Assistant/Associate Professor of Distribution Packaging

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant / Associate Professor (open rank) of Distribution Packaging. The successful candidate will strengthen a nationally distinctive program in protective and industrial packaging and contribute to the long-term growth of the Packaging Systems and Design (PSD) program. We seek a scholar whose work advances packaging performance across distribution systems, including protective packaging, pallets and unit loads, packaging dynamics, testing, optimization, and resilient supply chains.

Requirements

Ph.D. in packaging science/engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, wood science, sustainable biomaterials, or a closely related field by appointment start date.
Evidence of potential for excellence in university teaching and graduate student mentoring.
Evidence of strong potential to establish a competitive externally funded research program and publish high-quality scholarship.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in packaging dynamics, distribution packaging, protective packaging, or pallet and unit-load design.
Experience with package testing, modeling, optimization, standards development, or industry-sponsored research.
Experience working with packaging, pallet, logistics, or transportation industries.
Experience building collaborative research across engineering, food science, transportation, agriculture, or natural resources.
Experience with professional standards organizations.

Responsibilities

Strengthen a nationally distinctive program in protective and industrial packaging.
Contribute to the long-term growth of the Packaging Systems and Design (PSD) program.
Advance packaging performance across distribution systems, including protective packaging, pallets and unit loads, packaging dynamics, testing, optimization, and resilient supply chains.
Teach SBIO 4024 Packaging Design for Global Distribution and SBIO 4224 Industrial Packaging.
Offer SBIO 5664 Advanced Packaging Dynamics on a rotating basis.
Develop a Protective Packaging for Engineers course serving students beyond the department.
Build a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in protective and distribution packaging.
Submit external proposals annually by year two.
Actively participate in the McIntire-Stennis program and pursue other appropriate federal, industry, and capacity funding.
Produce high-quality publications.
Contribute research findings to national and international standards.
Collaborate across Virginia Tech, including with Food Science, engineering programs, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and the newly established Packaging HUB.
Actively involve in the operation of the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD), which provides testing, research, and design services to the packaging and unit load industries.
Engage in the Packaging Innovation Hub, an interdisciplinary initiative that CPULD is leading for promoting collaborative packaging research and industry partnerships across Virginia Tech.
Build and maintain productive relationships with packaging companies.
Work directly with Center clients on testing, design, and applied research projects.
Contribute to the Center's continued growth by developing new industry partnerships and expanding its portfolio of services.
Assume, over time, a leadership role in the Center's operations and strategic direction.
Collaborate effectively with colleagues within the department, across Virginia Tech, and with government agencies, industry partners, non-governmental organizations (ISO, ISTA, ASTM), and other academic institutions.
Contribute to departmental, college, and university service activities.
Engage with external stakeholders on packaging engineering challenges.