Assistant/Associate Professor of Pratice

SUMMARY

The Materials Science and Engineering Department at Virginia Tech is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice to serve as the Director of the Kroehling Advanced Materials Foundry. This position is responsible for teaching classes related to metallurgy and metal casting, for the day-to-day operation of the Kroehling Advanced Materials Foundry, and for promoting student involvement with metallurgy and metal casting related professional societies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching

• Teach metallurgy and metal casting related classes (4 to 6 classes per semester)
• Develop new classes when appropriate
• Mentor metal casting related senior design projects
• Participate on department and college committees as required by the Department Head

Foundry Director

• Serve as the Virginia Tech Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) Key Professor
  • Manage FEF discretionary and scholarship funding
  • Chair the Virginia Tech FEF Foundry Industrial Advisory Board
  • Attend FEF Key professor meetings
  • Attend the yearly FEF-College Industry Conference and choose students to represent Virginia Tech at the conference
• Chair the Virginia Tech Foundry Safety Committee and be the liaison to the Virginia Tech Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department
• Maintain the foundry EHS Safety Management System
• Serve as the foundry Building Emergency Coordinator (BEC)
• Procure all of the foundry supplies
• Perform simple routine maintenance on foundry equipment
• Serve as the First Responder for accidents and injuries at the foundry
• Promote student attendance at metallurgy and metal casting related conferences
• Promote student participation in metallurgy and metal casting related competitions
• Write letters of recommendation for undergraduate and graduate students
• Handle yearly Magma software donation

Outreach

• Serve as the liaison to metal casting related Professional Societies
• Serve as the faculty advisor to the American Foundry Society (AFS) Student Chapter at Virginia Tech
• Participate in outreach activities

Research

(not a requirement for a Professor of Practice)

• Identify and explore opportunities with other faculty on interdisciplinary research
• Advise undergraduate (and graduate) student research

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Masters of Science degree (PhD preferred) in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering/Technology, Manufacturing Technology, or related discipline
• Knowledgeable in induction, resistance, arc, and cupola melting
• Knowledgeable in the production of aluminum, copper, zinc, iron (gray, ductile), and steel alloys
• Knowledgeable in bonded sand, investment shell, and 3D printed sand molding
• Exemplary teaching abilities

Preferred

• History of working in industrial foundry experience
• Level 1 training in MagmasoftTM
• Experience in computational materials modeling software
• Interest in mechanical testing
• Environmental, Health, and Safety Training

Required Documentation

A complete application must include: (1) a current curriculum vitae or resume; (2) a one-page cover letter describing the applicant’s experience and interest in the position; (3) a two-page teaching and outreach plan outlining the applicant’s teaching philosophy, commitment to student success, and proposed undergraduate and graduate teaching and outreach activities related to metal casting; (4) a two-page plan describing the applicant’s vision for the future direction of the Kroehling Advanced Materials Foundry; and (5) the names and contact information of three professional references. Applicants may also optionally submit a three-page statement of research interests; however, sponsored research is not a requirement for the Professor of Practice position.