Assistant/Associate Professor of Sustainable Systems & Energy

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in Sustainable Systems. We seek a systems-oriented scholar working at the intersection of industrial ecology, sustainable biomaterials, energy systems, circular economy, and industrial decarbonization. Rank will be determined based on the selected candidate’s commensurate experience and impact. The successful candidate will strengthen the growing Sustainable Systems Science major by integrating material and energy flows across supply chains, infrastructure, manufacturing, packaging, and bio-based systems. Relevant approaches may include life-cycle assessment, carbon accounting, sustainability analytics, renewable and bioenergy systems, and modeling of energy-material interactions.

Requirements

Ph.D. in industrial ecology, sustainability science, energy systems, environmental engineering/science, sustainable biomaterials, systems engineering, or a closely related field by appointment start date (for Assistant Professor rank).
Expertise in one or more of the following: life-cycle assessment, energy-material flow modeling, carbon accounting, industrial decarbonization, circular economy, renewable/bioenergy systems, or sustainability analytics.
Evidence of excellence or strong potential in university teaching and student mentoring (for Assistant Professor rank).
Evidence of strong potential for externally funded research and high-quality peer-reviewed scholarship (for Assistant Professor rank).
Evidence of a sustained externally funded research program and scholarly record commensurate with rank (for Associate Professor rank).
Evidence of an established and productive scholarly research program with a strong publication record (for Associate Professor rank).
Demonstrated leadership and recognized contributions through professional service, outreach, engagement, or other academic service activities (for Associate Professor rank).
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.
Successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating research with capstone, experiential, or project-based learning.
Ability to collaborate across natural resources, engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, packaging, and industry.
Experience with LCA software, energy auditing, sustainability performance analytics, or related computational tools.

Responsibilities

Integrate material and energy flows across supply chains, infrastructure, manufacturing, packaging, and bio-based systems.
Teach SBIO 2514 Applied Industrial Ecology, SBIO 3545 Society, Sustainability, Biomaterials, and Energy, SBIO 4724 Sustainable Systems Science Capstone, and develop a new SBIO 2XXX Materials-Energy Systems and Analytics course.
Provide temporary coverage for SBIO 4164/5164G Sustainability Performance and Assessment during the transition period.
Play a central role in the Sustainable Systems Science Bridge Experience program.
Supervise capstone and undergraduate research.
Contribute to curriculum development in energy systems, decarbonization, and sustainability analytics.
Potentially lead study abroad courses with students.
Establish a nationally recognized externally funded research program addressing sustainability and energy-transition challenges.
Pursue funding from agencies such as NSF, DOE, EPA, USDA, as well as industry and foundations.
Support graduate training and interdisciplinary initiatives.
Submit external proposals annually by year two.
Actively participate in the USDA’s McIntire-Stennis program.
Integrate research with teaching and experiential learning.
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 sustainability-related industrial systems and energy challenges.