Careers at Virginia Tech

The Department of Mining & Minerals Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) invites applications for a research associate position. The successful applicant is expected to play an active role in the research conducted by the Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST), which focuses on mineral processing, physical and chemical separations, and colloid chemistry.

Responsibilities of this position will include:
• participating in current sponsored research surrounding rare earth preconcentration and extraction from both conventional and unconventional sources including coal byproducts and others.
• supervising and conducting laboratory, pilot, and/or field work;
• data reduction, analysis, and presentation
• report and manuscript writing;
• presenting at technical forums and conferences;
• co-developing new proposals for sponsored research; and
• co-supervising and mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers.

• Master of Science in mining engineering, minerals engineering, metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field;
• Advanced knowledge of surface and colloidal chemistry;
• Prior experience in standard mineral processing techniques, including crushing, grinding, screening, flotation, filtration, and others.
• Demonstrated expertise in thermodynamic modeling of rare earth phase behavior in solution
• Strong communication skills;
• Excellent work ethic, time management, and organizational skill;
• A commitment to safe work practices in the laboratory and field

• Practical knowledge and experience in mineral processing operations related to ultrafine coal and mineral separations.
• Knowledge and or experience in common mineral characterization methods, including SEM, XRD, XRF digestions, and ICP-MS
• Demonstrated experience in rare earth extraction from unconventional sources including coal byproducts and clayey wastes.
• Demonstrated experience in various rare earth leaching methods, including acid leaching, ion exchange leaching, and activation leaching.
• Demonstrated experience in using the Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Separation (HHS) process for the preconcentration of rare earths from dilute solid feedstocks.
• Demonstrated skills in mineral liberation studies using SEM and other devices.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

Commensurate with experience up to budget maximum.

40

7/30/2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Some travel is required; conference and meeting.

Please provide a writing sample or publication in your application materials.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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