Assistant Professor- Biological Psychology

Assistant Professor- Biological Psychology

Position Rank and Title:Assistant Professor

School/Department Name:Psychology

Compensation:Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by theCSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $ 86,000 - $ 90,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See theCSU Employee Benefits Summaryfor details about the CSU's excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date:August, 2026

Application Deadline:October 15, 2025 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Department of Psychology at San Jose State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor in Biological Psychology beginning in August 2026. We are seeking a biological psychologist whose research program examines health disparities through a psychophysiological lens. Such disparities could include (but are not limited to) differences in mental, cognitive, or physical health related to gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Proficiency with human psychophysiological 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 and 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#4 Best Public University in the nationby the Wall Street Journal and has been named the#1 Most Transformative University in the nationby Money Magazine every year since 2020.

The Department of Psychology in the College of Social Sciences and San Jose State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll nearly 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 Inclusive 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 and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found atSJSU Inclusive Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis on Biological or Physiological Psychology (or closely related field, including Cognitive Neuroscience) by date of appointment.
• Demonstrated scholarly productivity in the scientific study of Biological Psychology with expertise in health disparities.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Experience teaching Biological Psychology, Physiological Psychology, and/or Neuroscience.
• Proficiency with human psychophysiological research methods, such as EEG, peripheral psychophysiology (e.g., skin conductance, heart rate variability, pupillometry), and hormonal assays. Note that the department does not have animal or scanning facilities.
• Proficiency with modern data analytics tools (e.g., data analytics and machine learning libraries in Python or R).
• Commitment to seeking external funding to support research-related activities and/or to enhance student learning.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collegial atmosphere of shared governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching responsibilities for this position will include undergraduate and graduate coursework in biological psychology (e.g., introductory psychobiology, neuroscience, drugs, brain, and behavior), the candidate's area of specialization, and undergraduate service courses as needed by the department. Undergraduate courses may include introductory psychology, writing in psychology, statistics, and/or research methods.
• The candidate will be expected to develop a program of research in biological psychology and to pursue both internal and external funding. The candidate must maintain a productive research program, which may consist of collaborative research across the University, with other academic institutions, or other external agencies. Student mentoring is valued in our department, and a successful candidate will mentor and support undergraduate and graduate students of diverse backgrounds in conducting research.
• The successful applicant should be prepared to take an active role in the MA in Research and Experimental Psychology graduate program, which includes serving as a mentor and advisor to graduate students, instructor in graduate courses, and member of the MA program committee.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity - in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation - through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.
  
  

Other Duties

Note that all San Jose State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents [departments may specify length of items below (e.g. 2 pages)]:

• Letter of interest ( 1000 words)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Inclusive excellence statement(dedicated statement or addressed in letter of interest)
• Statement of teaching interests/philosophy that describes what role faculty play in student success ( 1000 words)
• Statement of research plans (1000 words)
• Name, contact information, role, and professional relationship for three references. Reference letters may be requested at a later stage of the search.

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair, Dr. Evan Palmer (evan.palmer@sjsu.edu) or Search Committee Chair, Dr. Christine Ma-Kellams (christine.ma-kellams@sjsu.edu).

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San Jose State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley - one of the most innovative regions in the world -San Jose State Universityis the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San Jose State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San Jose State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San Jose State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing athttps://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San Jose State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available athttps://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.