Assistant Professor - Biological Psychology

The California State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Biological Psychology. The position requires a strong teaching record and student‑involved research, with proficiency in EEG, skin conductance, HRV, pupillometry, and data analytics using Python or R.

The faculty member will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, develop a research program, secure internal and external funding, mentor diverse students, and participate in shared governance. Start date is August 2027.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Psychology with emphasis on Biological or Physiological Psychology by date of appointment.
• Scholarly productivity and a clear research agenda in Biological Psychology.
• Proficiency with experimental methods in Biological/Physiological psychology.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring at undergrad level and MA program.
• Commitment to diverse student populations and shared governance.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergrad and graduate courses in biological psychology.
• Develop and maintain an active research program; pursue internal/external funding.
• Mentor undergrad and graduate students; support diverse backgrounds in research.
• Advise MA in Research and Experimental Psychology students and participate in program committees.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service; use Canvas LMS.
• Adopt inclusive teaching practices to meet diverse student needs.

Skills

Teaching excellence

Student mentoring

Human psychophysiological methods

Python or R data analytics

Collaboration and governance

Education

Ph.D. in Psychology (Biological/Physiological)

Tools

Python

R

Job description

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor

School/Department: Psychology

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated annual salary range for the hiring academic year: $88,000 – $92,000.

Benefits: Faculty employee benefits are competitive. Refer to the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details.

Target Start Date: August 2027

Application Deadline: October 1, 2026

Position Description

The Department of Psychology at San José State University invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Biological Psychology (area of open). The role requires a strong record of teaching and student‑involved research, proficiency in human psychophysiological methods (EEG, skin conductance, heart rate variability, pupillometry, hormonal assays) and modern data analytics tools (Python or R). The faculty member will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, develop a research program, secure internal and external funding, mentor diverse students, and participate in shared governance.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis on Biological or Physiological Psychology (or closely related field such as Cognitive Neuroscience) by date of appointment.
• Demonstrated scholarly productivity and a clear research agenda in Biological Psychology.
• Proficiency with experimental research methods used in Biological or Physiological Psychology.
• Commitment to and experience with teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate level and within the MA in Research and Experimental Psychology graduate program.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a diverse student population.
• Ability to work effectively in a collegial environment of shared governance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching Biological Psychology, Physiological Psychology, and/or Neuroscience.
• Experience with human psychophysiological methods such as EEG, peripheral psychophysiology, or hormonal assays.
• Proficiency in modern data analytics or machine learning libraries in Python or R.
• Commitment to seeking external funding for research and student learning.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in biological psychology, including introductory psychobiology, neuroscience, drugs, brain, and behavior, and service courses as needed.
• Develop and maintain an active research program in biological psychology, pursue both internal and external funding, and collaborate with colleagues across the university and external agencies.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students, supporting diverse student backgrounds in research projects.
• Serve as a mentor and advisor to MA in Research and Experimental Psychology graduate students and participate in the program committee.
• Participate in shared governance through departmental, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Use the Canvas Learning Management System to organize all classes.
• Adopt inclusive teaching practices to meet the needs of a diverse student population.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose.