Job Description
Operating Title
Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) Sustainable Product Design and Innovation
Campus Location
Keene
Department
KSC Architecture & SPDI
Summary of Position
Keene State College and the Department of Sustainable Product Design and Architecture (SPDA) invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in in our multi-disciplinary Sustainable Product Design and Innovation (SPDI) program to begin August 2025. Highly desirable candidates will have proven expertise in Design and Development of New Products with an emphasis on prototyping utilizing many materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainability principles.
The
SPDI program and its advanced manufacturing labs were created for ideation, digital and manual fabrication, prototyping and manufacturing. Housed in the
LEED platinum certified Technology, Design and Safety (
TDS) Center, we use this educational facility to support our experiential-learning pedagogy. The labs have an extensive array of classic, digital and state-of-the-art prototyping and manufacturing processing equipment for metals, wood, electronics, polymers and many other materials supported with professional-level computer systems. The facility supports learning product design, engineering, manufacturing, and their related fields with current expansion to increase ultra-precision machining for optics. We strive to provide and ensure a welcoming, supportive, ‘maker space’ for
SPDI students, staff and faculty. To learn more about the current Sustainable Product Design and Innovation program, visit:
https://www.keene.edu/academics/programs/spdi/ Interdisciplinary approaches and engaging undergraduates in learning about the product design and innovation processes and manufacturing engineering are core to the SPDI program. It is expected that the new faculty member will commit to integrating sustainability issues into all courses. Faculty will be expected to encourage the development of our student design/engineering community while collaborating with colleagues, related academic disciplines and the regional manufacturing community.
Teaching load is twelve credits, typically three 4 credit courses, per academic semester. Primary teaching responsibilities to support this core in the classroom and advanced manufacturing labs may focus on the following areas: Product Design and Development through the 3 core courses of the SPDI curriculum; Design Visualization including sketching (hand and digital sketching); scale model making and prototyping; 3-D computer modeling techniques and 2D engineering drawings, using SolidWorks; Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA); the manufacturing enterprise (design a product, build, and sell a short pilot run); the use and properties of materials, and their applications in product and process design used in manufacturing; product prototyping and testing techniques in our advanced manufacturing labs. Additive manufacturing, automation, CNC programming, and 3D scanning technologies are a plus.
It is expected that SPDI faculty members will commit to integrating sustainability issues into all courses, encouraging the development of our student design/engineering community, and collaborating with fellow SPDA and College faculty and staff, with related academic disciplines and the regional manufacturing community.
As part of their regular teaching responsibilities at this public liberal arts college, faculty members may teach courses both in the major and in the Integrative Studies Program. For more information about this program, please see:
http://www.keene.edu/isp/.
Scholarship: Faculty members are expected to maintain an active record of scholarship and professional development which can include creative and critical inquiry, research, and the scholarship of teaching. The SPDI program has endowed funding for faculty development. The College has internal grant funding and the USNH system can assist with applying for external funding which can contribute to scholarship efforts depending on the area of research and inquiry. SPDI Faculty members have had their research supported by National Science Foundation grants in additive manufacturing and bio-fabrication. Other outside gifts and grants have supported new equipment and collaborative curriculum development for the SPDI program.
Service: Additional responsibilities will include participating in departmental activities including student advising and mentoring, and service to the department, college and community. Areas of service will likely include curriculum development, program assessment and enhancement, integrating laboratory-learning opportunities, integrating safe operations, working with an active student organization and our business advisory committee. Faculty actively engage in collaborative work and service within the department and across the College to advance future-thinking curricular and co-curricular approaches that strengthen our Liberal Arts focus and achieve the College’s goals for inclusion and excellence as outlined in the College’s Strategic Plan.
At Keene State College, we share a commitment to diversity, equity, and multiculturalism as key elements of academic excellence. Our students come from diverse socio-economic and educational backgrounds, with a high percentage of first-generation college students. By the time Keene State College students complete their undergraduate experience they develop skills of inquiry, communication, intercultural perspectives, civic engagement, and commitments to sustainability and well-being that will serve them as active citizens and lifelong learners. We seek faculty with a desire to provide support, mentorship, and direction to prepare students to work within diverse communities. One of our aspirations is to develop social change agents with the knowledge, skills, and experience to compassionately engage with their future employers, peers and those they serve from diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who will support the College’s ongoing efforts to help students become responsible global citizens.
Additional Job Information
Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online:
- Letter of Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Teaching Philosophy
- Portfolio/Samples of professional work with descriptions of each project scope and your role. Your professional work can include, and is not limited to, innovations used in products or processes, patents or patents pending, product design and development, research, publications, creative works. Please describe your role(s) and contributions in each piece.
- Portfolio of your teaching with examples of your students’ work. Please provide a short, contextualizing statement about each sample of student work.
- Teaching Evaluations
- Contact information for three (3) references who can supply letters of recommendation*
*Note: You will not be able to upload letters of reference to the job portal when you apply. At the time of application, you will be asked to supply the contact information for three references. These references will receive an email asking them to submit letter of recommendation to your application if your application advances.
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled or otherwise closed at the College’s discretion.
Posting Number
PF0910FY25
Acceptable Minimum Qualifications
A terminal degree in their field: A Master’s of Industrial Design (M.ID), Masters of Science in Industrial Design (M.S.), or Doctorate Degree in sustainable product design, engineering, or related field, 3 years of professional product design, design engineering and/or related industry experience, and 2 years of college/university level teaching experience in product design or related fields. All candidates must demonstrate a record of accomplishment in their area of expertise, which includes a digital design/research portfolio of manufactured and/or conceptual work, modeling, and/or published research in journals or articles.
Additional Preferred Qualifications
Proficiency in professional and industry software applications related to design visualization, and representation, CAD, engineering drawings, digital analysis, CNC and metrology. Familiarity with a variety of materials, prototyping and manufacturing tools and equipment and experience with welcoming and mentoring students in these environments while creating physical models and prototypes. Additionally, the College has identified desirable qualifications that support our commitment to creating and maintaining a diverse campus community including the ability to speak a second language or to bring a multicultural perspective to the campus.
Salary Information
Salary is based on the prevailing Collective Bargaining Unit Agreement; current rank minimum for for an Assistant Professor is $75,230. Subject to change with anticipated Collective Bargaining Unit Agreement. Salary is complemented by a comprehensive benefits package.
Quick Link to Posting
https://jobs.usnh.edu/postings/63277Faculty Information
Tenure-Track
Type of Position
Faculty
Posting Date
10/11/2024
Open Until Filled
Yes
Interested Internal Candidates Exist?
No
Appointment Type
Tenure-Track
This position is responsible for the supervision of
Does not supervise
Special Requirements
A background check will be required as a condition of employment.
EEO Statement
The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.
Institution Information
Keene State College is located in the scenic Monadnock region of Southwest New Hampshire and is an affiliate of the University System of New Hampshire. Located approximately 2 hours from Boston or Hartford CT, and 4 hours from New York City, the region contains many opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation, cultural events, and a strong sense of community. To learn more about Keene State College, the University System of New Hampshire, and the Keene community, please
visit:https://www.keene.edu, https://www.usnh.edu/ or https://www.ci.keene.nh.us.
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