Faculty position in Robotics Perception
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech invites applications for an open rank tenure-track or tenured faculty position in Robotics Perception (at Assistant, Associate, or Full professor level) to start in August 2018. The primary areas of interest include perception, sensor systems, robotics and autonomous systems, intelligent systems, signal processing and estimation, and other related areas. We are looking to hire preferably a senior leader in the area of perception which can develop a strong internationally recognized sponsored research program and continue to develop a group in this specialty for the Virginia Tech’s Destination Areas as described below. Joint or courtesy appointment with other departments such as ECE or CS are possible depending on the qualifications.
The successful candidate will be expected to participate actively in transdisciplinary research, curriculum, and/or outreach initiatives with other university faculty working in the Intelligent Infrastructure for Human-Centered Communities (IIHCC) Destination Area. Participation in Destination Area activities and initiatives will be an important component of performance evaluations as well as promotion and tenure processes. The IIHCC Destination area is focused on bringing visionary humanist and technologists together to create the framework for infrastructure innovation and the reinvention of community. Faculty working together in this area are committed to transdisciplinary solutions that exists along the interdependencies between humans, community, and infrastructure with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life around the globe. The initial focus for IIHCC will be on the following themes: 1) Ubiquitous Mobility, 2) Automated Vehicle Systems, 3) Smart Design and Construction, and 4) Energy, along with 5) the area of Materials and Materials Design for these themes. Virginia Tech is committed to diversity and seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, and people with disabilities. Virginia Tech is a recipient of the National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering careers (www.advance.vt.edu).
Blacksburg is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is widely recognized by national rankings as a vibrant and desirable community with affordable living, world-class outdoor recreation, an active arts community, and a diverse international population. The Department of Mechanical Engineering (http://www.me.vt.edu/), which includes a Nuclear Engineering Program, has 59 faculty, research expenditures of over $18M, and a current enrollment of 340 graduate students with 180 students at doctoral level, and over 1100 undergraduate students. The Department is ranked 14th and 22nd out of all mechanical engineering departments in the nation in undergraduate and graduate education, respectively, by the 2017 U.S. News and World Report. The Department includes several research centers, and its faculty members are engaged in diverse multidisciplinary research activities. 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 recently established Rolls-Royce University Technology Center (UTC) in advanced systems diagnostics, and the Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems (VaCAS); and state-level industry-academic research centers such as the such as the Commonwealth Center for Aerospace Propulsion Systems (CCAPS) and the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM). Virginia Tech is also a member of both the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute and America Makes.
Review of applicants will begin December 4, 2017 and will continue until the position is filled. Virginia Tech is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. The University has a strong commitment to the principle of diversity and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. Virginia Tech is a recipient of the National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering careers (www.advance.vt.edu).
Candidates who wish to be considered for this position should apply online at https://listings.jobs.vt.edu and link to posting number TR0170141. Applicants are requested to submit a Curriculum Vitae, the names of five references, a statement of research interests, a statement of teaching interests, and a cover letter. These items must be submitted electronically. For assistance submitting the application please contact Ms. Diana Israel (disrael@vt.edu, (540) 231-6424). Inquiries about the position should be directed to the Chair of the search committee, Prof. Pinhas Ben-Tzvi (bentzvi@vt.edu), (540) 231-6938. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should notify Professor Ben-Tzvi.