Available Graduate Opportunities
SBIO offers both Masters and PhDs!
Currently Available Assistantships
M.S. Assistantship: "Environmental & Resource Economics — Energy and Sustainability Applications"
Start Date: Spring 2027
Faculty Member: Dr. Ching Huang
Summary: Seeking a highly motivated M.S. candidate with strong preparation in economics and quantitative analysis for a two-year research assistantship beginning Spring 2027.
Funding: This Graduate Student Assistantship will provide a $33K-$35K annual stipend, in accordance with Virginia Tech policies, contingent upon satisfactory academic and research progress. The compensation package for two academic years is outlined here: Graduate Assistantship Information for Students
Research Project Description: The student will join an interdisciplinary research team examining how energy, environmental, and natural-resource decisions affect economic welfare, public health, and sustainability.
Initial research will focus on the economics of forest-based bioenergy and sustainable forest utilization, with questions such as: How should environmental and public-health externalities be incorporated into economic decision-making? What are the benefits, costs, and opportunity costs of alternative energy and naturalresource pathways? How do economic and public-health outcomes change when forest-based bioenergy substitutes for fossil fuels versus other renewable energy sources? How robust are economic and policy conclusions to uncertainty and alternative assumptions?
The student will develop a thesis project emphasizing economic valuation, benefit–cost and social welfare analysis, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, and policy interpretation, while gaining experience in collaborative, interdisciplinary research.
Required/Strongly Preferred Background: Applicants with backgrounds in economics, agricultural/applied economics, environmental and resource economics, public policy with strong economics training, or closely related fields are encouraged to apply.
A solid foundation in microeconomics, environmental/resource economics, statistics or econometrics, and related quantitative methods is desirable. Coursework or experience in welfare economics, externalities, or benefit–cost analysis is also valuable.
Experience with R, Python, Stata, MATLAB, or similar quantitative tools, particularly for empirical data analysis, is highly valued.
Applicants should demonstrate strong analytical ability, research potential, and an interest in applying economic and quantitative methods to environmental, energy, and natural-resource questions.
Application Process: Applicants interested in this research assistantship should submit a complete application for Spring 2027 admission through the Virginia Tech Graduate School by the applicable Graduate School and program deadline, select the Forestry and Forest Products (M.S.) program, and indicate in their application materials their interest in working with Dr. Ching-Hsun Huang.
In their application materials, applicants should clearly describe their research interests and fit with this opportunity, preparation in economics and quantitative methods, and relevant research or analytical experience.
Only applicants who have submitted a complete Virginia Tech Graduate School application will be considered for the assistantship. Due to the anticipated volume of interest, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Individual meetings will not be scheduled before completion of the initial review.
Contact:
Dr. Ching-Hsun Huang
Professor
Department of Sustainable Biomaterials
Virginia Tech
chinghuang@vt.edu
SBIO Needs Postdoctoral Associates!
Currently Available Post Doc Positions
Post Doc Position
"Testing of Structural Wood for Use in Crates"
Initial Review Date: Feb. 10, 2026, Open until filled
Responsibilities Include: Conduct scientific research independently and present research at scientific conferences.
Funding: Starting at $55,000, salary commensurate with experience.
Research Project Description: The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials has over a decade of history in the testing and design of pallets and packaging systems. A new venture is the design methods and testing of wood used in transportation, including principles for design of crates, containers and other elements. This position blends knowledge of transportation with the engineering design of wood, wood composites and connections.
The successful candidate with work closely with Dr. Daniel Hindman, and industry collaborators to conduct research supporting the understanding and development of crate and wood container design procedures including loading conditions, material variability studies, and connections.
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials is looking for a person with strong research and publication skills to support engineering design for the use of wood in transportation. The individual will be responsible for:
- Conducting research related to the mechanical strength of wood, wood composites and connections used in wood transportation packaging (nails, screws, brackets, etc.).
- Knowledge of supply chain for wooden containers including transportation, logistics, storage conditions, and support conditions.
- Collecting and analyzing test data, analysis and presentation of results.
- Publishing results in reports, refereed journals and professional conferences as appropriate.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in sustainable biomaterials, packaging or related engineering or material science field. Ph.D. must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
- Experience conducting standardized testing related to wood properties and connections, wood in transportation packaging research or similar engineering materials.
- Demonstrated record of publishing refereed journal articles and presenting at professional conferences.
- Knowledge of the current design methods for wood materials in the United States including the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS).
- Experience with design of experiments and sampling size of materials
- Experience supporting research projects
- Ability to work in a team or independently
- Good interpersonal skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Have an EIT (Engineer-In-Training) Designation
- Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) methods and tools
- Experience programming with C++
- Experience using numerical methods, including linear algebra, for structural modeling
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