"Assistant Professor - Geotechnical Engineering"

Assistant Professor - Geotechnical Engineering

The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Engineering, effective August 2026. We are seeking candidates motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary community with a strong tradition of both fundamental and applied research.

The CEE Department has 53 tenured/tenure-track faculty and 7 professors of practice. Eight faculty are recent early investigator recipients, and numerous other faculty are recognized nationally and internationally. The department is home to 673 undergraduate students and 330 full-time graduate students. The civil and environmental engineering graduate programs are currently ranked 9th and 4th, respectively, and the civil and environmental engineering undergraduate programs are ranked 9th and 7th, respectively, by U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR).

The successful candidate will have a research focus in computational geomechanics, emphasizing numerical investigation of soil behavior under coupled mechanical, hydraulic, and thermal conditions, particularly for unsaturated and multiphase systems. We seek candidates with grain- and pore-scale modeling expertise with a focus on fundamental mechanisms governing complex soil responses, enabled by recent advances in high-performance computing to make such simulations feasible at realistic scales. This expertise is essential for addressing problems that are difficult to investigate through experimental approaches, thereby complementing the department's established strengths in laboratory and field-based geomechanics. Candidates will leverage advanced computing resources and foster interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle grand challenges in infrastructure resilience, geohazard mitigation, and environmental sustainability, and to advance emerging applications in energy geotechnics. Primary job responsibilities include developing a strong externally sponsored research program, teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and mentoring students.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in civil engineering, a strong record of academic accomplishments commensurate with rank and in a research area consistent with the job description, a proven ability to work collaboratively, a commitment to interdisciplinary research and instruction, and an ability to teach subjects germane to the field and develop courses in emerging areas.

Preferred Qualifications

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is preferred but successful candidates should demonstrate the capacity to obtain PE registration.

Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type
Regular

Salary Information
Commensurate with experience

Hours per week
40

Review Date
January 5, 2026

Additional Information

Applicants must apply online at jobs.vt.edu (posting number 534986). 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); specific examples of experiences, activities, and plans will help us identify candidates who are committed to excellence. Review of applications will commence on January 5, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Mark Widdowson at ceedepthead@vt.edu (540-231-6635).

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