Faculty Position in Robotics, Autonomous & Dynamic Systems

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech invites applications for one tenure-track or tenured faculty appointment at assistant or associate levels in Robotics, Autonomous & Dynamic Systems (RADS) Thrust Area, and crossing over to Bio, Micro, Nano System (BMNS) Thrust Area. Although all applicants with complementary expertise in these two thrust areas will be considered, preference will be given to surgical and medical robotics first and then other bio-inspired health related dynamical and control systems.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (http://www.me.vt.edu/), which includes a Nuclear Engineering Program, has 68 faculty, 33 affiliate faculty, annual research expenditures of over $18M, and a current enrollment of about 140 doctoral student,140 Master students, and nearly 1200 undergraduate students. The Department is ranked 19th and 19th out of all mechanical engineering departments in the nation in undergraduate and graduate education, respectively, by the 2021 U.S. News and World Report.

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to research, teaching and learning, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Virginia Tech is dedicated to InclusiveVT—serving in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence. Virginia Tech actively seeks a broad spectrum of candidates to join our community in preparing leaders for the world. The Mission of the College of Engineering is to educate and inspire our students to be critical thinkers, innovators and leaders.  Our core values are inclusiveness, excellence, integrity, perseverance and stewardship.

Virginia Tech's main campus is located in Blacksburg, VA, in an area consistently ranked among the country's best places to live. In addition, our facilities in the Washington, D.C., area offer unique proximity to government and industry partners and is also expanding rapidly, with Virginia Tech's exciting new Innovation Campus in Alexandria, VA, slated to open in 2024. The mechanical engineering faculty also benefit from a number of university-wide institutes such as the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI); College-level centers such as the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center (UTC) and the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM).

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in engineering or a closely related discipline by the start time of their appointment. We are seeking highly qualified candidates committed to a career in research and teaching.  The successful candidates will be responsible for mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, teaching courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and developing a strong externally sponsored research program.  Application materials include a cover letter, CV, three separate statements limited to three pages each ((i) teaching interests and philosophy, (ii) research interests, and (iii) contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion), up to three relevant research publications, and contact information for at least three professional references. Review of applications will commence on November 7, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the positions should be directed to Dr. Saied Taheri at st@vt.edu. For assistance submitting the application please contact Mrs. Miriam Snyder miriamsn@vt.edu (540) 231-8250.

The department fully embraces Virginia Tech’s commitment to increasing faculty, staff, and student diversity, ensuring a welcoming, affirming, safe, and accessible campus climate, advancing our research, teaching, and service mission through inclusive excellence, and promoting sustainable transformation through institutionalized structures. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. If you are a person with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Mrs. Miriam Snyder miriamsn@vt.edu.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in engineering or a closely related discipline by the start time of their appointment.

Regular

November 7, 2022

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.