Job Description

The Department of Mathematics at Virginia Tech invites applications for at least one tenure-track faculty position in Mathematical Physics with a start date of August 10, 2024, at its Blacksburg, VA, campus. The successful candidate(s) will have a strong background in mathematical physics, mathematical quantum information theory, or closely related topics. Possible specialties include but are not limited to: quantum systems (both single particle and many-body); quantum statistical mechanics; spectral theory of Schrödinger operators; disordered systems and random matrices; quantum computing and its applications; tensor networks; quantum computational complexity; or closely related areas.



Appointment as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics is anticipated, but exceptional senior candidates will be considered for Associate Professor of Mathematics or Professor of Mathematics positions. Job requirements include a Ph.D. in mathematics or a related field at the time of appointment and an active research program, or, for a new Ph.D., strong promise for developing an active research program. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to establish a distinguished research program and to provide effective instruction and advising to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students. Additional responsibilities include continuing development of professional capabilities and scholarly activities, including travel to attend conferences and meetings, and participation in department, college, university, and professional service. The successful candidate(s) will have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research, curriculum development, and outreach initiatives with other members of the Virginia Tech faculty.



This position builds on existing departmental strengths and plans to expand mathematical physics in support of initiatives in quantum information science, and aligns with state-wide investments in the strategic focus areas of data science, quantum science, and security. Quantum science and engineering is one of four major research frontiers at Virginia Tech. The successful candidate(s) will have the opportunity to be a part of the newly established Virginia Tech Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering (VTQ), the recently announced Center of Quantum Architecture and Software Development within the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, and participation in the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), of which Virginia Tech is a member. A broader range of opportunities at Virginia Tech include the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), the Academy of Data Science and its undergraduate major in Computational Modeling and Data Analytics (CMDA), and the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology (Hume) within the National Security Institute (NSI). By virtue of the Virginia Tech campus locations in Arlington and Blacksburg, Virginia, our faculty are in close proximity to federal agencies, national laboratories, and federally-funded research and development centers.



The Mathematics Department is committed to building an inclusive community of mathematical scientists through programs and activities woven into the department’s research, teaching, and outreach efforts. This commitment is illustrated by programs such as our: Broadening Engagement and Participation in Undergraduate Research; Mathematics: Opportunities in Research and Education; activities organized by the Virginia Tech Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (winner of the 2021 AWM Student Chapter Award for Scientific Excellence); and the Blacksburg Math Circle. Through undergraduates’ supervised tutoring of local public school students and through the department’s participation in the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, the Mathematics Department introduces secondary school and community college students to opportunities in the mathematical sciences. The teaching statement and diversity statement that are part of our application process give candidates opportunities to bring to our attention their philosophy of and experiences with mentoring and talent development, particularly as those activities pertain to the inclusion of people from groups traditionally underrepresented in math. Strong statements will demonstrate informed awareness of the rewards and challenges arising from efforts to provide equitable opportunities for all. Specific examples of experiences, activities, and plans will help us identify candidates who can support and extend our department’s commitment to inclusive excellence.