Assistant Professor of Teaching in Neuroscience UCLA Department of Psychology and Undergraduate Neuroscience

The UCLA Department of Psychology and the UCLA Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program invite applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Teaching who will develop and teach courses in Behavioral, Cellular, and Molecular Neuroscience. The faculty member hired from this search will have a 50% appointment in the Department of Psychology and a 50% appointment with the Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, with the Department of Psychology serving as the primary department.

We seek applicants with experience employing innovative methods in the classroom and in teaching laboratory and upper-division lecture courses. In addition, the successful candidate is expected to engage in scholarly activities (e.g., contribute to research on pedagogy or contribute to research in another area with the support of undergraduate students; develop, evaluate, and disseminate innovative teaching approaches).

The Assistant Professor of Teaching position is a full-time faculty position with potential security of employment akin to tenure. Those in the Professor of Teaching series are Academic Senate faculty members whose expertise and responsibilities center on undergraduate education and scholarly analysis/improvement of teaching methods. Faculty in the Professor of Teaching series are evaluated on their (1) teaching excellence, (2) professional and/or scholarly achievement and activity, and (3) university and public service.

Potential applicants who have questions about the position can contact Profs. Barbara Knowlton or Stephanie White, search committee co-anchors, at Search Committeea.edu.

The UCLA Department of Psychology and the UCLA Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program are located within the Division of Life Sciences, which is part of the College of Letters and Science. The search is geared toward candidates who share our belief that, as professors at a leading public university, we strive for inclusive excellence in teaching, service, research, and engagement with our academic community.

We are eager to welcome an outstanding scholar and mentor who will create opportunities that will deepen and enrich understanding of psychological principles and perspectives for our students, while also contributing to the collaborative and supportive environment that characterizes our department and program. We are also interested in applicants who will advance UCLA’s mission.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field. The degree must be finalized by January 1, 2027. This is an Assistant Professor of Teaching position; please do not apply if you are an Associate Professor or higher (or if you are undergoing review for tenure at your university, or anticipate a tenure review during our application process) as your application will not be considered.

Applicants should demonstrate a record of teaching excellence in courses relevant to Behavioral, Cellular, and Molecular Neuroscience and the potential to contribute to the mentoring and service missions of the department, program, and university, particularly in regard to improving the quality of instruction. Applicants with experience mentoring and teaching students from groups affected by disparities in educational access are strongly encouraged to apply.

We seek applications from individuals with a demonstrated commitment to ensuring equal access to the benefits of their teaching and supporting the full participation of all students through consideration and appreciation of differences. The successful candidate will help foster authentic engagement and belonging within our diverse community. UCLA has scaled multiple initiatives such as Rising to the Challenge, Hispanic-Serving…