The Mining and Minerals Engineering department at Virginia Tech seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Minerals Processing and Extractive Metallurgy. The position is at the level of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, with rank to be determined by applicant qualifications. We are seeking candidates motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary community with a strong tradition of both fundamental and applied research.
The department currently has 9 faculty members and is home to over 100 undergraduate and nearly 30 graduate students. According to ASEE data, the department consistently ranks as one of the top Mining Engineering programs in the United States, in terms of undergraduate enrollment, graduate enrollment, and research expenditures. Holden Hall, the long-term home of the department, recently completed a very substantial renovation and provides state-of-the-art, new facilities for department personnel. Our department’s core values are Technical Excellence, Adaptability, Community, and Leadership.
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 located in Blacksburg, VA, in an area consistently ranked among the country's best places to live. In addition, our program in the Washington, D.C., area offers unique proximity to government and industry partners and is also expanding rapidly, with Virginia Tech's exciting new Innovation Campus in Alexandria, VA, slated to open early 2025.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a closely related field at time of appointment, a strong record of academic accomplishments and a proven ability to work collaboratively, a commitment to interdisciplinary research and instruction, and a willingness to expand disciplinary boundaries to address complex technical and societal challenges. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: ore characterization and mineralogy; comminution and liberation; physical and chemical separations; hydrometallurgy; surface and colloid chemistry; waste management and handling; or process modeling, simulation and control. The successful candidate will have a high potential to build an independent, coherent, and robust area of scholarship; the ability to effectively advise PhD students, the ability to teach undergraduate courses in our department but can also expand our curricular offerings, and an alignment with Virginia Tech’s mission and our departmental core values.
Applicants must apply online at jobs.vt.edu. 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. Review of applications will commence on December 15, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Erik Westman at ewestman@vt.edu.
The department fully embraces Virginia Tech’s Commitment to increase faculty, staff and student diversity; 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.