Location: Knoxville, TN
Open Date: Aug 1, 2026
Description:
The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Cognitive and/or Computational Neuroscience. We are looking for a faculty who can enrich and expand existing cognitive neuroscience research. We invite applications from individuals who use behavioral, computational, and/or neuroscience approaches to study cognitive processes including perception, attention, learning, memory systems,…
language, executive function, motor control, or decision-making. The position will begin on August 1, 2027.
About the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience:
The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has three Ph.D. programs (Counseling, Clinical, and Experimental) and one M.A. (Experimental) program and comprises 37 tenure-line faculty, and 8 full-time teaching faculty, and 3 full-time clinical faculty. The Experimental program is a vibrant and diverse community of scientists who conduct a wide range of animal and human research. It includes three sub-disciplines (Cognitive and Developmental Sciences, Neuroscience & Behavior, and Social). The successful candidate will join the Cognitive and Developmental Sciences area which consists of 8 tenure-line faculty. The department is committed to mentoring new faculty to be successful in their academic careers. New faculty are assigned a mentoring committee. The Department has an excellent record in helping faculty successfully earn promotion and tenure. Information about the department, our undergraduate Psychology and Neuroscience programs, and our graduate programs is online at http://psychology.utk.edu.
About the University of Tennessee, Knoxville:
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is the flagship university and the premier public research institute in the State of Tennessee. The University is beginning a next-level initiative aimed both at substantially elevating the University's national reputation for impactful research, scholarship, and creative activity and at assembling a roster of faculty committed to delivering one of the nation's best educational experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. There are extensive opportunities for collaborations with members of the Neuroscience Network of East Tennessee (NeuroNET), National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS), and nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
About Knoxville:
The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, thriving music scene (https://bigearsfestival.org/), active neighborhoods, hundreds of miles of greenways, and eclectic shopping and restaurants. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm). More information about Knoxville can be found at https://www.visitknoxville.com/ and https://insideofknoxville.com/.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have Ph.D. in Cognition, Neuroscience, or a related field by August 1, 2027. The ideal candidate should have a strong research record and enthusiasm for teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Position responsibilities include maintaining a productive research program, teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and directing graduate student research. The successful candidate will be expected to have either existing or strong potential for obtaining extramural funding, build a widely recognized research program, provide high-quality instruction and advising to a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate students, actively engage with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines, and engage in departmental, institutional, and professional service.
Application Instructions:
All materials should be electronically submitted to Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/189584). Applicants should submit:
- A cover letter detailing your interests and qualifications relating to research, teaching, and service.
- A current CV
- A research statement (2-3 pages)
- A teaching and mentoring philosophy
- Three representative publications
- Contact information for three references (names, email addresses, and phone numbers)
Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Any questions about the search can be directed to Dr. Caglar Tas (caglartas@utk.edu).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.
Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.