Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Position in Robotics, Autonomous & Dynamic Systems (RAD

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech invites applications for three (3) tenure-track or tenured faculty appointments at all levels in Robotics, Autonomous & Dynamic Systems (RADS) Thrust Area, with emphasis on Acoustics and Vibration including but not limited to Acoustic/Elastic Metamaterials and Meta-structures, Smart Materials and Structures, Energy Harvesting and Transfer Systems including Marine Energy, Advanced Sensing and Actuation Systems, and Ultrasonics, Autonomous Systems including Aerial Vehicles and Drones.

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 17th (10th in public schools) and 17th (9th in public schools) 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), the Biocomplexity Institute, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI); College-level centers such as the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center (UTC) and the state-level Commonwealth of Virginia Center for Aerospace Propulsion Systems (CCAPS), the Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems (VaCAS) 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.  Candidates should apply online at https://jobs.vt.edu to the appropriate posting numbers 517526: Applicants should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research/vision statement, teaching philosophy, and the names of five references that the search committee may contact. Review of applications will commence on November 8th, 2021 and continue until the positions are 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 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. If you are a person with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Mrs. Miriam Snyder miriamsn@vt.edu.