Job Description

The Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech seeks applicants for two (2) tenure-track research and teaching positions at the Assistant/Associate Professor levels in the area of Molecular Microbiology. We seek microbiologists who employ molecular techniques to study and modify microorganisms, with special emphasis on bacteria, fungi, and/or their viruses.  The ideal candidates’ research programs would examine fundamental phenomena within the American Society for Microbiology’s three focus areas: health, applied & environmental microbiology, and mechanism discovery.  Potential research topics may include but are not limited to: fundamental biological questions using microbes as model systems, molecular mechanisms of bacterial or fungal pathogens, host-microbe interactions, systems analysis of microbes alone or in communities, synthetic biology, or the engineering of microbes. The successful candidates’ research should be able to sustain a long-term extramurally funded program and complement existing strengths in the department and at Virginia Tech.

The successful candidates will be capable of teaching courses focused on molecular microbiology, microbial genetics, microbial physiology and/or microbial pathogenesis. Advising and mentoring of both graduate and undergraduate students is expected. Participation in departmental, college, and university affairs and collaboration with faculty both within and across the university is strongly encouraged and expected. These may include the Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens (CeZAP) and other programs associated with the Fralin Life Sciences Institute or the Fralin Biomedical Institute . Graduate recruiting can be through the departmental Graduate Program as well as via university-level graduate programs including the Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (ID IGEP), Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), and Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology (GBCB).

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. Virginia Tech is a highly collegial, research-intensive, Land Grant University that offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 38,000 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 the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers .

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.

Blacksburg is located near the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail, and its natural beauty and temperate climate are attractive to many. Blacksburg is also ranked as one of the top places in America to raise children as it boasts high-quality K-12 schools and a relatively low cost of living. The greater Blacksburg area (Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford) has approximately 150,000 residents and is near Roanoke (population 100,000+) and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. Blacksburg is also located within driving distance to Charlotte (NC), Washington, D.C., Research Triangle Region (NC), the Port of Virginia in Norfolk, and Atlanta (GA).

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.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (e.g., Microbiology, Biology, Molecular Biology).
• Demonstrated research accomplishments in the area of molecular microbiology.
• Demonstrated interest in developing and teaching courses in microbiology or closely related content areas.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in verbal and written communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of ability to work in teams, including with academics in other disciplines, state or federal agencies, NGOs, or private industry.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire research funding.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence through experience and/or through training.
• Demonstrated record of collegial interactions across a broad range of communities.

Required Application Materials

1. Cover letter expressing statement of interest in the position (not to exceed 1 page);

2. Resume/CV;

3. Written statement (not to exceed 5 pages) describing: A) research experience and future plans (~3 pages); B) teaching and mentoring experience and philosophy (~1 page); and C) commitment to building a strong academic, professional, and collegial community (~1 page).

4. Names, titles, and full contact information for 3 professional references.

Applications should be submitted online at:

Review of Applications will begin November 1, 2026.

Inquiries should be addressed to the Search Committee Co-Chairs at: VTMicroSearch@vt.edu

Dr. David Popham, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Dr. Bryan Hsu, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

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