Research Associate Professor

Job Description

The Research Associate Professor in Aerospace Propulsion will lead and execute externally funded research programs within the Advanced Propulsion and Power Laboratory at Virginia Tech. The position emphasizes the integration of experimental and computational methods to advance technology and methods for gas turbine engines and hypersonic aerodynamic systems. The successful candidate will be expected to secure and sustain sponsored research funding mentor graduate and undergraduate students and contribute to the instructional mission through teaching in aerospace engineering. This role also requires establishing a collaborative research program that engages academic industry and government partners while advancing innovative propulsion technologies.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field
Credentials and experience consistent with appointment at the rank of Research Associate Professor
Demonstrated record of scholarly publications in aerospace propulsion or related areas
Proven experience managing and executing research projects
Demonstrated success in securing external research funding
Experience designing and conducting experiments including data analysis and interpretation
Experience with research-grade computational methods relevant to propulsion or fluid dynamics
Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in industrial gas turbine research and development
Expertise in optimization and inverse methods applied to aerospace propulsion
Experience specifying designing and commissioning experimental test rigs for propulsion systems
Experience in hypersonic aerodynamics and associated heat transfer phenomena
Demonstrated ability to build collaborative research programs across academia industry and government
Demonstrated ability to mentor undergraduate and graduate research students and/or early career professionals

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

00

Hours per week

40

Review Date

05/20/2026

Additional Information

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

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt 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 aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges aschool of medicine aveterinary medicinecollegeGraduate School andHonors College.The university 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 numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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