Instructor of Communications

The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics (BEAM) at Virginia Tech invites applications for a full-time instructor position to begin in Spring 2022. Duties will include teaching technical communications in an engineering context, collaborating with department faculty to provide communications instruction in biomedical engineering (BME) courses, providing quality feedback to students on communications assignments, and contributing to assessment needs.

BEAM is an interdisciplinary department with faculty having broad interests spanning engineering, science, mathematics, and medicine. Offering BS in biomedical engineering, and MS, and PhD degrees in biomedical engineering and in engineering mechanics, the department currently has 42 faculty members, and is home to over 200 undergraduate and nearly 200 graduate students.

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, whose undergraduate program ranks 13th and 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 is also expanding rapidly, with Virginia Tech's exciting new Innovation Campus in Alexandria, VA, slated to open in 2024.  The department combines the strengths of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) joint graduate program with Wake Forest University, the Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the Virginia Tech Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Further information can be found at www.beam.vt.edu.

Required Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a Master’s degree in a field focused on communication/writing or related experience at time of appointment and experience working or teaching in a STEM field or environment. They are required to have a criminal conviction check as well as documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or receive approval from the university for a vaccination exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief.

Preferred Qualifications: Ph.D. focused on pedagogy, communications or related field is preferred as is a.  background or related experience in biomedical engineering or sciences. Teaching experience in a university or college, especially in technical communications courses involving engineering or biomedical engineering is also preferred.

Applicants must apply online at www.jobs.vt.edu (posting 517826): application materials will include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, two statements each limited to 2 pages - teaching interests and philosophy; contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion – and contact information for at least three references. Review of applications will commence on December 10, 2021 and continues until the position is filled. Inquiries about the positions should be directed to Prof. Sara Arena (sarena@vt.edu, 540-232-8441). For assistance submitting the application, please contact Cristina Rosa Castaňer (crosa@vt.edu, 540-231-6651).

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. 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 an individual with a disability and need an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Services Center at hrservicecenter@vt.edu or at (540) 231-9331 or Ms. Cristina Rosa Castaňer (crosa@vt.edu, 540-231-6651) at least 10 days prior to the event.