Research Assistant Professor

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) seeks faculty members who will be primarily responsible for developing and executing programs at the intersection of cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence, with strong research, innovation, and experiential learning components. This includes building and sustaining relationships with international collaborators and both federal and industry sponsors to support these programs. Currently, CCI places a particular emphasis on 5G security, resilience and robustness of critical communication infrastructure, open radio access networks, and AI assurance. The candidate is expected to contribute to one or multiple of these areas. The successful candidate is expected to have broad expertise across the areas of focus of CCI and deep technical expertise in specific areas as demonstrated by previous research contributions, academic publications, and externally funded research projects. The successful candidate must have demonstrated research leadership and program development skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team. Reporting to the CCI executive director, the position is a non-tenure track, research assistant professor appointment.

The incumbent will be expected to develop their own research portfolio and collaborating with the faculty members of the CCI Hub in the Northern Virginia region, through the development and submission of funding proposals, peer-reviewed publication and presentations, as well as postdoctoral fellowship awards commensurate with experience level. In addition, the incumbent is expected to work both individually and as part of a team, advise interns and graduate students, and postdocs.

This position is located in the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, VA. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement within a commutable distance to Arlington to support a weekly in-office presence. Depending on business needs, travel may be necessary to the Blacksburg campus to support collaborative initiatives.

- Doctoral degree in Electric Engineering with an emphasis on Telecommunications
- 3 years post-degree work experience in an academic or research setting
- 1 year of experience in developing proposals and administering funded research programs from external funding agencies
- 3 years experience in developing demonstrations for international conferences and professional events, on 5G security, resilience and robustness of critical communication infrastructure, open radio access networks, or AI assurance.
- Track record in publishing in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
- 1 year experience serving on graduate advisory committees.
- Ability to travel and present research at conferences and to funding partners.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

$82,618-$92,682

40

April 28, 2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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