Assistant Professor of Child Development
About The Position
The Department of Psychology and Child Development invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning Fall 2026. Position requires a strong developmental background with expertise in focus of choice — such as culture and diversity, parenting, physical/motor development, children with disabilities, early intervention, etc. Teaching responsibilities may include courses in child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics at the undergraduate level and graduate level. We seek to hire an individual who is familiar with on-campus child development laboratories. This individual must demonstrate potential for teaching excellence to a diverse student population as well as student advising, supervision of undergraduate interns, graduate thesis and project supervision, service to the department and university, and scholarly activity and external funding. Effective teaching and scholarly productivity are required for retention, promotion, and tenure. Additionally, participation in a highly collaborative program is expected. This position is contingent upon the availability of authorized funding.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in child development or related area, at time of appointment
- Ability to teach across the curriculum (i.e., child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics)
- Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching at undergraduate level
Nice To Haves
- Experience integrating an NAEYC-accredited laboratory school or child development center into instruction or research
- Experience teaching or supervising students in applied early childhood settings (e.g., preschool, Head Start, transitional kindergarten, infant/toddler programs)
- Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or other languages spoken in Central Valley communities
- Familiarity with California Preschool Learning Foundations, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and/or related professional frameworks
- Experience with undergraduate internship supervision or graduate student mentorship and thesis advising
- Record of community-engaged scholarship or regional partnerships
Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics
- Utilize our on-campus Child Development Center as a live instructional resource, integrating direct observation and applied experiences into coursework
- Advise and mentor undergraduate students; supervise undergraduate interns and lab students
- Demonstrate teaching excellence with a diverse student body
- Maintain an active scholarly agenda
- Pursue external funding opportunities in support of research and programmatic initiatives
- Integrate the on-campus Child Development Center as a site for applied or community-engaged research when appropriate
- Participate actively in department, college, and university service
- Contribute to student advising, recruitment, and retention efforts
- Engage with local early childhood programs, school districts, Head Start agencies, and other community partners
Benefits
- Extremely competitive benefits package
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
1-10 employees
