Assistant Professor - Aerospace & Ocean Engineering

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech seeks applications for two tenure-track faculty positions at the level of assistant professor effective August 2021. We are seeking candidates in all areas relevant to Aerospace and Ocean Engineering with particular interest in the areas of structures and materials, multidisciplinary design and optimization, hypersonics, constellations of small satellites, position/navigation/timing, and data science and analytics. We are seeking candidates motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary community with a strong tradition of both fundamental and applied research.

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (http://www.aoe.vt.edu/) includes 42 faculty members overseeing more than $12M in annual research expenditures, with approximately 250 full-time graduate students and 700 undergraduate students. The Aerospace engineering undergraduate and graduate programs are ranked 15th and 13th, respectively, in the nation (2021 U.S. News and World Report). Our online master’s program in Aerospace engineering is ranked #1 (2020 Guide to Online Schools) and The Center for World University Rankings (2017) ranks the Aerospace engineering program at #5. Additionally, with its highly regarded teaching and research programs in Ocean Engineering, the Kevin T. Crofton Department provides a unique environment for collaboration beyond the traditional boundaries of aerospace engineering.

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, 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 College of Engineering undergraduate program ranks 13th and the graduate program ranks 31st among all U.S. engineering schools (USN&WR). 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 are also expanding rapidly, with Virginia Tech's exciting new Innovation Campus in Alexandria, VA, slated to open in 2024. The Aerospace and Ocean Engineering faculty also benefit from a number of university-wide institutes such as the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ictas.vt.edu), the Hume Center for National Security and Technology (www.hume.vt.edu), and the Center for Space Science and Engineering Research, or Space@VT (www.space.vt.edu); College-level centers include the Advanced Propulsion and Power Lab, the Center for Renewable Energy and Aerodynamic Technology, the Pratt & Whitney Center of Excellence, and the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center.

Applicants must apply online at www.jobs.vt.edu (job 514776): application materials will include a cover letter, curriculum vitae including a list of published journal articles and pedagogical achievements, a one-page teaching statement with an indication of teaching preferences, a statement on contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and contact information for at least three references. Review of applications will commence on February 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Michael Philen at mphilen@vt.edu.

The department fully embraces Virginia Tech’s commitment to increase faculty, staff, and student diversity; to ensure a welcoming, affirming, safe, and accessible campus climate; to advance our research, teaching, and service mission through inclusive excellence; and to promote sustainable transformation through institutionalized structures.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in aerospace or ocean engineering or a closely related field; a strong record of scholarly accomplishments; a proven ability to work collaboratively; experience with and commitment to interdisciplinary research and instruction; and a willingness to expand disciplinary boundaries to address complex technical and societal challenges. They will be responsible for mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, teaching courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and developing a externally sponsored research program.