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 Tech’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) and the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE)/Department of Geography.

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 researcher’s 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: 3/25/26

Position open until filled.

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 Tech’s Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE), the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), and a 4-VA Collaborative Research Grant.

• 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.

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$65,000

40

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

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…