Queen's National Scholar (QNS) in Social and/or Affective Neuroscience, Department of Psychology

Queen's University Psychology Department; Eastern Ontario; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian academic institution seeks a collaborative researcher for a tenure-track position in Social and/or Affective Neuroscience at the Associate or Full Professor level. The successful applicant will lead innovative research, engage in interdisciplinary collaborations, and supervise graduate students. They must demonstrate leadership in their field with a PhD and proven funding experience. This position emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion in research practices. Applications are due by January 30, 2026.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Pension plan

Tuition assistance for employees and families

Support for parental leave

Qualifications

• Innovative researcher with an outstanding international record.
• Strong track record in securing funding from external bodies.
• Established original and innovative research program.
• Evidence of fostering equity, diversity, inclusion in research.
• Experience in graduate and postdoctoral supervision.

Responsibilities

• Lead ground-breaking research in Social and/or Affective Neuroscience.
• Oversee research methodologies in neuroscience.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Attract and supervise graduate and postdoctoral trainees.
• Incorporate best practices for equity and diversity in research.

Skills

World-class research capabilities

Peer-reviewed publication record

Ability to secure competitive grants

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Mentorship and supervision of students

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Education

PhD or equivalent degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or allied discipline

Job description

Queen's University National Scholar (QNS) Senior Faculty Position in Social and/or Affective Neuroscience, Department of Psychology

Application Deadline: January 30, 2026.

Position Summary

The Faculty of Arts & Science at Queen’s University invites applications for a Queen’s National Scholar (QNS) tenured appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in the Department of Psychology.

We are seeking a collaborative scholar with demonstrated leadership in Social and/or Affective Neuroscience. Applicants may be established scholars from any area of Psychology (e.g., Social, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental), Neuroscience, or an allied discipline whose research focuses on Social and/or Affective Neuroscience.

Applicants are expected to have an outstanding research program that employs neuroscience methodologies (e.g., fMRI, MEG/EEG, fNIRS, or related approaches) and that complements the Department’s existing strengths in social cognition and affective processes. Scholars with expertise in other neurobiological approaches to Social and/or Affective Neuroscience (e.g., neuroendocrinology) are also encouraged to apply. Research may focus on any population, including (but not limited to) clinical, developmental, neurotypical, underrepresented or historically marginalized populations.

This appointment is expected to begin July 1, 2026.

Further information about the Queen’s National Scholars Program is available through the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic): https://www.queensu.ca/provost/queens-national-scholars-program/queens-national-scholars-program-overview

Qualifications

1. Be an outstanding and innovative world-class researcher whose accomplishments have been recognized internationally and made a major impact in their field, demonstrated primarily through peer-assessed publications, including journal articles in high-quality outlets, books, book chapters, and internationally recognized conference proceedings.
2. Have a strong record of obtaining peer-reviewed competitive grant funding from external bodies.
3. Have an established (or proposed), original, innovative research program of the highest quality with evidence of strong collaborations/interdisciplinary scholarship.
4. Evidence that the research program aligns with institutional and/or faculty priorities and/or existing or emerging areas of research strength. Further information on teaching and research priorities at Queen’s is available in the Queen’s Strategy and the Queen’s Strategic Research Plan.
5. A superior record of attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and ability to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers.
6. Clear evidence of embedding best practices related to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) into the research and learning environment.

The diverse backgrounds of applicants and the type of scholarship appropriate to their research areas, as well as the diverse range of scholarly methodologies and ways of measuring impact will be taken into account when assessing the quality of the scholarly or creative work.

Candidates will be evaluated using the principles of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and with attention to the diverse ways excellence can be demonstrated. Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or an allied discipline, completed at the start date of the appointment. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Vaccination Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

The Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology is an outstanding department with excellent facilities for interdisciplinary research through its links and collaborations with the Queen’s Centre for Neuroscience Studies and its 3T Siemens Trio MRI facility (neuroscience.queensu.ca), the Department of Psychiatry (providencecare.ca), the Smith School of Business (smith.queensu.ca), and the Intelligent Systems Research Group at the Smith School of Engineering (smithengineering.queensu.ca). We also house a large collaborative research and meeting space to supplement individual labs with access to shared research equipment (e.g., high-density EEG, eye-tracking, virtual reality, and mass spectroscopy) and data processing hubs.

Institution

Queen’s University has a long history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation that shapes our collective knowledge and helps address some of the world’s most pressing concerns. Home to more than 25,000 students, Queen’s offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment. Diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience enrich our students and faculty while a core part of our mission is to engage in international learning and research.

From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, Queen’s University is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.

A member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, Queen’s is home to a vibrant research community that includes 46 Canada Research Chairs, two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, and over 20 research institutes who work in partnership with communities, governments, and industry to advance research and innovation, making a measured impact on Canada and the world.

Queen’s is in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings. In 2025, for the fifth straight year, Queen’s ranked among the global top 10 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. THE Impact Rankings is an international ranking of universities that are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals within and beyond their local communities. Queen's placed sixth worldwide and first in Canada out of over 2,300 universities in more than 120 countries.

At Queen’s University, we are committed to advancing Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti Racism (I EDIAA) as core priorities that shape our workplace and research culture. We recognize that diversity drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and helps remove barriers so that everyone can thrive. Our eight employee resource groups (ERGs) play a vital role in fostering belonging, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting employees across the university. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package that includes prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long term disability insurance, life insurance, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. Employees also participate in a pension plan, and tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses, and dependent children. Queen’s values families and provides a “top up” to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave, as well as partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses. Full details are outlined in the Queen’s–QUFA Collective Agreement, and more information on employee benefits can be found through Queen’s Human Resources.

The City

The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk to downtown. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities, with access to many natural areas and proximity to vibrant First Nations Communities including Tyendinaga and Akwesasne. Kingston is a unique Canadian city of 125,000 with a distinct blend of history, recreation, industry, and learning. Kingston offers unique waterfront living with many recreational opportunities. It is within a two-and-a-half hour drive (two-hour train ride) to the commercial, industrial and political hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and a thirty minute drive from the international bridge linking Ontario and upstate New York. The city is also the origin of the historic Rideau Canal system – a UNESCO International Heritage site, and is close to Frontenac Provincial Park, the Thousand Islands National Park, and the Frontenac Arch UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Queen’s University Biological Station, north of the city, encompasses 34 km² of diverse lands, affording premier learning and research opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

How to Apply

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

We recognize that certain circumstances, including career interruptions, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, or systemic barriers, may affect a nominee’s record of research achievement. Applicants are encouraged to provide relevant information to contextualize their research record.

Queen’s is committed to providing support and accommodation for applicants with disabilities at all stages of the recruitment process. If you require accommodation for submitting your application or during the interview process, please contact Sarah Indewey in the Department of Psychology, at [e-mail], 613-533-6406.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority, including any qualified individuals who have a valid legal work status in Canada. Please indicate in your application if you have a valid legal work status in Canada. Applications from all qualified candidates will be considered in the applicant pool.

Document Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to submit a complete application package, including the following documents:

• a cover letter including whether or not you have a valid legal work status in Canada (note that it is not required that you have legal work status at the time of application);
• a current Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications (publications with students should be clearly indicated), awards, grants (secured and pending), and other evidence of scholarly impact);
• a summary of the proposed research program and research vision for the next 7 years, including how equity, diversity and inclusion has been incorporated into the research design and research team, and the ways in which the program is making an impact in the field through mechanisms such as interdisciplinary partnerships, community partnerships, policy influence, or knowledge mobilization);
• a statement of teaching interests and experience, including a summary of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) supervision and mentorship, and a statement on commitment to the facilitation and promotion of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) in the student and trainee environment; and;
• Contact information for three potential people who could provide references upon request. Referees will be contacted only for shortlisted candidates, with advance notice.

The deadline for applications is January 30, 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to send all documents in their application packages electronically as PDFs to Dr. Kate Harkness at [e-mail], although hard copy applications may be submitted to:

Dr Kate Harkness, PhD., C.Psych
Professor and Head
The Department of Psychology
Rm 229, Humphrey Hall
62 Arch Street
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
CANADA K7L 3N6

Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at http://queensu.ca/facultyrelations/faculty-librarians-and-archivists/collective-agreement and at http://www.qufa.ca.

Appointments are subject to review and final approval by the Provost. Candidates holding an existing tenure-track or continuing-adjunct appointment at Queen’s will not be considered.