Assistant/Associate Professor, Interaction Design
Position Overview
The Department of Design at the University of Kansas is seeking a tenure-track or tenured faculty member at the Assistant or Associate Professor level to work with both undergraduate and graduate students in Interaction Design. The successful candidate will excel in teaching User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) design, research methods, human factors, and interaction design principles. The candidate should demonstrate proficiency in creating engaging interactive prototypes and have a passion for educating students in these areas.
We seek a dynamic and enthusiastic colleague who will explore and innovate in interaction design, developing new applications, tools, and techniques while maintaining a robust research agenda. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty to develop and implement the curriculum. Candidates with experience in research, teaching, curriculum development, and professional practice will stand out, though we also encourage recent master’s degree graduates eager to launch a career in research and teaching to apply. The department offers a collegial, collaborative, and energetic environment, working alongside award-winning students and nationally recognized faculty. Our undergraduate programs include Animation, Illustration, Interaction Design, Industrial Design, and Visual Communication Design, as well as MA degrees in Design.
We are particularly interested in candidates who present innovative and critical approaches to interaction design, data visualization, user interface, user experience, and emerging technologies. The successful candidate will have:
• A pioneering mindset and the ability to navigate new industrial challenges
• The ability to work closely with industrial partners, collaborate with colleagues, and inspire students
• A strong interest in multidisciplinary work at the intersection of practice, education, and research
• Expertise that bridges screen-based interactive systems and physical computing
• The ability to integrate theoretical, historical, and practical knowledge with craft-based methodologies, while embracing a cross-platform approach to creation
About the University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $1.4 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. Current enrollment is over 30,000 (20,600 undergraduate), with students drawn from 116 nations and all 50 states. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population. Lawrence also offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities, local shops, and a wide range of restaurants.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
We seek a dynamic and enthusiastic colleague who will explore and innovate in interaction design, developing new applications, tools, and techniques while maintaining a robust research agenda. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty to develop and implement the curriculum. Candidates with experience in research, teaching, curriculum development, and professional practice will stand out, though we also encourage recent master’s degree graduates eager to launch a career in research and teaching to apply. The department offers a collegial, collaborative, and energetic environment, working alongside award-winning students and nationally recognized faculty. Our undergraduate programs include Animation, Illustration, Interaction Design, Industrial Design, and Visual Communication Design, as well as MA degrees in Design.
We are particularly interested in candidates who present innovative and critical approaches to interaction design, data visualization, user interface, user experience, and emerging technologies. The successful candidate will have:
• A pioneering mindset and the ability to navigate new industrial challenges
• The ability to work closely with industrial partners, collaborate with colleagues, and inspire students
• A strong interest in multidisciplinary work at the intersection of practice, education, and research
• Expertise that bridges screen-based interactive systems and physical computing
• The ability to integrate theoretical, historical, and practical knowledge with craft-based methodologies, while embracing a cross-platform approach to creation
About the University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $1.4 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. Current enrollment is over 30,000 (20,600 undergraduate), with students drawn from 116 nations and all 50 states. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population. Lawrence also offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities, local shops, and a wide range of restaurants.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
Job Description
40% - Teaching/Advising – Teach courses in Design, as well as courses open to all other majors. Instruct at the undergraduate and graduate level. Typical teaching expectations will be a 2-2 load. Participate in the planning and integration of existing and new coursework and technologies in the Interaction program. Candidates must also meet departmental expectations in terms of student advising.
40% - Research – Conduct research, creative, and/or professional work that focuses on issues of interaction design. Disseminate this work through peer-reviewed publications and conferences. Seek external funding to support a focused research agenda.
40% - Research – Conduct research, creative, and/or professional work that focuses on issues of interaction design. Disseminate this work through peer-reviewed publications and conferences. Seek external funding to support a focused research agenda.
20% - Service – Serve the department, university, state, and the profession. This includes attending departmental meetings, participating in committees and boards, and performing select administrative departmental functions.
Required Qualifications
Required Qualifications for all candidates:
- Master’s degree in interactive design, human-computer interaction, interaction design, user experience design, user interface design, multimedia design, product design, visual communication, or related field.
- A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in teaching, research, and/or industry experience, specifically in the areas of interaction, user interface, user experience, experiential design, and/or emerging technologies.
- Ability to teach at the undergraduate level.
- Ability to demonstrate a commitment to collaborate and support faculty colleagues, develop curriculum, and help expand interaction design studio offerings.
- Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong collaborative spirit for teamwork and service.
- An established record of teaching that is consistent with the department’s standards for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.
- An established record of research/creative/professional work that is consistent with the department’s standard for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.
Additional Candidate Instructions
For more information and to apply, go to https://employment.ku.edu/academic/29257BR.
A complete application packet will include the following items:
A complete application packet will include the following items:
- A letter describing your qualifications and interest in the position (2 pages max)
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages max)
- Statement of research interest(s) and/or professional practice agenda (2 pages max)
- A digital portfolio of recent research/creative work and/or professional practice (up to 20 examples)
- A digital portfolio of recent student work if available (up to 20 examples)
- Examples of syllabi (if available)
- Complete contact information for three references
Contact Information to Applicants
Jeremy Shelhorn
Search Committee Chair
Jeshellh@ku.edu
Search Committee Chair
Jeshellh@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Monday December 2, 2024
Anticipated Start Date
Monday August 18, 2025