Postdoctoral Associate

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate - Community-Centered Physical AI for Smart Urban Management to contribute to a 1-year research agenda on community-centered physical AI for smart urban management with a focus on human-robot interaction in real-world urban environments. The postdoctoral researcher will support the design, deployment, and evaluation of physical AI systems with conversational capabilities operating on campus and neighboring urban settings, and will examine how people perceive trust and interact with physical AI in public spaces.

The successful candidate will join the Smart Cities for Good research group in the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech. This position is co-supported by Virginia Techs Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) and the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), Department of Geography. While the primary focus is to conduct and disseminate high-impact interdisciplinary research, the position is also designed to support the postdoctoral researchers professional development.

Responsibilities and opportunities include:

• Designing and evaluating physical AI deployments in campus and urban environments
• Conducting human-robot interaction and public perception studies
• Publishing peer-reviewed research and preparing project reports
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary researchers
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students
• Participating in proposal development
• Limited teaching or guest lecturing opportunities as appropriate

A mentoring plan will be co-developed at the start of the appointment to align research activities with the postdoctoral researchers long-term career goals.

Appointment Duration This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of a one-year extension contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.

Required Submission Packet (PDF file for applicants)

1. CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Research Plan (up to 2 pages)
4. A list of three professional references

Application Review Date Begins: 3/27/26 Position open until filled.

About Smart Cities for Good and the Principal Investigator Smart Cities for Good is a research group dedicated to addressing urban social and environmental challenges through human-centered AI-powered smart city technologies. The group emphasizes interdisciplinary research that integrates urban planning, geography, artificial intelligence, and community engagement with a strong focus on responsible, equitable, and real-world applications of emerging technologies.

The project is led by Junghwan Kim, PhD, MUP, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech and Director of Smart Cities for Good. Dr. Kim has published more than 45 peer-reviewed journal articles in leading journals including Journal of Transport Geography, JAMA Network Open, Communications Earth & Environment, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, and Travel Behaviour and Society. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, OpenAI, Virginia Techs Institute for Society, Culture and Environment (ISCE), the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), and a 4-VA Collaborative Research Grant.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Geography, Urban Planning, Engineering, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field. Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Demonstrated record of original research and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Pay Band
• Overtime Status: Exempt (Not eligible for overtime)
• Appointment Type: Restricted
• Salary Information: $65,000
• Hours per week: 40
• Review Date: 3/27/26

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

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 Karen Bland at kbland@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.