Assistant Professor for Child Development 211133

Oklahoma State University•Stillwater, OK

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) at Oklahoma State University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position with expertise in Child Development, beginning Fall 2027. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s research, teaching, and service missions through a strong program of scholarship focused on child development, with an interest in the university’s land-grant mission and a desire to positively impact children’s development and the academic community. Candidates should have a clearly articulated research agenda, strong potential for scholarly productivity and external funding, and the ability or potential to teach and mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students effectively. Previous college-level teaching experience is desirable but not required. HDFS has approximately 20 full-time faculty members, 400 undergraduate students, and 90 graduate students. The department offers undergraduate and graduate specializations and has active faculty research programs, with projects funded by state and federal entities including NIH, USDA, and NSF. Its centers and clinics include the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory, Center for Family Resilience, Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, Center for Developmental Disabilities, and Center for Family Research and Engagement. Faculty work with community partners and Cooperative Extension educators throughout Oklahoma. The position is at Oklahoma State University, an R1 comprehensive land-grant institution with more than 25,000 students and campuses in Stillwater and Tulsa. The position is contingent on available funding. Applications are accepted online and should include a letter of interest and qualifications, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Review will continue until the position is filled.

Requirements

Earned doctorate in Human Development and Family Science, Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Early Childhood Education, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
A well-defined research agenda with the potential to produce impactful scholarship, publish in peer-reviewed outlets, and secure external research funding.
Demonstrated ability or potential to provide effective instruction, including the ability to use multiple instructional modalities and engage undergraduate and graduate students from varied educational backgrounds.
Demonstrated commitment to student mentorship and academic excellence.
Ability to contribute to research, teaching, and service responsibilities.
Evidence of employment eligibility as required by federal law.

Nice To Haves

Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential and relevant professional experience.
Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Child Life, Child Development, or related disciplines.
Service through involvement in regional and/or national professional organizations.
Experience developing curricula, assessing programs, and continuously improving them.
Experience using evidence-based instructional approaches and varied teaching methods that promote student learning and success.
Experience providing instruction, academic advising, or mentorship to undergraduate and/or graduate students.
Scholarly productivity through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or other discipline-relevant research contributions.
Experience seeking external research funding or contributing to externally funded research initiatives.
Engagement in interdisciplinary scholarship, collaborative partnerships, community-engaged research, or innovative academic and programmatic initiatives.

Responsibilities

Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Child Development and related areas within HDFS.
Contribute to curriculum development and continuous improvement of academic programs.
Establish and maintain a competitive, productive research program resulting in peer-reviewed publications, scholarly presentations, and pursuit of external funding.
Mentor undergraduate and graduate students through research training, scholarly activities, and professional development.
Collaborate with faculty and community partners to advance interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach.
Participate in service at the department, college, university, and professional levels and contribute to the mission of a comprehensive land-grant, Carnegie R1 research university.
Fulfill other duties as assigned.