Description
The Department of Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Richmond invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in the 2027-2028 academic year.
We are seeking a faculty colleague with training and expertise in cognitive development who would contribute to the Department of Psychology as well as the Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science. The position requires a 3-2 teaching load and an active research program involving undergraduates. Service expectations are tailored to career trajectory.
Requirements
A completed Ph.D. in Psychology, Cognitive Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment is required, as is the capacity to (1) effectively teach courses in cognitive development; foundational courses in our department and in the Cognitive Science major; and advanced courses in area(s) of expertise; (2) establish and maintain an active program of research in cognitive development that closely involves undergraduate researchers. We welcome applicants using diverse methodological approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives that enrich the study of cognitive development.
In the Department of Psychology, we value inclusive, high-impact teaching and mentored research that support students from varied educational, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including first-generation and neurodiverse students. We also value rigorous scientific inquiry that deepens understanding of behavior and mental processes and addresses pressing civic and social issues while advancing peer-reviewed scholarship. The department supports collaborative undergraduate research through small class sizes, close faculty-student mentoring, and institutional resources that foster student engagement in scholarship. We are a collegial department in which faculty, student, and staff interactions reflect genuine care, concern, and respect for one another, and we strive to promote the professional growth, well-being, and sustainable career development of all members of our community. We are committed to evolving our practices to encompass evidence-based innovations in teaching and research. For example, our curriculum is currently being revised to more comprehensively align with updated APA guidelines while reflecting our department values and aspirations to provide students with outstanding opportunities to develop skills that prepare them to enter graduate programs and/or the workforce.
Applicants should apply online at http://jobs.richmond.edu and submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter, and two statements in line with the guidelines described below (suggested length: 2 single-spaced pages per statement), demonstrating evidence of the potential for contributions to teaching and mentoring and to research and scholarship in alignment with our departmental and institutional values. Both statements will be evaluated with equal weight. Evidence of (potential for) teaching effectiveness, if available, should be collated and submitted as a single attachment. Candidates for this position may be asked, at a later date, to submit a brief video demonstration of teaching effectiveness and to provide the names and contact information for three references who will be asked to submit letters of recommendation.
Statement #1: Describe your teaching and mentoring philosophies, practices, experiences, future plans, and commitment to educating a diverse student body through inclusive pedagogy. Strong applicants will demonstrate the potential to effectively teach courses in cognitive development; foundational courses in our department (e.g., Introduction to Psychological Science, Methods and Analyses); courses in our Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science (e.g., Cognitive Science); and advanced courses in their areas of expertise. In addition, strong candidates will convey their ability to mentor undergraduates in their research program. Applicants are encouraged to submit evidence of (and/or the potential for) teaching effectiveness (e.g., sample syllabus, graded assessment with feedback, favorable student or peer evaluations of instruction, engagement in professional development activities).
Statement #2: Describe your current research program and outcomes, as well as future research plans. Strong applicants will demonstrate potential to produce high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship and to sustain an independent program of research that makes an impact on the field and/or addresses issues of civic and social concern. Applicants are encouraged to address the feasibility of conducting research in our undergraduate setting.
For more information on faculty roles and resources, please visit the University website: https://www.richmond.edu/. Applicants may find information available via the Faculty Handbook, the Faculty Hub, the Office of the Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging, the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, and Grants Office particularly helpful.
Review of applications will commence on September 8, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Dr. Cindy Bukach, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Co-Chair of the Search Committee, at cbukach@richmond.edu with questions.
The starting salary for the position is budgeted at $85,000. Compensation is determined by the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, and skills.
The University of Richmond is a private university located just a short drive from downtown Richmond, Virginia. Through its five schools and wide array of campus programming, the University combines the best qualities of a small liberal arts college and a large university. With approximately 4,000 students, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and more than 90% of traditional undergraduate students living on campus, the University is remarkably student-centered.
The mission of the University of Richmond is to educate in an academically challenging, intellectually vibrant, and collaborative community dedicated to the holistic development of students and the production of scholarly and creative work. A Richmond education prepares students for lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a diverse world. The University of Richmond’s strategic priorities are academic excellence, belonging and community, access and affordability, well-being, and experiential learning and community engagement. The University seeks to model a relentlessly welcoming and inclusive campus community that values the expression of difference in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our academic community strongly encourages applications that are in keeping with this commitment.
