Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning

University of Southern California

Sol Price School of Public Policy

Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning (Tenure-track)

Position Description and Qualifications

The Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning in the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. We particularly encourage applications from candidates whose work includes explicitly spatial approaches to physical planning and the built environment.

In an era of climate change and unsustainable urbanization practices, we seek a scholar whose work addresses planning and the environment, sustainability, and climate. We are particularly interested in research that takes an explicitly spatial approach to embrace intersections with design, the built environment, and physical planning – especially of a global nature. Candidates’ research should draw interdisciplinary links between different planning fields and ideally address at least one of our department’s two cross-cutting themes: social justice and data analytics. We seek innovative intellectual leaders whose research will address urban planning’s most pressing questions in the coming decades, and emphasize spatial thinking/analysis, the connectivity of the challenges facing cities across a global stage, and interdisciplinary innovation through novel scholarly methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Publish high-profile scholarly research in peer-reviewed journals

• Teach creatively and effectively in both core courses and areas of expertise

• Supervise graduate students and participate in service to the school and field

• Contribute to department collegiality and external interdisciplinarity

Qualifications

• PhD in urban planning or a related field by the appointment start date

• Evidence of innovative scholarly research and publication potential

• Evidence of teaching potential and classroom innovation

• Evidence of interdisciplinarity in research and teaching

About the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

Sitting at the heart of LA’s living urban laboratory, DUPSA offers a top-ranked Master of Urban Planning, a PhD in Urban Planning and Development, and a BS in Urban Studies and Planning. The department’s core strengths span urban analytics, transportation, sustainability planning, arts and culture, urban design, and housing and economic development. ScholarMetrics ranks DUPSA #1 nationally in urban planning faculty citations, US News and World Report ranks it #4 in urban planning and policy among public affairs schools, and Planetizen has ranked it in the top 10 of every edition of its guide to urban planning programs from its 2006 inception through the present.

The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Consistently ranked among the top schools of public policy in the nation, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy generates uncommon knowledge for the common good. The mission of the Price School is to improve the quality of life for people and their communities, here and abroad. The school is composed of interdisciplinary experts that generate innovative approaches and solutions to critical issues. Across four academic departments, Price offers wide-ranging curriculum across undergraduate and graduate programs that provide students with knowledge and distinctive opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their professions. Our academic programs are augmented by numerous research centers, institutes, and initiatives that provide additional research expertise and experience. To learn more about the Price School, please visit https://priceschool.usc.edu .

Compensation and Benefits

The University of Southern California offers a competitive salary within an academic environment based on the candidate’s experience and accomplishments. The university also offers excellent benefits to employees, which include: health, dental and life insurance; tuition assistance; disability and retirement plans; credit union membership; and participation in cultural and social events, as well as access to athletic and recreational facilities.

The annual base salary range for this position (9-months) is $125,000-175,000.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Note: The core 9-month base salary for this position will be determined by rank and commensurate with experience, skills, education, and training.

Apply for this Position

To be considered for this position, all applicants must apply via the USC Careers site and submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and a statement that outlines their research agenda and teaching philosophy and approach. Please also arrange for three letters of reference. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2026.