Assistant Professor - Biological Psychology

Assistant Professor in Biological Psychology

The Department of Psychology at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor in Biological Psychology beginning in August 2027. We are seeking a biological psychologist with a strong track record of teaching and student-involved research. Proficiency with human psycho-physiological research methods (e.g., EEG, skin conductance, heart rate variability, pupillometry, or hormonal assays) and proficiency with modern data analytics tools (e.g., data analysis or machine learning libraries in Python or R) are both highly valued.

The vision of the Psychology Department is to provide high-quality education in psychology that fosters the development of students so that they will make contributions to society. We value a student-centered approach that emphasizes teaching, research, and applied training. The Department offers a BA in Psychology, MA in Research and Experimental Psychology, MS in Clinical Psychology, and MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SJSU is currently ranked as the #5 Best Public University in the nation by the Wall Street Journal and has been named the #1 Most Transformative University in the nation by Money Magazine for several years in a row.

The Psychology department is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community.

In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The Department of Psychology in the College of Social Sciences and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).

SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis on Biological or Physiological Psychology (or closely related field, such as Cognitive Neuroscience) by date of appointment.
• Demonstrated scholarly productivity and strong research agenda in the scientific study of Biological Psychology.
• Proficiency with experimental research methods typically used in Biological or Physiological Psychology.
• Commitment to, and demonstrated potential for, teaching and mentoring excellence at the undergraduate level and within the MA in Research and Experimental Psychology graduate program.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.
• Ability to work effectively in a…