Limited Term Appointment - Department of Psychology

Job Category

Faculty and Academic Staff

Requisition Number: LIMIT001549

Posted: April 9, 2026
Full-Time, On-site

Job Details

Description

The Department of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University invites applications for one (1) 9-month limited term appointment (LTA) to begin August 17, 2026. Candidates will be expected to teach some combination of the following courses: Research Methods (Psychology 291), Cognitive Psychology I and II (Psychology 221/222), or Sensation and Perception (Psychology 298). An ability to teach a course in the history of psychology would be considered an asset. Availability to teach courses in-person is required. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

About the StFX Psychology Department

The Psychology Department at StFX, the largest Department in the Faculty of Arts, attracts students from across the University. We offer degrees within the Faculty of Arts (BA, BA Honours) and the Faculty of Science (BSc, BSc Honours). The Department also offers a well-subscribed Applied Forensic Psychology program. As a department, we are collectively working towards improving our understanding of thoughts, feelings, and actions. We aim to share the knowledge gained through our research, teaching, and service to move the discipline of Psychology forward. Our vision is to help students to appreciate the complexity of human nature and to apply what they have learned to leave the world better than they found it and to apply their knowledge and skills to address critical crises and global and/or rural challenges (e.g., aging, housing, domestic violence, substance use, income and wealth inequality, climate change, etc.). To this end, the Psychology Department is led by a team of professors and lab instructors who have expertise within streams of Developmental, Social, Clinical & Health, Cognition & Perception, Neuroscience, and Forensics. Existing Departmental research infrastructure includes an 8x8 functional near infrared spectroscopy system (NIRx), a 32-channel electroencephalography system (BrainVision), multiple eye tracking systems (Pupil Labs Neon, EyeLinkII & 1000), and VR suites (HTC Vive, Oculus). Facilities for small animal (rats primarily but potentially mice too) testing, include accredited animal care facility, operant chambers for food/drug self-administration, animal tracking software, and shared surgical suite with stereotaxic and microinjection equipment suitable for rats or mice. The Psychology Department will be moving to the new Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health upon completion of construction (estimated 2027).

Our department values offering enriching educational experiences to students, such as hands-on learning, research opportunities, Service Learning, and/or Work-Integrated Learning. Our department hosts the Antigonish Brain Bee, a neuroscience competition for high school students, which is the regional competition that feeds into the CIHR Canadian National Brain Bee. As a rural institution, we also look for ways to serve our community through advancing research priorities relevant to the rural context.

Candidate Qualifications

Ideally, candidates for this position will have (or be nearing completion of) a PhD in Psychology.

Teaching Expectations

Limited-term faculty are assigned to teach a total of 18-credits, which equates to three courses per term. As noted above, successful candidates for this limited-term appointment will be expected to teach courses within the areas of Research Methods, Cognition, and/or Sensation and Perception. Previous teaching experience and demonstrated ability in fostering a climate of inclusion in the classroom is an asset.

Application Instructions

Consideration of applications is expected to commence May 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should compile their application into a single PDF document. The PDF application package should include the following information:

1. a cover letter highlighting suitability for the Department of Psychology Limited-Term Appointment.
2. curriculum vitae, being sure to highlight any of the following teaching-relevant items:
   • publications in referred journals and/or publications of other scholarly work
   • record of research funding or clear outline of plans for future research projects and funding.
   • dissemination activities (e.g., conference presentations, invited talks, workshops)
   • awards and/or other recognitions
   • student mentorship (can include co-supervisions and informal mentorship)
   • undergraduate and/or graduate teaching experience
   • engagements in professional development opportunities for teaching
3. statement of teaching philosophy (max. 2 pages), plus supporting materials. Supporting materials could include evidence of teaching preparedness (e.g., engagement in professional development opportunities focused on teaching; description of past teaching experience; copies of course syllabi for courses taught previously; samples of course materials and teaching strategies).
4. names, addresses (including email), and telephone numbers of three referees. Please note that referees will be contacted only for those applicants who are being considered for an interview.

Please send your application package to:

Dr. Erin Austen, Search Committee Chair
Department of Psychology, LTA position, StFX University
c/o Breagh MacDonald, Administrative Assistant for Psychology
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Arts
St. Francis Xavier University
psychology@stfx.ca