Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Child and Family Development

Wayne State University • Detroit, MI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Wayne State University’s Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute (MPSI) for Child and Family Development invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning August 2027. The successful candidate will hold a joint appointment between MPSI and an academic department aligned with their disciplinary background. The position is based at Wayne State’s Detroit campus and is part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary research community.

The Institute welcomes scientists whose work addresses the development, health, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, or families. Research should align with WSU and MPSI’s urban mission and values and contribute to research, training, and community engagement that advance knowledge and solutions benefiting children, families, and communities. Areas of particular interest include processes and contexts shaping child and family development and health from infancy through young adulthood; risk, resilience, prevention, and intervention; translational research; emerging technologies and new models of healthcare; and influences across individual, family, community, and population contexts. Other important questions in developmental science and family health will also be considered.

The successful candidate will have a strong, independent research program, evidence of or clear potential for external funding, and quantitative expertise in developmental research methods. Responsibilities include research, professional service, training and mentorship, and community engagement at MPSI, as well as teaching in the academic department of the joint appointment.

The position requires a Ph.D. or equivalent in a field related to child and family development by the start date. Applicants should demonstrate research productivity, a novel research agenda, potential for external funding and excellence in research, community engagement, service, and teaching, commitment to effective mentoring and research practices across varied populations and contexts, collegiality, collaboration, and interdisciplinary research and team science. Application review begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent in a field related to child and family development before the start date.
• Strong record of research productivity and high potential for significant external funding.
• Strong evidence of a novel research agenda and potential for excellence in research, community engagement, service, and teaching.
• Demonstrated quantitative expertise in developmental research methods.
• Commitment to effective mentoring, teaching, research practices, and community engagement across varied populations, communities, and contexts.
• Strong record of collegiality and collaborative work.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary research and team science.

Nice To Haves

• Research on processes and contexts shaping the development and health of children and families from infancy through young adulthood.
• Research on risk, resilience, prevention, and intervention.
• Translational research that advances health and well-being, including work involving emerging technologies or new healthcare models.
• Research examining influences across individual, family, community, and population contexts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and sustain an independent research program in child and family development, health, or well-being.
• Pursue external research funding.
• Contribute to research, professional service, training, and mentorship at MPSI.
• Engage with communities through research and related work.
• Teach in the academic department associated with the candidate’s joint appointment.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research and team science.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree