Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Position -Robotics, Autonomous & Dynamic Systems (RADS)

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).

The successful candidates will have a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering or a closely aligned field, a strong record of academic accomplishments and 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. The successful candidate will be 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.

Applicants must apply online at www.jobs.vt.edu (job number 517526): application materials will include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement discussing teaching, research, and professional goals. a statement on contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and contact information for at least three references. Review of applications will commence on November 8, 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. 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 Mrs. Miriam Snyder miriamsn@vt.edu (540) 231-8250 at least 10 days prior to the event.