in the Built Environment

The Department of Design and Computation Arts in the Faculty of Fine Arts invites applications to fill a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Human-Centered and Sustainable Design in the Built Environment, starting August 1, 2026. Concordia University is advancing towards a resilient, decarbonized society through the Volt-Age research program, an initiative emphasizing innovative technologies for sustainable electrification. We invite applicants to contribute to this mission and help shape the future of energy.  As a Volt-Age Fellow, the selected candidate will be assigned an annual teaching load of 6 credits (50% teaching load) during the first three years of their appointment, with normal service duties to the university.  The position is accompanied by a Volt-Age Research Fellowship which includes research funding and support. Following this three-year period, the incumbent will assume the duties of a regular faculty member within the Department of Design and Computation Arts.  

We are seeking applicants who have a research program and teaching experience that will:  

1. Serve as a key anchor for significantly expanding existing initiatives as well as for launching new ones, including projects with Indigenous communities, industry collaborators, and international networks  
2. Integrate with a robust, thriving research ecosystem at Concordia, centered on sustainability, electrification, and carbon neutrality 
3. Serve as a nexus for interdisciplinary inquiry, uniting faculty, graduate students, and external collaborators around inclusive design 
4. Reinforce Concordia’s standing as a bold and collaborative institution shaping Canada’s carbon-neutral future while further solidifying the university’s capacity for high-impact research  
5. Champion the integration of cultural knowledge, ethical governance, and socially beneficial innovation at the forefront of new, carbon-neutral design

Applicants for this position must:  

1. Hold a terminal degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant field of research, or possess the equivalent combination of education and professional experience  
2. Have demonstrated teaching strengths, with relevant experience at the post-secondary level (or possess equivalent experience)  
3. Be an emerging researcher with evidence of potential to make major contributions to the area of sustainable design 
4. Have strong potential to attract and supervise graduate students  
5. Have an original and innovative research program of the highest quality  

We are seeking applicants with a research program and teaching experience that will develop integrated design strategies that support the transition to carbon-neutral living, improving air quality and enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities. Research expertise may focus on domestic or public urban environments and will emphasize inclusive, participatory, and culturally responsive approaches.  Primary focus may include the needs of Indigenous peoples or people with disabilities. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and prototyping, the successful applicant will generate innovative design solutions that enhance mobility, accessibility and environmental resilience.  

Candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have had an impact on their career goals (such as the decision to have a family, eldercare, illness, and so forth) in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. The Department values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from those who will contribute to that profile. Concordia University is an English-language institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction and research is English. Since this position supports academic functions of the university, proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of French, including reading and grading student work in French, is an asset.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 

Canada) reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements:  

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada  

or  

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada 

Applications should be submitted electronically to michelina.sardella@concordia.ca on or before January 30, 2026, but will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. Submissions should consist of a single PDF and include the following items in the order specified below:  

1. A brief cover letter that clearly identifies the job title and position code (25-V-DCART-O), summarizing the applicant’s career fit to the Volt-Age program as well as addressing how their research and/or experience will contribute to the area of sustainable design   
2. A complete updated curriculum vitae  
3. A summary and documentation (preferably in the form of online links) of the candidate’s three most important research contributions or publications to date 
4. A research statement detailing the applicant’s relevant research history and accomplishments along with their vision for the future of energy in relation to its societal benefits to Canada and beyond    
5. The names and contact information of three referees 
6. A declaration of immigration status: “Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.” or “No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.”  

All inquiries regarding this position may be directed to Dr. Pippin Barr, Chair, Department of Design and Computation Arts at pippin.barr@concordia.ca. 

Concordia University is strongly committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in teaching and research. As part of this commitment to providing our students with the dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we require all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, as well as lived and professional experiences and expertise have prepared them to teach in ways that are relevant for a diverse, multicultural contemporary Canadian society.  

Possible examples to demonstrate a diverse experience may include, but are not limited to:  

1. teaching about underrepresented populations  
2. mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds  
3. committee work  
4. offering or organizing educational programming  
5. participation in training and workshops  

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a short equity survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and no identifying information about candidates will be shared with hiring committees. Candidates who wish to self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group to the hiring committee may do so in their cover letter or by writing directly to the contact person indicated in this posting.

Applicants who anticipate requiring adaptive measures throughout any stage of the recruitment process may contact, in confidence, Dr. Mark Villacorta, Senior Equity Advisor: equity@concordia.ca or by phone at 514-848-2424 extension 4875.