The Department of Building Construction in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Building Construction, effective August 2025. We are seeking candidates motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary community with a strong tradition of both fundamental and applied research that aligns with recent initiatives at Virginia Tech including a campus-wide, multi-disciplinary focus on Intelligent Infrastructure for Human-Centered Communities as well as a focus on Industry 4.0 for Construction.

Such initiatives endorse a wide range of research foci with relevance for the built environment, including but not limited to the following:

Tools of analysis, representation, design, and evaluation, including BIM and Digital Twins
Semi- or autonomous systems and robotics
3-D printed structures, additive manufacturing, offsite construction, or prefabrication
Data collection technologies, e.g. sensors, cyber-physical systems
Internet-of-Things, wireless, and cyber security
Mixed-reality technologies
Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors
The School is currently home to 30 faculty members and over 600 undergraduate and 50 graduate students. The School offers the following degrees: 1) Bachelor of Science in Building Construction, 2) Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management, 3) Master of Science in Building Construction Science and Management, and 4) Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Design and Planning.

The Department of Building Construction is a founding partner of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction and is located within the College of Engineering, whose undergraduate program ranks 13th 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. This faculty position will be located at Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, in an area consistently ranked among the country’s best places to live.

Faculty in the School work primarily in two adjacent facilities, Bishop-Favrao Hall (completed 2007) and Hitt Hall (completed 2024). Hitt Hall’s unique two-story Innovation Lab provides opportunities for temporary and large-scale student-based projects. The surrounding exterior Innovation Plaza provides additional space for outdoor demonstrations and teaching. Bishop-Favrao Hall functions as a teaching tool, as elements that are usually hidden behind walls and ceiling panels are exposed and labeled. All public spaces in Bishop-Favrao Hall have exposed ceilings to allow students and visitors to see the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical systems.

Bishop-Favrao and Hitt Halls are home to the Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) and the Center for Innovation in Construction Health and Well-Being (IC-SAFE) in addition to several research labs. 

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in construction or a closely related discipline by appointment start date and must demonstrate a high potential to effectively:

Publish in peer-reviewed journals
Develop an externally funded research program
Teach courses in the building construction undergraduate curriculum
Mentor students
Collaborate across disciplinary boundaries

Preferred qualifications include a demonstrated record of:

Leadership of funded research in one or more of the focus areas listed above
Effective teaching in higher education
A high level of productivity in scholarly output
Commitment to our School values of inclusion, safety, service, and experiential learning.

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

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community 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. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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.
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 Sara Phillips at sarapv8@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: October 21, 2024
Applications close: Open until filled