Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences

Northern Arizona University

About the Department/College

The Department of Psychological Sciences is located on the Flagstaff Mountain Campus of Northern Arizona University (NAU), situated at the base of San Francisco Peaks. NAU is an R1 institution that values teacher-scholar faculty pursuing excellence in teaching and scholarship. NAU recently launched an innovative initiative aimed at improving health outcomes for all Arizonans, particularly those in rural, Indigenous, and underserved communities. The Department of Psychological Sciences offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychological Science and houses a PhD program in Interdisciplinary Health.

Flagstaff is a small city (population 70,000) located at the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau (7,000' elevation), 30 miles from Sedona, 90 miles from Grand Canyon National Park, and 150 miles from Phoenix. The Flagstaff area offers 4-season outdoor activities and has been consistently voted as one of the top college towns in America.

About the Position

The Department of Psychological Sciences is seeking an early-career (Assistant Professor) tenure-track hire to support our continued growth in Quantitative Methods and Program Evaluation methodology in Flagstaff, Arizona. The ideal candidate should have expertise in modern research and quantitative analytical methods, including the analysis of complex data structures. Candidates should have prior experience or the skills necessary to conduct basic and applied research in quantitative research methodology and statistics. Candidates with an interest in supporting the department's emphasis on community-based health evaluation are encouraged to apply. Candidates should have experience in or evidence of potential for teaching in their areas of expertise at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Strong candidates should have a viable plan to implement a program of methodological research that will lead to a strong publication record. A history of (or clear evidence of potential for) securing external research funding, or funding to support program development, implementation, or evaluation is also preferred. Successful candidates should express an interest in supporting the department's movement towards community-engaged health evaluation and research.

This is a 9 month in person tenure track position.

Responsibilities Include

• Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, with a preference for the ability to teach graduate research methods and statistics
• Mentoring undergraduate research and graduate students' theses and dissertations, as well as providing methodological consultation and building collaborative relationships with department faculty and students
• Establishing and maintaining a productive independent program of research
• Seeking external research or evaluation funding
• Supporting the department's emphasis on community engaged health evaluation and research

Minimum Qualifications

PhD in Quantitative, Health, Social, Clinical, I/O or Developmental Psychology; Health Evaluation; Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics; or a related field.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.*

Preferred Qualifications

• The ability to contribute to the methodological research literature in quantitative study design, analysis, or program evaluation
• A commitment to excellence in teaching as evidenced by prior experience in or evidence of potential for teaching or mentoring undergraduate, graduate students, or post-doctoral trainees, and experience with student success initiatives
• A substantive program of methodological research that complements the health-related and community-based research initiatives present in the department and the university at large
• The training and skills needed to secure external funding
• Prior experience in data science techniques including sentiment analysis, large language models and other AI systems
• Demonstrated experience working with people from all backgrounds
• Demonstrated excellence in scholarship, teaching, community engagement, and service that forwards NAU's Elevating Excellence goals
• Experience working with diverse populations such that all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences are valued

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of modern quantitative research methodologies, including but not limited to: mixed effects modeling, structural equation modeling, Bayesian methods, and psychometric analysis
• Understanding of complex data structures (e.g., nested, cross-classified) and techniques for handling missing data and conducting causal inference
• Familiarity with program evaluation frameworks, particularly in community health and health-related program assessment
• Knowledge of best practices in undergraduate and graduate teaching, curriculum development, and student learning assessment
• Awareness of current trends in quantitative measurement and applied statistics in academic and applied research contexts

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to teach quantitative methods and statistics at both undergraduate and graduate levels, with a focus on applied, real-world relevance
• Strong analytical and statistical skills for conducting rigorous, methodologically focused research
• Effective communication skills for translating complex quantitative concepts to diverse student and scholarly audiences
• Proven ability to publish peer-reviewed research and contribute to the advancement of methodological scholarship
• Competence in mentoring students in research, including supervision of master's theses, doctoral dissertations, and undergraduate research projects

Abilities

• Ability to develop and sustain an active, externally funded research program in quantitative methods or program evaluation
• Capacity to maintain a research lab that supports engagement and experiential learning for undergraduate and graduate students
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to departmental strengths in evaluation and applied statistics
• Commitment to inclusive teaching practices and fostering a supportive learning environment for all student learners
• Ability to balance teaching, research, and service responsibilities in a dynamic academic setting

Compensation

Salary budgeted at $70,000.

Submit your Application

The first review date is September 15, 2025. Applications received before the deadline shown will receive full consideration.

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page.

Application must include (saved as PDF and/or Word documents): 1. a cover letter highlighting your particular qualifications for this position; 2. a curriculum vitae; and 3. names and contact information for three references.

Please do not include any other documents as they will not be considered.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

To apply, please visit: https://careers.nau.edu/jobs/assistant-professor-psychological-sciences-flagstaff-arizona-united-states