The College of Architecture, Art, and Design (CAAD) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications for a regular faculty position in Transdisciplinary Design at the assistant or associate professor level in the Department of Art and Design. The position provides an opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and diverse learning environment with students from approximately 90 countries. CAAD has established a reputation as a leader in design education in the region. Its alumni have gone on to study at top graduate programs worldwide and have established themselves as experts in the region’s creative industries.
Acclaimed for its academic excellence and multicultural environment, AUS has been ranked among the top 10 universities in the Arab world and the world’s top 50 universities under 50 years of age (QS World University Rankings, 2021). With approximately 90 nationalities represented on campus, AUS is among the world’s top five universities with the highest percentage of international students (Times Higher Education, 2023). AUS offers 33 majors and 46 minors at the undergraduate level, 17 master’s degrees, and five PhD programs. The university’s 123-hectare, full-service campus features experiential learning and research facilities, sports and recreational facilities, as well as student and faculty accommodations.
CAAD offers five undergraduate programs leading to degrees in architecture, interior design, graphic design, film & new media design and design management, along with a Master of Urban Planning and a Master of Fine Arts in Transdisciplinary Design. The Department of Art and Design also offers minors in design management, film, illustration and animation, photography and product design, as well as the Master of Fine Arts in Transdisciplinary Design. The curriculum is grounded in an American liberal arts model integrated with professional education. All courses are taught in English. Website www.aus.edu/caad. Samples of student work can be found at https://www.aus.edu/caad/department-of-art-and-design-/gallery
All positions come with a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, which includes free housing, generous retirement contributions, and funding for annual return airfare, school tuition for dependents, and health insurance. The successful candidate is expected to assume duties in August 2027, subject to budgetary approval.
The successful candidate will teach graduate studio courses in the MFA in Transdisciplinary Design and may contribute to courses in design research, research methodologies, critical discourse, design theory, innovation, strategic foresight and design futures. The candidate may also contribute to undergraduate teaching in areas related to their expertise. We seek a designer, researcher and educator whose practice moves across disciplinary boundaries and who is able to work with students from diverse academic, professional and creative backgrounds.
The successful candidate should have expertise in trans-disciplinary design and may bring additional strengths in areas such as strategic foresight and design futures, systems thinking, design strategy and innovation, design thinking, service and experience design, social innovation, speculative and critical design, participatory design, emerging technologies and AI, sustainability and circular design, design research, or contemporary design theory and critical discourse. Candidates working in other areas relevant to trans-disciplinary design are also encouraged to apply.
The candidate should be able to support graduate students in framing complex questions, conducting research, developing and testing ideas, working across disciplines, and translating research into meaningful design propositions. Experience with practice-based research, research-through-design, thesis supervision, industry-integrated capstone projects, or collaboration with cultural institutions, government, industry, communities or research organizations is desirable.
An MFA in transdisciplinary design, design, or a closely related field is required. Candidates should have an excellent record of teaching and scholarship or creative practice from a reputable university, or demonstrate the potential to develop one. Evidence of graduate teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, design research, professional practice, or experience supervising independent student work is highly desirable. A PhD or additional advanced degree is welcome but is not required.
In addition to teaching, faculty are required to mentor students, engage in scholarly activities, including creative work, published research, professional practice, or a combination of these, and participate in service activities for the college, university, and community. Creative work and publishable research are important for the department and the university. Successful candidates will have access not only to excellent research opportunities but also to generous financial support from the university to develop their scholarship and creative practice.
Interested applicants must submit the following: 1) a letter of application that describes one’s suitability for the position and provides the names and contact information of three referees; 2) a curriculum vitae; and 3) a digital portfolio of scholarly, professional, creative and teaching activities (as a single PDF file, not exceeding 50 pages).
Submit applications in confidence for the Transdisciplinary Design position by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/DES-TDD-26
Please note: To apply, you must have a Google account.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applications received before January 7, 2027 will be given full consideration.
AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division in the United Arab Emirates. AUS has been accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 USA) since June 2004.
AUS is a leading comprehensive coeducational university in the Gulf, serving students from the United Arab Emirates, neighboring countries, and around the world. In addition to CAAD, the university comprises the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the School of Business Administration. AUS is an equal-opportunity employer. We adhere to a policy of making employment decisions without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or marital status. Opportunities for employment are based solely upon one’s qualifications. Website: www.aus.edu
