Call for Expressions of Interest for the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), University of Trento

Expectations, benefits and duties associated with the position.

The Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM) at the University of Trento invites expressions of interest for the position of Associate Professor in the academic discipline 08/CEAR-12/B Urban and Landscape Planning (Urbanistica). The level of the position offered will depend on the candidate’s qualifications. Candidates who have already been working in equivalent-level positions for at least three years at universities or research bodies abroad will be eligible for this position.

The Department seeks enthusiastic candidates with a strong background in the planning, design, and sustainability of urban development projects, open spaces, green infrastructure, and urban and landscape transformations. Proven ability to master both qualitative and quantitative research methods and tools for urban research and design is highly valued, given the interdisciplinary nature of the Department. The candidate is expected to carry out research in the field of urban and landscape planning and design, consistently with the topics identified by the disciplinary sector 08/CEAR-12/B. Particularly relevant areas of research include:

• Cognitive frameworks of the main territorial transformations that characterize the current historical context, focusing on different scales from urban to landscape;
• Settlement dynamics and new challenges linked to mobility, demand for services, production and consumption patterns;
• Exploration of new approaches to urban design (e.g., interdisciplinary design scenarios, management of future uncertainty) and urban regeneration, based on in-depth exploration of the environmental and socio-economic context.

The candidate is expected to have a strong publication record, an active track record in fundraising, and the ability to conduct research independently and as part of a team. Evidence of lecturing activities in the subject area is required. A documented history of participation in research

projects, ideally with leadership experience, are particularly appreciated.
The position will offer the opportunity to become part of a collaborative environment, which includes research units and laboratories in a wide range of relevant fields, such as spatial and ecological planning, urban sustainability, architectural design, geomatics, and others.

The position will require teaching the course of Urban Planning and Design Studio in the 5-year degree programme in Building Engineering-Architecture, and potentially in other degree programmes offered by the Department. The standard teaching load for an associate professor is 120 lecture hours. Supervision of MSc and PhD students working on their theses is also encouraged.

Full proficiency in Italian is required, as the programme in Building Engineering-Architecture is taught in Italian.

The University of Trento and DICAM

The University of Trento has been systematically ranked in the top tier positions in the Italian National Research Assessment Evaluations of the past 10 years.  The Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), established in 2012, covers the main research topics of interest for civil engineering and architecture, environmental engineering, energy engineering, environmental meteorology and climate change. It actively promotes education and research across interdisciplinary areas.

The Department is a vibrant environment with 100+ faculty staff. Several of its members have held previous positions in international universities or organisations. DICAM was awarded the “Department of Excellence” grant by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) on both calls 2018-2022 and 2023-2027. With these two awards, the Department has received extraordinary funding aimed at recruiting researchers, purchasing top-level research equipment and funding PhD scholarships.

The Department offers its own BSc and MSc programmes in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Architecture and Building Engineering (Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012), and is a partner in two joint MSc programmes, in Energy Engineering (with the Free University of Bolzano) and Environmental Meteorology (with the University of Innsbruck, Austria), respectively.

The position holder will be encouraged to join the Boards of Lecturers governing these Schools, supervise PhD students, and apply for PhD scholarships from the University of Trento or from Consortia overseeing the national Schools. Additionally, the position holder will be expected to secure financial support for doctoral student positions to be included in the annual calls for applications issued by these Schools.

Salary and benefits

Remuneration will be based on the standard Italian salary levels for university employees. Faculties are allowed to supplement their base salary by working on consultancy appointments and as part of grants they acquire, according to internal regulations of the University of Trento.

Italian candidates who have not been resident in Italy in the past two years may be entitled to benefit from special tax-exemptions, offered by the Italian tax legislation, for a period after being hired. The position holder will receive a basic personal grant for research/travel expenses from the Department every year.

Applications

Candidates should submit their application including:

• A curriculum vitae, including a publication list with DOI;
• A letter of motivation, summarising the Candidate’s interest and qualification for the position, as well as scientific interests and intended research activities;
• Portfolio (compendium) of projects and research activities carried out in relevant scientific fields;
• Degree transcripts and PhD thesis abstract;
• Contact information for up to three referees.

The application package should be submitted via e-mail to positions.dicam [at] unitn.it. Applications received before 6 April 2025 will be given full consideration. Candidates may be invited to Trento to give a seminar and for an interview. 

Inquiries for further information concerning this position can be addressed to: positions.dicam [at] unitn.it

Candidates who wish to receive further details about the position are welcome to contact Prof. davide.geneletti [at] unitn.it (Davide Geneletti)

Prof. Rossano Albatici
Head of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering