Job Details

Assistant Professor Geotechnical Engineering

The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 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 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.

Primary job responsibilities include developing a strong externally sponsored research program, teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and mentoring students.

Required qualifications include a 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.

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

The position is exempt: not eligible for overtime. The appointment type is regular. Salary information is commensurate with experience. The review date is January 5, 2026.

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 ...@vt.edu (540-###-####).

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

Virginia Tech is 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. Virginia Tech has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military 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 desire an accommodation, please contact Kira Ritter at ...@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.