Careers at Virginia Tech

The Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education (ALCE), in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Tech, seeks to expand efforts in research, teaching, and outreach in Life Sciences Communication. The successful candidate will be expected to build a portfolio in life sciences communication with a forward-looking research agenda for the science of science communication that can be translated into educational and outreach activities. This position emphasizes the importance of evidence-based approaches to address societal challenges in areas such as agriculture, health, and environmental sustainability, focusing on how scientific information is shared, interpreted, and used to enhance public trust and dialogue around science.

The Department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education (ALCE) invites applicants for an academic year, tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level, with expertise in Life Sciences Communication. This appointment is 30% research, 50% teaching, and 20% Extension. In addition, the successful candidate will contribute to ALCE as a team member in transforming lives through learning, discovery, and engagement.

Position Responsibilities
● Develop a nationally recognized systematic program of research in life sciences communication.
● Initiate, build, and sustain external funding to support graduate students and the research program and leverage the existing resource strengths of the department.
● Maintain an active research program through dissemination of peer-reviewed scholarship and/or creative activities.
● Develop curricula and course materials to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in life sciences communication.
● Develop Extension and outreach programs that facilitate effective engagement and trust-building among stakeholders to support life sciences communication.
● Mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students.
● Provide guidance to students in areas of scholarship and inquiry and assist in the completion and publication of student works.
● Provide discipline-related service to the Department, College, and University.
● Perform as a team member in achieving the goals of the Department, College, and University.
● Position requires occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings.

Ph.D. in agricultural communication, mass communication, science communication, journalism, digital media, social media, public relations, technical and scientific communication, health communication, global communication, or a closely related field by appointment start date; A capacity for directing graduate and undergraduate academic programs in Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education; Ability to work with constituents and a student body from diverse backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to a supportive cam-pus community; Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and across differences; Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as expertise in utilizing technology in communication.

A record of successful external funding and scholarship; Demonstrated teaching expertise at the graduate and undergraduate level; Demonstrated discipline-related professional experience; Expertise in visual communication, photography, graphic design or related areas for teaching and research.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

Commensurate with Experience

40

11/28/2025

Applicants are encouraged to include: 1. Cover letter; 2. Curriculum Vitae; 3. Teaching Philosophy (two-page max); 4. Research & Outreach Statement (two-page max.); and, 5. Contact information for three (3) professional references

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

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 Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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