About the role
Job Description
The Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech invites applications for a non-tenure track teaching-focused Professor of Practice faculty appointment in Controls/Industrial Applications. This position is open rank (assistant, associate, or full professor of practice) commensurate with experience. This is a teaching-intensive position with no requirement to participate in research. Required qualifications for this position include: a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field; 3+ years of professional experience applying engineering principles in industry, business, government, nonprofit, and/or research settings; and an advanced degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field or business, OR professional licensure (i.e. Professional Engineer), OR equivalent industry experience.
We are seeking highly qualified candidates who are committed to teaching and mentoring undergraduate chemical engineering students. The successful applicant will teach multiple core and elective chemical engineering courses, as well as provide mentoring and career and professional advising to students. We are particularly interested in individuals who can contribute to teaching our Process Measurement & Control, Process & Plant Design, and Unit Operations Laboratory courses. Professors of Practice are expected to participate in department service and committee work, and the successful candidate will contribute to the evaluation and ongoing development of the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum. Preference will be given to applicants with some or all of the following qualifications: a master’s or PhD in chemical engineering or a closely related field; significant professional experience applying engineering principles in industry, business, government, nonprofit, and/or research settings; experience with capital projects, engineering design, or process control; experience engaging with clients from a variety of industries, organizations, and/or disciplines; involvement with the professional community or professional organizations; prior teaching experience at the university level; and, demonstrated commitment to and interest in teaching, mentoring, and advising undergraduate engineering students.
The Chemical Engineering Department at Virginia Tech is a highly collaborative environment with a long history of excellence in chemical engineering education (che.vt.edu). Our core values are kindness, authenticity, professionalism, partnership and mastery. The department is home to approximately 330 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students, and currently includes 16 tenure-track faculty, one non-tenure track Professor of Practice, dedicated undergraduate and graduate academic advisors, and associated support staff. The undergraduate program includes tracks in Climate & Energy Solutions, Healthcare Technologies, and Data Science & Analytics. Significant numbers of our undergraduates take part in minors (e.g. green, nuclear, and biomedical engineering), co-op or internship experiences, undergraduate research, and study abroad programs. We have a highly active AIChE Student Chapter, and we support competitive student teams in ChemE Car (2x national champions), ChemE Cube (1x national champion), ChemE Sports, and ChemE Jeopardy.
Required Qualifications
-Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field with Significant years of professional experience applying engineering principles in industry, business, government, nonprofit, and/or research settings
-Additional qualifications to include an advanced degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field or business, OR professional licensure (i.e. Professional Engineer), OR equivalent industry experience
Preferred Qualifications
-Master’s or PhD in chemical engineering or a closely related field
-Significant professional experience applying engineering principles in industry, business, government, nonprofit, and/or research settings
-Experience in capital projects, engineering design, or process control
-Experience engaging with clients from a variety of industries, organizations, and/or disciplines
-Involvement with the professional community or professional organizations (e.g., AIChE, ACS, SPE)
-Prior teaching experience at the university level
-Demonstrated commitment and interest to teaching, mentoring, and advising undergraduate engineering students
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
Commensurate with experience
Hours per week
40
Review Date
12/01/2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
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 Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. 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.
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 Stacey Ratcliffe at slyons@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.