Assistant Professor (Design Thinking)

Position: Assistant Professor (Design Thinking)

School / Institute: MIT School of Computing

Location: MIT ADT University, Vishwa Rajbaug, Loni Kalbhor, Pune

Immediate Joiner will be Preferred

Role Overview

The MIT School of Computing is seeking a dynamic, student-centric, and innovation-driven Assistant Professor of Design Thinking. This role is pivotal in bridging the gap between human-centered design principles and cutting-edge computing. The ideal candidate will inspire engineering and computing students to approach complex technical problems through empathy, iterative prototyping, and creative problem-solving methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Teaching & Curriculum Development

• Deliver core and elective courses in Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design (HCD), and Innovation Frameworks to computing students.
• Design hands-on studio sessions, workshops, and project-based learning experiences that integrate design methodologies with software development, AI, and data science.
• Develop updated course curricula, digital learning resources, and assessment rubrics aligned with global academic and industry standards.

2. Mentorship & Student Guidance

• Mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students on design-led computing projects, capstone initiatives, and hackathons.
• Guide students in building robust portfolios that display end-to-end design thinking processes (empathy mapping, ideation, user testing)

3. Research, Collaboration & Institutional Growth

• Conduct active research or publish case studies at the intersection of design methodologies and technological innovation.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary faculty to introduce design principles into core computing subjects
• Participate in departmental activities, academic committees, and industry-academia partnership initiatives

Eligibility Criteria

Required Education

• Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) from a recognized institute or university
• Master of Design (M.Des.) from a recognized institute or university (Specializations in Interaction Design, Product Design, Strategic Design Management, or User Experience are highly preferred)

Required Experience & Skills

• Proven teaching experience explicitly focusing on Design Thinking methodologies (e.g., Stanford school framework, Double Diamond process).
• Strong portfolio showcasing the practical application or teaching of empathy research, wireframing, rapid prototyping, and usability testing.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and classroom management skills, with the ability to engage tech-heavy students in creative processes

Desirable Attributes

• A Ph.D. in Design or an allied field (completed or pursuing) is a major plus
• Prior experience teaching design to computer science or engineering student cohorts.
• Familiarity with modern collaborative design tools (e.g., Figma, Miro, Mural, Adobe CC)

How to Apply:

Interested candidate should send their updated CVs to hr.resume@mituniversity.edu.in with Subject line: Application for Assistant Professor - Design Thinking