Job Description
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant / Associate Professor (open rank) of Distribution Packaging. The successful candidate will strengthen a nationally distinctive program in protective and industrial packaging and contribute to the long-term growth of the Packaging Systems and Design (PSD) program. We seek a scholar whose work advances packaging performance across distribution systems, including protective packaging, pallets and unit loads, packaging dynamics, testing, optimization, and resilient supply chains.
Teaching and Mentoring Expectations
The position carries a 50% teaching, 40% research, and 10% service appointment, with a standard 2:2 teaching load expected by the end of the second year. Core teaching will include SBIO 4024 Packaging Design for Global Distribution and SBIO 4224 Industrial Packaging, with SBIO 5664 Advanced Packaging Dynamics offered on a rotating basis. The faculty member may also develop a Protective Packaging for Engineers course serving students beyond the department.
Research and Service Expectations
The successful candidate will build a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in protective and distribution packaging. Expectations include submitting external proposals annually by year two, actively participating in the McIntire-Stennis program and pursuing other appropriate federal, industry, and capacity funding, producing high-quality publications, and contributing research findings to national and international standards. The faculty member is expected to collaborate across Virginia Tech, including with Food Science, engineering programs, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and the newly established Packaging HUB.
Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) Engagement
The successful candidate will be actively involved in the operation of the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD), which provides testing, research, and design services to the packaging and unit load industries. It also encompasses active engagement in the Packaging Innovation Hub, an interdisciplinary initiative that CPULD is leading for promoting collaborative packaging research and industry partnerships across Virginia Tech, bringing together faculty, researchers, and external stakeholders to address emerging challenges in packaging science and engineering. The candidate will be expected to build and maintain productive relationships with packaging companies, work directly with Center clients on testing, design, and applied research projects, and contribute to the Center's continued growth by developing new industry partnerships and expanding its portfolio of services. The candidate should demonstrate the interest and ability to assume, over time, a leadership role in the Center's operations and strategic direction.
Service Expectations:
The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the department, across Virginia Tech, and with government agencies, industry partners, non-governmental organizations (ISO, ISTA, ASTM), and other academic institutions. The candidate will also contribute to departmental, college, and university service activities and engage with external stakeholders on packaging engineering challenges.
The rank considered for this position will be either assistant professor or associate professor. Rank is determined based on the selected candidate’s commensurate experience and impact.
Required Qualifications
• Ph.D. in packaging science/engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, wood science, sustainable biomaterials, or a closely related field by appointment start date.
• Evidence of potential for excellence in university teaching and graduate student mentoring.
• Evidence of strong potential to establish a competitive externally funded research program and publish high-quality scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications
• Expertise in packaging dynamics, distribution packaging, protective packaging, or pallet and unit-load design.
• Experience with package testing, modeling, optimization, standards development, or industry-sponsored research.
• Experience working with packaging, pallet, logistics, or transportation industries.
• Experience building collaborative research across engineering, food science, transportation, agriculture, or natural resources.
• Experience with professional standards organizations.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$85-$95,000 for Assistant; $100-$124,000 for Associate
Hours per week
40
Review Date
October 15, 2026
Additional Information
Applicants should submit the following additional documents:
1. Cover letter describing their interest in the position (up to one page)
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Names and contact information for three professional references.
4. Teaching and Mentoring Approach Statement (up to two pages)
Details to include:
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant / Associate Professor (open rank) of Distribution Packaging. The successful candidate will strengthen a nationally distinctive program in protective and industrial packaging and contribute to the long-term growth of the Packaging Systems and Design (PSD) program. We seek a scholar whose work advances packaging performance across distribution systems, including protective packaging, pallets and unit loads, packaging dynamics, testing, optimization, and resilient supply chains.
Teaching and Mentoring Expectations
The position carries a 50% teaching, 40% research, and 10% service appointment, with a standard 2:2 teaching load expected by the end of the second year. Core teaching will include SBIO 4024 Packaging Design for Global Distribution and SBIO 4224 Industrial Packaging, with SBIO 5664 Advanced Packaging Dynamics offered on a rotating basis. The faculty member may also develop a Protective Packaging for Engineers course serving students beyond the department.
Research and Service Expectations
The successful candidate will build a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in protective and distribution packaging. Expectations include submitting external proposals annually by year two, actively participating in the McIntire-Stennis program and pursuing other appropriate federal, industry, and capacity funding, producing high-quality publications, and contributing research findings to national and international standards. The faculty member is expected to collaborate across Virginia Tech, including with Food Science, engineering programs, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and the newly established Packaging HUB.
Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) Engagement
The successful candidate will be actively involved in the operation of the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD), which provides testing, research, and design services to the packaging and unit load industries. It also encompasses active engagement in the Packaging Innovation Hub, an interdisciplinary initiative that CPULD is leading for promoting collaborative packaging research and industry partnerships across Virginia Tech, bringing together faculty, researchers, and external stakeholders to address emerging challenges in packaging science and engineering. The candidate will be expected to build and maintain productive relationships with packaging companies, work directly with Center clients on testing, design, and applied research projects, and contribute to the Center's continued growth by developing new industry partnerships and expanding its portfolio of services. The candidate should demonstrate the interest and ability to assume, over time, a leadership role in the Center's operations and strategic direction.
Service Expectations:
The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the department, across Virginia Tech, and with government agencies, industry partners, non-governmental organizations (ISO, ISTA, ASTM), and other academic institutions. The candidate will also contribute to departmental, college, and university service activities and engage with external stakeholders on packaging engineering challenges.
The rank considered for this position will be either assistant professor or associate professor. Rank is determined based on the selected candidate’s commensurate experience and impact.
Required Qualifications
• Ph.D. in packaging science/engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, wood science, sustainable biomaterials, or a closely related field by appointment start date.
• Evidence of potential for excellence in university teaching and graduate student mentoring.
• Evidence of strong potential to establish a competitive externally funded research program and publish high-quality scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications
• Expertise in packaging dynamics, distribution packaging, protective packaging, or pallet and unit-load design.
• Experience with package testing, modeling, optimization, standards development, or industry-sponsored research.
• Experience working with packaging, pallet, logistics, or transportation industries.
• Experience building collaborative research across engineering, food science, transportation, agriculture, or natural resources.
• Experience with professional standards organizations.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$85-$95,000 for Assistant; $100-$124,000 for Associate
Hours per week
40
Review Date
October 15, 2026
Additional Information
Applicants should submit the following additional documents:
1. Cover letter describing their interest in the position (up to one page)
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Names and contact information for three professional references.
4. Teaching and Mentoring Approach Statement (up to two pages)
Details to include:
- Your approach to effective teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels.