Faculty Position in Early Learning: Mechanisms and Interventions

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education invites applications for an assistant or associate professor whose research develops, tests, and studies interventions to support young children’s learning and development. The work emphasizes theoretically grounded research in homes, schools, early childhood programs, and community contexts to identify mechanisms of change and scalable implementation.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. or Ed.D.

Job description

The Stanford Graduate School of Education seeks a faculty member at the assistant or associate professor level whose research focuses on developing, testing, and studying interventions that support young children’s learning and development.

We are particularly interested in scholars who conduct theoretically grounded research in applied settings - including homes, schools, early childhood programs, and community contexts - to identify mechanisms of learning and developmental change, evaluate intervention effectiveness, and examine the conditions that support successful implementation.

This work may draw on implementation science to inform the development, adaptation, and delivery of scalable interventions and enrich developmental science.

Research areas may span foundational domains of learning and development, including cognition; early mathematics and STEM learning; early language and literacy; social-emotional development; creativity; and related skills that support children’s educational success.

Applicants should focus on learning and development from early childhood through the early elementary years.

Preference will be given to applicants whose research attends to cultural and contextual variation in learning, addresses issues of educational opportunity and equity, and includes children and families from historically underserved communities.

Ph.D./Ed.D., or enrollment in a Ph.D./Ed.D. program with anticipated degree conferral by the time of appointment is required.

Applicants are required to provide:

• a brief cover letter
• a research and teaching statement (no more than 3 pages total)
• curriculum vitae
• three scholarly publications and/or well-developed papers
• provide the names of three references, who will be contacted as follows:
• references for non-tenured applicants will be contacted for a letter upon submission of the application
• references for applicants who are currently tenured may be contacted for a letter at a later stage in the application process

All application materials must be submitted online. Please submit your application to the following site:https://facultypositions.stanford.edu/jobs/faculty-position-in-early-learning-mechanisms-and-interventions-stanford-university-california-united-states

Application deadline is October 7, 2026, at 11:55pm PST.

Questions pertaining to this position may be directed to Tanya Chamberlain, Faculty Affairs Director, [e-mail].

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford welcomes applications from others who would bring additional dimensions to the University’s research, teaching and clinical missions.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact [e-mail].

The expected base pay range for this position is:

• Assistant Prof.: $135k-$150k
• Assoc. Prof: $160k-$180k

Stanford University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.