Assistant Professor

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Department of Psychology at Colorado State University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY with an appointment date of August 16, 2027.  Work authorization visa sponsorship may be available based on the specific situation, including cost, for the selected final candidate.

Priority will be given to candidates with research expertise in areas related to the Science of Learning, Human Factors Psychology, and/or Artificial Intelligence (AI). Candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach undergraduate and graduate level coursework in Cognitive Psychology.

The Department of Psychology is part of the College of Natural Sciences and serves approximately 1,600 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate students. Faculty are distributed across five doctoral programs:

1. Cognitive Psychology

2. Cognitive Neuroscience

3. Clinical Psychology

4. Health Psychology

5. Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Our department houses state-of-the-art research and clinical facilities, including the Behavioral Sciences Building (LEED Gold Certified), which offers modern classrooms, research labs, and collaborative spaces. Adjacent facilities include department-operated EEG, TMS, and fNIRS labs, and there is access to fMRI facilities with a 15-minute walk of the Behavioral Sciences Building.

To ensure full consideration, materials must be received by Monday, November 2, 2026 at 11:59pm, MST.

Essential Job Duties:

- Teach and mentor students at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Psychology, including course and curriculum development.
- Conduct and publish research, pursue external funding, and contribute to scholarly advancement in the field of Cognitive Psychology.
- Provide service to the department, university, profession, and community in support of CSU’s mission.

Conditions of Employment:

- Pre-employment background check required (for all new hires).

Supervision:

- There are no formal supervisory responsibilities for this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) or anticipated completion by 7/31/2027 in the relevant discipline of Cognitive Psychology or a related discipline.
- Evidence of research productivity or strong potential to establish a sustainable scholarly program (e.g., publications, grant activity) in the area of Cognitive Psychology as demonstrated by a consistent record of publication in Cognitive Psychology.
- Demonstrated ability to teach effectively at the undergraduate and/or graduate level in the area of Cognitive Psychology and related courses, commensurate with their educational/career stage (e.g., time since completing the doctorate), indicated in the teaching statement.

Preferred Qualifications:

- A sustained research program related to the 3 targeted areas for growth within Cognitive Psychology at CSU: i) Science of Learning (e.g., basic and applied research in human memory, learning, attention, reasoning, problem solving or creativity), ii) Human Factors Psychology (e.g., applied attention theory, attentional focus in a multimedia environment, decision and risk, cybersecurity, human-AI interaction) or iii) Artificial Intelligence (e.g., human-AI interaction, the study of Large Language Models (LLMs), the study of AI in education, the application of cognitive science for improving AI design and implementation, machine learning approaches to understanding cognition such as Natural Language Processing, Learning Analytics for applying Cognitive Psychology in educational settings, AI-enhanced learning, computational models of cognition, increasingly human-like AI systems).
- A sustained record of publication in Q1-Q2 journals in Cognitive Psychology or closely related fields.
- A record of collaboration or demonstrated potential for collaboration with colleagues in related fields.
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and possibly at the graduate level commensurate with their educational/career stage in Cognitive Psychology and related courses (e.g., Science of Learning, Learning and Memory, Human Factors, Applied Cognition, Sensation and Perception, Research Methods or courses related to Data Science).
- A record of mentoring undergraduate and possibly graduate students commensurate with educational/career stage in Cognitive Psychology.
- A sustained record of applying for and potentially obtaining external research funding, commensurate with their educational/career stage.
- Expertise to contribute to AI uses, implementations, and understanding as a targeted area of growth at CSU.

Application Instructions:

To apply, please upload one single PDF file no more than 5MB containing all required application materials below in the order provided.

- Cover Letter
- CV
- Statement of research interests
- Teaching statement

If you advance to the semi-finalist stage, you will receive an e-mail with instructions to provide the contact information for three professional references. Once you submit your references' contact information, each reference will receive an e-mail with instructions for submitting a letter of recommendation. We will notify you with the deadline of when letters should be submitted at this stage in the hiring process. Please note, for semi-finalist candidates, submitted letters of recommendation, along with application materials, will be made available to the Psychology Department faculty for review.

Please direct questions about the application process to Ginger Lacy-Gill at [email protected].

# Salary Range
$83,000-87,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV, Statement of Teaching/Research Philosophy
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Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

- Review our detailed benefits information here.
- Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
- For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
- Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

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Background Check Policy Statement

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Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.