Professor Jobs in Virginia
Professor jobs in Virginia are concentrated in the Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Charlottesville metros, where institutions like the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and George Mason University maintain large, active faculties. Demand is strongest for professors in nursing and health sciences, computer science and cybersecurity, and business and public policy, reflecting both the state's major research priorities and its proximity to federal agencies. Openings range from visiting instructor and lecturer positions to tenured full professor roles at R1 research universities and regional four-year colleges. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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- 537652
- Blacksburg, Virginia
- Geosciences
- Teaching & Research Faculty
- College of Science
The Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech invites applications for an open-rank faculty position in any area of geoscience that deepens our knowledge of critical, strategic, and economically important elements and mineral resources in the lithosphere. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, geochemistry and mineralogy, ore-forming processes, fluid-rock interactions, occurrences and concentrations of critical elements and minerals, and structural controls on mineralization. Potential applications include mineral exploration and targeting, resource characterization and assessment, critical-element recovery, unconventional and secondary resources and mine wastes, and environmentally responsible resource development.
We welcome applicants who seek discovery through creative combinations of laboratory, experimental, field, computational, and/or data-intensive approaches, and who pursue opportunities across geoscience, engineering, materials science, environmental science, and related fields. Candidates may employ methods ranging from mineralogical and geochemical characterization to experimental petrology, numerical modeling, geospatial analysis, automated mineralogy, machine learning, or other emerging approaches.
The Virginia Tech Department of Geosciences has long-established excellence in mineralogy, geochemistry, fluids, and petrology, including multiple National Academy of Sciences members, recipients of major international medals, and numerous AGU and GSA Fellows. With substantial university investments in critical mineral science, engineering, and workforce development, together with close collaboration between Geosciences and the Department of Mining & Minerals Engineering, the successful candidate will join Virginia Tech during a period of significant growth in the critical mineral and subsurface sciences. We seek an outstanding and ambitious scientist who will help shape this growing initiative, develop an innovative, externally funded research program that spans fundamental and/or applied research, and who will contribute creatively to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. The successful candidate may be appointed at the assistant, associate, or full professor level, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Virginia Tech is a comprehensive land-grant university located in Blacksburg, Virginia, a location which offers an exceptional quality of life, a welcoming community, and access to the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Virginia Tech is united around the motto, Ut Prosim (“That I May Serve”), with a strong commitment to making real-world impact and a collaborative and inclusive academic culture. The university community is dedicated to the transdisciplinary pursuit of discovery and experiential education that prepares tomorrow’s leaders and difference-makers. The Department of Geosciences has nearly forty faculty, many of whom are globally recognized leaders in their field, and shares a positive and friendly culture in which everyone matters and is welcome.
Required Qualifications
A Ph.D. in geoscience or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications
1) A strong record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
2) A clear research vision that complements areas of ongoing interest in the Department of Geosciences.
3) A compelling vision for student-focused teaching.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
Assistant $90,000 - $100,000;
Associate $115,000 - $130,000
Full $145,000 - $200,000
Hours per week
40 hours; FLSA Status is Exempt
Review Date
December 14, 2026
Additional Information
Applicants must submit their application materials online at http://www.jobs.vt.edu in response to posting 537652. Application materials include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, detailed research plan, statement of teaching philosophy, and names and contact information of at least three references. Review of applications will begin on December 14, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. For questions about the position, please contact Mark Caddick, Search Committee Chair, at caddick@vt.edu. For further information about the Department of Geosciences, please visit www.geos.vt.edu. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
A background check is required.
This position may require some travel to meetings and conferences.
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 Sharon Collins at sharon72@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
See All 135+ Professor Jobs in Virginia
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Find Professor JobsProfessor Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Professor Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Virginia37

- Virginia Tech18

- Virginia Commonwealth University13

- George Mason University10

- James Madison University9

Top Industries Hiring
- Education30
- Healthcare & Medical Services5
- Investment & Asset Management5
- Food & Beverage4
- Agriculture & Farming3
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in professor jobs across Virginia.
- Terminal degree (PhD, MFA, or equivalent) in the relevant academic discipline required
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed research, publication, or creative scholarly work
- Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level strongly preferred
- Ability to secure or contribute to externally funded research grants and contracts
- Experience advising graduate students and serving on dissertation or thesis committees
- Commitment to departmental service, curriculum development, and faculty governance participation
Professor Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a professor in Virginia?
Becoming a professor in Virginia requires a terminal degree in your field, most commonly a PhD, though an MFA or professional doctorate is standard in fine arts and clinical disciplines. Virginia has no state-issued teaching license for higher education faculty, so hiring decisions rest with individual institutions. Public universities credentialed under the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) set their own faculty qualifications, and clinical faculty in health sciences programs may also need an active Virginia professional license in their practice area.
Which companies hire professors in Virginia?
Virginia professor roles are posted by University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Commonwealth University and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's dense mix of public research universities, private liberal arts colleges, and community college campuses through the Virginia Community College System means faculty openings appear across a wide range of institution types and disciplines statewide.
Which Virginia cities have the most professor jobs?
Charlottesville, Blacksburg, and Lexington have the most professor openings in Virginia right now. Richmond anchors the market through Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond, Northern Virginia draws positions from George Mason University and a cluster of community colleges serving the federal workforce corridor, and Charlottesville is driven almost entirely by the University of Virginia and its affiliated health system.
Are there remote professor jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since most faculty roles involve in-person instruction, lab supervision, or student advising. About 25% of professor openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which reflects a real but limited share of the market. Online-only faculty positions and adjunct roles teaching asynchronous courses are the most consistently remote segment of the Virginia professor job market.
How can I get hired as a professor in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a postdoctoral fellowship or visiting lecturer appointment, both of which Virginia research universities and medical schools use to bring in early-career academics. The University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Commonwealth University all run postdoc programs across STEM, humanities, and health sciences. Adjunct and part-time instructor roles at Virginia Community College System campuses are another concrete first step, especially for candidates still completing their terminal degree or building a teaching portfolio. A strong dissertation chapter, a conference presentation record, or an active Virginia professional license in a clinical field can set a candidate apart.
Where can I find and apply to professor jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to professor jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from Virginia institutions updated regularly. Search for roles that match your discipline and experience level and apply directly through each listing. No sign-up is required to see the positions available.
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