The Department of Mathematics at Virginia Tech (http://www.math.vt.edu/) invites applications for an Assistant Professor, tenure-track faculty position in the research area of mathematics education with a start date of August 10, 2027, at its Blacksburg, VA, campus. The successful candidate will conduct research in undergraduate mathematics education, with particular interest in research specialties that complement and add to the department's existing research strengths. Possible specialties include but are not limited to the following: the teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics and/or graduate mathematics, the mathematical preparation of prospective teachers, and the teaching and learning of applied or computational mathematics.
Job requirements include a Ph.D. in mathematics, mathematics education, or a closely related field, including the equivalent of 18 semester credit hours of graduate level mathematics, at the time of appointment; and an active research program in undergraduate mathematics education. The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain a distinguished research program, including seeking and securing funding needed to support their research agenda, and to provide effective instruction and advising to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students. Successful candidates will be able to teach courses in graduate mathematics education research and undergraduate mathematics content or mathematics for prospective teachers. Additional responsibilities include continuing development of professional capabilities and scholarly activities, including travel to attend conferences and meetings, and participation in department, college, university, and professional service.
This position builds on the Mathematics Department’s existing strengths and efforts to expand its national prominence in mathematics education research. The successful candidate will join a thriving mathematics education research group, housed in the Mathematics Department, which currently has three tenured faculty, a postdoc, and several graduate students enrolled in a Mathematics PhD program with a dissertation and coursework focus in educational research. Additionally, the mathematics education community at Virginia Tech includes two tenure-track faculty in the School of Education with a PhD program in Curriculum and Instruction. The two groups are highly collaborative, with joint research projects and a weekly seminar. Additionally, the College of Science has a Center for Advancing Undergraduate Science Education, which supports broader DBER efforts beyond mathematics. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research, curriculum development, or outreach initiatives with other members of the Virginia Tech faculty.
The Mathematics Department is committed to building a welcoming and supportive community of mathematical scientists through programs and activities woven into the department’s research, teaching, and outreach efforts. This commitment is illustrated by programs such as the following: Mathematics: Opportunities in Research and Education; activities organized by the Virginia Tech Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (winner of the 2021 AWM Student Chapter Award for Scientific Excellence); and the Blacksburg Math Circle. Additionally, Virginia Tech is committed to supporting the success of its faculty members through policies that include the modification of duties, the extension of tenure clocks, mentoring, proposal-writing guidance, and dual-career accommodations, depending on individual circumstances. Interviewed candidates will meet with a work-life liaison for a confidential conversation about the details of these policies.
The person appointed will have the following responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain a distinguished research program in mathematics education research, including seeking and securing funding needed to support your research agenda;
- Continually develop their own scholarly activities, professional capabilities, and service to the profession;
- Provide effective instruction and advising to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students;
- Teach courses in graduate mathematics education research and undergraduate mathematics content or mathematics for prospective teachers;
- Participate actively and effectively in department and university administrative governance; and
- Adhere to the responsibilities of the faculty as described by the faculty handbook
( https://faculty.vt.edu/faculty-handbook.html ).