Job Description

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at any rank effective August 2024. We have multiple new faculty lines that will enable us to grow and sustain a strong Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capability within our department. For this position, we seek candidates who will build and sustain a scholarly research program in artificial intelligence applied to aerospace or ocean engineering systems and who will build and teach undergraduate and graduate curricular content in artificial intelligence within the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering department. This position defines AI research as "advancing the scientific understanding of the mechanisms underlying thought and intelligent behavior and their embodiment in machines" (http://aaai.org/).

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering () includes 40 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.

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 16th and graduate program ranks 30th 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. Virginia Tech's main campus is in Blacksburg, VA, 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 are expanding rapidly, with Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus in Alexandria, VA slated to open in 2024.

The Aerospace and Ocean Engineering team benefits from university-wide institutes such as the Virginia Tech National Security Institute (), the Center for Space Science and Engineering Research or Space@VT (), and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science () that includes the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership or MAAP UAS test site (). College-level centers include the Center for Research and Engineering in Aero/hydrodynamic Technology or CREATe), 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 (, ). AOE faculty manage laboratories covering all current department disciplines and application areas ().

Required Qualifications

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. Candidates with expertise in AI are welcome from any relevant PhD degree program so long as the candidate also has strong interest in the application of AI to aerospace or ocean engineering design, analysis, or autonomy. We are seeking candidates who are motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary community. 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. Candidates at the associate and full professor level are expected to have substantial experience and accomplishment in the targeted search area. Successful applicants will be responsible for mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, teaching and developing courses, and developing a vibrant externally sponsored research program.

Appointment Type

Regular

Review Date

December 1, 2023

Additional Information

Application materials include a cover letter, CV, up to three relevant research publications, and contact information for at least three professional references. In addition, applicants must provide a research statement and a statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy (up to 3 pages each) 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

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

About Virginia Tech

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 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 , a , a college, , and . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.