Temporary Assistant Professor

Job description

The Department of Product Design at the University of Kentucky is currently accepting applications for a Temporary Assistant Professor (non-tenure-eligible) for the 2026-2027 academic year. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about design education and the critical role educators play in equipping students for careers across the spectrum of product design practice. This position is open to a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in the product design field and, while preferred, teaching experience in higher education is not required. This position is a full-time 9-month appointment with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2026, and an appointment period of one year to end May 15, 2027.

Job Summary
This position supports the educational mission of the Product Design program, focusing on quality instruction across studio, lecture, and/or workshop courses in our newly revised undergraduate curriculum. Applicants should have a strong understanding of human-centered design processes as applied to the development and delivery of physical and/or digital products, systems, or services. Ideal candidates should be qualified and able to teach at any level of our four-year undergraduate program and contribute to multiple courses within the curriculum’s course series: Studios (hands-on, applied projects), Means of Communication (drawing, visualization, graphics), Means of Production (CAD, materials, prototyping, UX/UI), and Design Contexts (history, ethics, professional practice); opportunities to offer special topic electives courses also exist in this role. This is a teaching position with no expectation of research; however, the selected candidate will contribute to service activities of the Department of Product Design.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue as needed until a pool of qualified candidates is established or the position is filled. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Adam Feld, Chair of the Department of Product Design or Jennie Boyd, Faculty Resource Manager: jennie.boyd@uky.edu.
For more information about the Department of Product Design, the College of Design, and the University of Kentucky, please visit: https://design.uky.edu

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities and Required Related Experience:
Candidates of interest will have the following qualifications:
• A professional or terminal degree in product design or related field (BS, BID, BA, MS, MDes, etc.). Outstanding professional work and experience may be considered as a substitution for a terminal degree.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of students, faculty, staff, and other members of the educational environment.
• Strong understanding and application of design process within or across a range of industries.


About the Department of Product Design
Launched in 2020, the Department of Product Design offer