Refer a Friend or Colleague

Faculty Position in the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Virginia Tech – Assistant/Associate Professor, Operations Research

The Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, effective August 2026. We seek outstanding candidates in Operations Research with strong methodological and theoretical skills in OR, particularly in nonlinear programming and applied probability theory, with applications in areas including but not limited to: artificial intelligence, machine learning, supply chain management, finance, healthcare, energy, and/or sustainability. We are seeking candidates motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary community with a strong tradition of both fundamental and applied research as well as innovative teaching.

The department currently has 43 full-time faculty members, including 33 tenured/tenure-track faculty and six additional instructional faculty. Six faculty members are early investigator recipients, and numerous others have received international or national recognition. Academic programs and research in the department encompass Human Factors Engineering and Ergonomics, Management and Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and Operations Research. Candidates will thus have the opportunity to work with a broad range of departmental faculty, as well as with faculty in many other colleges, centers, and institutes at Virginia Tech, including the Institute for Advanced Computing (newly launched in early 2025 in the greater Washington, D.C. area), the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the National Security Institute, VT MADE – the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The department is home to 616 undergraduate students, 106 master’s students, and 110 doctoral students. The undergraduate and graduate ISE programs are currently ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, by U.S. News & World Report. This position is located at Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg, VA - an area consistently ranked among the country’s best places to live. In addition, our graduate programs in the greater Washington, D.C. area offer unique proximity to government and industry partners, with four ISE faculty members located at our campus in Alexandria, VA. Additional information about the department is available at: www.ise.vt.edu.

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 graduate college of Veterinary Medicine, a Graduate School, and an Honors 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, and numerous extension offices. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Tenured/tenure-track faculty are expected to initiate and develop externally-funded independent research that is nationally or internationally recognized, conscientiously mentor research-oriented graduate students, teach effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and serve the university and their professional communities. The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering, operations research, or a closely related field; a rank-appropriate record of research accomplishments (i.e., publications and extramural funding) and professional service; and an ability to contribute to the department’s teaching mission at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Candidates with demonstrated interest in collaborative research in areas represented by the department’s existing faculty; demonstrated ability and willingness to work collaboratively with faculty from a variety of disciplines to expand disciplinary boundaries to address complex technical and societal challenges; recognition of research excellence as measured by best paper or society awards; and instructional experience in higher education will receive strong consideration.

Applicants must apply online at jobs.vt.edu (posting number 534439). 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 three separate statements (up to 3 pages each): 1) a research statement; 2) a statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy; and 3) a statement expressing the candidate’s ideas for supporting an 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 November 17, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the position should be directed to the Search Chair, Dr. Esra Buyuktahtakin Toy at isesearch@vt.edu. Candidates attending the INFORMS Annual Meeting may contact the Search Chair to request a meeting with a VT faculty member to learn more about the position, department, college, and university.

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 Heather Huddleston at heahudd@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the on-campus interview.