"Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology"

Job Details

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences MBU

Department: CHS Deans Office

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for two tenure-track positions, program concentration open. These nine-month positions are at the rank of Assistant Professor. The expected appointment date is August 16, 2026.

The Department of Psychology, which will be the home for these positions, is an active and engaged department with over 40 faculty members from varying backgrounds, many of whom take part in mentorship, as well as community-based research, initiatives, and engagement. The department also serves a large student body of over 1,700 undergraduate students with 31% first generation college students, 30% Pell Grant-eligible students, and students with many other intersecting identities and cultural backgrounds. The Department of Psychology has a robust research program with an average of $9 to 13M in active awards, over 100 graduate students in nationally recognized doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology (both APA accredited), general experimental psychology (social and developmental) and health psychology. VCU is a public university located in Virginia's capital city, Richmond- a city that provides many opportunities for a meaningful work/life balance.

VCU's Psychology department seeks to hire up to two tenure-eligible assistant professors whose research program focuses on building thriving communities, emphasizing the study of the social determinants of health and contributing to both strategic departmental and university research priorities and aligning with the R1 research mission. In this priority theme, we have particular interest in each person adding expertise in one or more of the following areas: (a) family, community, gender and cultural factors; (b) addiction and related brain science; (c) prevention and implementation science; (d) physiological and genetic factors; and (e) leveraging technology (e.g., digital applications/interventions, AI). Candidates’ potential methodological contributions in CBPR, mixed methods, qualitative research and/or advanced quantitative methods are also of particular interest. We intend to hire individuals who would collaborate with existing departmental faculty, and faculty across the VCU campus in these (and other) areas of psychological science (e.g., noting the opportunities for faculty to leverage connections with a range of VCU and departmental centers and institutes including Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention, Clark Hill Institute, Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Center on Society and Health, Center on Health Disparities). The new faculty members would affiliate with one or more of our PhD programs (Clinical, Counseling, Developmental, Health or Social). They would teach undergraduate and graduate courses and develop a strong, externally-funded research program.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

While the area of program affiliation is open, there is particular interest in candidates who may align with our social psychology program and bring expertise in neuroscience/neurobiology or our counseling psychology program. If applicant’s background, training and interests align with one of our applied programs, they would be required to have a Ph.D. from an APA- or CPA-accredited Clinical or Counseling Psychology program and be licensed or license-eligible as a Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

Successful and ideal candidates will have (1) evidence of an emerging active research program that includes a history of research grants or strong potential for future funding and an academic record likely to produce success in the Department of Psychology at a Carnegie Research-1 Institution; (2) demonstrated excellence in undergraduate and/or graduate instruction and mentoring; and (3) demonstrated commitment to experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. Teaching experience is highly desirable. Course assignments within the graduate and undergraduate curricula will vary based on the candidate’s interest and expertise and needs of the program affiliation. In addition to contributing to program and departmental priorities, the candidate's ability to contribute to college and university priorities will also be considered (See: https://chs.vcu.edu/about/strategic-plan/ and https://quest.vcu.edu/).

Application Process

Applicants should submit (a) a cover letter, (b) current curriculum vita, (c) contact information for at least three references, and (d) a research statement and a teaching statement (philosophy and interests) uploaded in a single PDF as “Other Document.”

Please also note, references will automatically be sent recommendation letter requests and instructions as soon as an application is submitted.

Application review will begin early November 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by November 6, 2025.

Salary Range:

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week:

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible:

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Assistant Professor

Tenture: Tenure Track

Months: 9 months

Contact Information: Contact Name: Dr. Wendy Kliewer, Contact Email: wkliewer@vcu.edu