Virginia Tech- Assistant, Associate or Full Professor (2 Positions)

The Department of Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) at Virginia Tech invites applications for two positions in bioprocess engineering. The department provides a dynamic and rapidly expanding environment that includes faculty members conducting cutting-edge research in bioprocess engineering and land and water resources engineering. Positions will be academic year appointments with responsibilities for teaching across the instructional program in the department, as well as for developing specialized courses and a strong research and scholarship portfolio.

The successful candidate’s research portfolio will compliment the existing research strengths of the department and demonstrate significant research interest and capacity in one of the following areas of focus: bioenergy, biopharmaceuticals, renewable biomaterials, metabolic engineering, food engineering, animal waste and agricultural residue utilization, synthetic biology, nanobioprocessing, biosensing, or biomolecular engineering.

A new state-of-the-art research facility, to be completed in 2013, will provide a collaborative laboratory environment for BSE faculty. The BSE department is affiliated with two nationally ranked colleges: the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The department has established close collaborations with several university institutes and centers of excellence such as the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Fralin Life Science Institute, and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science. Rank and tenure will be offered commensurate with the scholarly record of the candidates selected.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop and maintain a productive, internationally recognized research program through extramural funding, integrating previous work into the department’s teaching, research and outreach portfolio.
  • Develop and teach graduate courses in bioprocess engineering or other biological systems engineering areas.
  • Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows.
  • Participate in department, college, university, and professional service and outreach activities.
  • Demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity to issues of diversity in the campus community.
  • Adhere to the responsibilities of the faculty as described by the Faculty Handbook.

Qualifications:

  • An earned doctorate in a field related to research interests with at least one degree in engineering.
  • A record of publication indicative of the potential to establish and maintain a productive research program.
  • Ability to articulate a coherent agenda of research and scholarship and to identify potential funding sources to support such research.
  • Effective communication skills and ability to work within a team environment.
  • Shared interests with other scientists in the field.
  • Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with faculty from a variety of disciplines.
  • Ability to work with a student body from diverse backgrounds.
  • Candidates at higher ranks must demonstrate a significant record of peer reviewed publications and extramural funding demonstrating continued capacity to maintain and grow an active, productive research program; success in teaching; success in advising and mentoring graduate students; a coherent agenda of funded research or scholarship; and the capacity to provide leadership in the field of expertise across Virginia Tech and beyond.

How to Apply:

Apply online with job posting #0111202. Review of applications will begin on January 2, 2012. Applicants should complete the faculty application online and upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of three references and statements of research interests and teaching philosophy as attachments.

Direct inquiries to:

Mary Leigh Wolfe, professor and head biological systems engineering
200 Seitz Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States, (540) 231-6615
mlwolfe@vt.edu

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