Assistant Professor - Operations Research

Faculty Position in the Grado Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering

Virginia Tech – Assistant Professor, Operations
Research

The Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at
Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenure-track faculty
position at the rank of Assistant Professor, effective August 2027.
We seek outstanding candidates in Operations Research with strong
methodological and theoretical skills in stochastic operations
research, including applied probability, stochastic modeling and
optimization, simulation, and related areas, with applications in
areas including but not limited to: AI-enabled decision-making in
supply chains and healthcare, the interface between simulation and
AI, and resilient or data-driven systems. 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 42 full-time faculty members,
including 34 tenured/tenure-track faculty and six additional
instructional faculty. Eight 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 & Ergonomics,
Management & 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
(launched in 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 660 undergraduate
students, 120 master’s students, and 100 doctoral students. The
undergraduate and graduate ISE programs are currently ranked sixth
and ninth, 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.

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.

Tenure-track faculty are expected to initiate and develop
externally-funded independent research that is nationally
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; demonstrated potential to develop a
sustainable externally-funded research program, publish in leading
IE/OR/OM/MS journals, and produce research of the caliber
recognized by major best-paper and publication awards; and an
ability to contribute to the department’s teaching mission at both
the graduate and undergraduate levels by teaching courses in
probability, probabilistic operations research, with the potential
to contribute to teaching needs in simulation. 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 awards; and instructional experience in
higher education will receive strong consideration.

Applicants must apply online at jobs.vt.edu (posting number
537780). 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 16,
2026, and continue until the position is filled. Questions
regarding the position should be directed to the Search Chair
Dr. Xi Chen, who can be reached at isesearch@vt.edu . Candidates
attending the INFORMS Annual Meeting may contact this email 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 Devin Norris at dnorris11@vt.edu during regular
business hours at least 10 business days prior to the on-campus
interview.