Assistant Professor – AI/ML for Aerospace and Ocean Perception

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 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.

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.

Applicants must apply online at jobs.vt.edu to Job #531041. You may submit your application to multiple hiring areas by job numbers as appropriate. 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, and continue until the positions are filled. Questions regarding the position should be directed to search committee chair Dr. Mazen Farhood at farhood@vt.edu.

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.

The department fully embraces Virginia Tech’s commitment to increase diversity among faculty, staff, and students; to ensure a welcoming, affirming, safe, and accessible campus climate; to advance our research, teaching, and service mission through inclusive excellence; and to promote sustainable transformation through institutionalized structures. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Service Center at hrservicecenter@vt.edu or at 540-231-9331.