Department: School of Planning and Public Affairs

Salary: Commensurate

Advertising Ends On: Applications are being accepted for consideration; however, the position may be filled at any time.

Position Details:

The School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA) in the Graduate College at the University of Iowa invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant professor level in urban and regional planning, to start in August 2024. For Position #1, we seek a transportation planning scholar. For Position #2, we seek a planning scholar in one of SPPA’s other focus areas: economic development, housing and community development, and land use and environment planning. The successful candidates will participate in instruction, research and publication, grant writing, and other scholarly activities supporting the school’s Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning and other programs.

Major responsibilities of these positions include conducting research in one of SPPA’s focus areas (economic development, housing and community development, land use and environment planning, and transportation planning), teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, and advising master students. In addition, the successful candidates will be expected to pursue and secure external funding; contribute to national and international scholarship; be involved with local, state, and national activities that support SPPA; and participate in service to the program, school, college, and university.

About the School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA): With over 1,000 alumni, SPPA has offered high-quality professional graduate education in planning for nearly 60 years.

SPPA’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program is nationally ranked at #16 in the 2023 Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs. In 2020, the school launched a new Master of Public Affairs program. Students in both programs take classes taught by internationally recognized faculty and are actively involved in community engagement through SPPA’s Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities. SPPA is also home to two undergraduate minors (in public policy and urban studies) and a graduate certificate in transportation.

About the Graduate College: The Graduate College manages the enrollment and degree progress for nearly 5,000 students from over 100 graduate programs in 10 different colleges which span the Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering, Education, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business. The Graduate College is also home to the International Writing Program, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Planning and Public Affairs, the University of Iowa Center for the Book, and the University of Iowa Press. The Graduate College has a history of innovation, which serves as a strong foundation for our contemporary initiatives in graduate education. The Graduate College serves as an advocate for graduate education, allocates resources that support graduate students and programs, manages policies and procedures to establish and assess graduate programs, and fosters interdisciplinary programs.

About the University and Surrounding Community: The University of Iowa (UI) is world- renowned for its commitment to the arts, sciences, and humanities. UI has been a member of the Big Ten conference since 1899 and the Association of American Universities since 1909. More than 31,000 students are pursuing bachelor’s, graduate, and professional degrees from UI’s 11 colleges.

UI is located in Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature that is widely recognized as one of the country’s most livable communities. With more than 70,000 residents in the city and over 170,000 residents in the metro area, Iowa City is an attractive haven for scholars, scientists, artists, writers, and professionals of all kinds. Highlights of living in Iowa City include outstanding, affordable health care; excellent libraries and schools; historic neighborhoods; and a lively downtown. Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul are a short car or bus trip away, and nearby Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) connects travelers to the world.

The University of Iowa is a founding member of the Central Midwest Higher EducationRecruitment Consortium (HERC) and is committed to recruiting and retaining the most talented and diverse faculty and staff and assisting dual-career couples.

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any misconduct history or pending research misconduct investigation including but not limited to sexual misconduct in prior employment and provide a related release and will be subject to a criminal background and credential check.

Please note regarding Application Materials:

• Required: Letter of interest should indicate whether you are applying for the transportation position (#1) or the other position (#2) at the beginning of your letter.


• Required: Writing sample


• Optional: Recent teaching evaluation

Review of applications will begin on March 15th, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

Applicant Credentials are Subject to Verification
Background checks (criminal history, including self-disclosure of conviction history, and credential verification) will be conducted for finalist candidates. In addition, child/dependent adult sexual abuse background checks will be conducted for all positions in UI Hospitals and Clinics.