Careers at Virginia Tech

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position in perception for aerospace and ocean engineering systems at the Assistant Professor rank effective August 2025. We seek candidates who will build and sustain a scholarly research and teaching portfolio on topics related to aerospace and ocean system perception, that is, subsystems and algorithms that enable aerospace and ocean systems to learn from sensory data in support of decision-making.

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (https://www.aoe.vt.edu/) includes 45 faculty members overseeing more than $12M in annual research expenditures, with approximately 260 full-time graduate students and 700 undergraduate students. With its highly regarded teaching and research programs, the Kevin T. Crofton Department provides a unique environment for collaboration beyond the traditional boundaries of both ocean and aerospace engineering. The Aerospace and Ocean Engineering team benefits from university-wide institutes such as the Virginia Tech National Security Institute (https://nationalsecurity.vt.edu/), the Center for Space Science and Engineering Research or Space@VT (https://www.space.vt.edu/), and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (https://ictas.vt.edu/) that includes the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, or MAAP, UAS test site (https://maap.ictas.vt.edu/). College-level centers include the Center for Research and Engineering in Aero/hydrodynamic Technology or CREATe (https://create.centers.vt.edu/), the Pratt & Whitney Center of Excellence, the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center, and the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics. Major facilities include the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel, Ship Model Basin, an indoor motion capture lab, and two outdoor UAS flight facilities (https://www.aoe.vt.edu/research/facilities/keas.html, https://drones.ictas.vt.edu/dronepark.html). AOE faculty manage laboratories covering all current department disciplines and application areas (https://www.aoe.vt.edu/research/facilities.html).

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, 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 College of Engineering undergraduate program ranks 13^th and graduate program ranks 31^th among all U.S. engineering schools (USN&WR). 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.

Application materials must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae including a list of published journal articles and pedagogical achievements; a research statement and plan; and contact information for at least three references. Applicants must provide a statement of teaching philosophy including the candidate’s ideas for supporting an equitable and inclusive educational environment consistent with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community. Specific examples of experiences, activities, and plans will help us identify candidates who can support and extend our university’s commitment to inclusive excellence. Review of applications will commence on December 1, 2024.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. Candidates with expertise in perception using methods from machine learning or artificial intelligence are welcome from any relevant PhD degree program so long as the candidate also has a strong interest in the application of their research to aerospace or ocean engineering systems. Applicants should offer a strong scholarly record; an ability to work collaboratively; a commitment to research excellence; a commitment to service; and a willingness to expand disciplinary boundaries to address complex technical and societal challenges. Successful applicants will be responsible for mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, teaching and developing courses, and developing a vibrant externally sponsored research program.

Regular

December 1, 2024

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 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.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.