Career Center

Assistant or Associate Professor of Education and Neuroscience

The School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia (UVA EHD) seeks a scholar to fill a faculty position in the Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science program in the Department of Education Leadership, Foundations and Policy. The position is for a tenure-track or tenured professor at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Education, who is focused on linking education with recent advances in neuroscience to conduct research with potential to transform educational processes and practices. EHD is a global leader in developing innovative, rigorous, research-based programs that drive improvements in policy, programs, and outcomes for children, educators, and systems. As part of an ongoing strategy to invest in research and development that has high potential for impact and innovation, UVA EHD seeks scholars with expertise in education and neuroscience.

UVA is proud to have a strong culture of collaboration and collegiality and is committed to creating collaborative and diverse environments necessary to develop and deliver quality research and educational programs. Successful candidates will help build bridges and be engaged in cross-disciplinary programs. 

Leveraging the rich and exceptionally interdisciplinary environment of UVA, candidates for this position will contribute to the transformational, cross-university effort and focus on the links and implications of neuroscience for education theory, practice, programs, and policy. UVA EHD’s ambition is to accelerate growth of knowledge, broaden our reach, and intensify our positive impact by integrating the field of neuroscience into our research programs on teaching and learning. This position builds on recent hires in the Brain Institute, those tied to the STAR initiative in autism, faculty in the Department of Psychology working on social neuroscience, as well as faculty within UVA EHD interested in stress and mindfulness. We are particularly interested in candidates who can address fundamental gaps in knowledge about the dynamic nature of classroom instruction; the neural, cognitive and social systems responsible for student engagement; the development, validation, and use of neuroscience measurements in classrooms and other applied teaching and learning settings; and the need for technology to more efficiently and effectively improve teaching and learning, with careful consideration of developmental and cultural differences. It is expected that this hire will deepen our understanding of one or more of these topics: basic genetics and neurophysiological processes associated with attention and self-regulation, neural correlates to social behavior and communication, how children and youth learn, the reciprocal relations between experience and brain development, how the brain develops as a function of experiences in and outside of classrooms, and neural correlates of stress, exposure to social media, and/or classroom life.

This position is being hired as a part of a Brain and Neuroscience cluster hire program, building on the University of Virginia's 2030 plan, which identifies Brain and Neuroscience as an area that can lead to insights to address major societal challenges. Recruits will receive support from the Provost and their School Dean and join the Brain Institute. This is part of a major Grand Challenges research investment of over $75M in the Brain and Neuroscience

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree by the start date of the appointment in neuroscience, psychology, educational psychology, child development, cognitive science, developmental science, or a closely related discipline. 
• A strong interest in and commitment to actively participating in an interdisciplinary research and teaching environment. 
• Demonstrated emerging evidence and/or strong record of leadership, publications, influential scholarship and sponsored research related to PreK-12 education and/or applied neuroscience.
• Demonstrated interest in contemporary problems of practical significance in education.
• Explicit evidence of skills and experience related to diversity and of advancing understanding and outcomes for underrepresented groups. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate level courses related to PreK-12 education and/or neuroscience. 
• Experience advising and mentoring doctoral students and overseeing doctoral student research.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin on October 16, 2023 and will continue until the candidate is selected.

To apply for this position please follow http://apply.interfolio.com/130913. Please submit the following documents: (1) Cover letter, (please speak to your interests and qualifications for the position, as well as your potential contributions to the University’s mission); (2) curriculum vitae; (3) summary of research interests; (4) teaching experience and philosophy; and (5) contact information for three references (name, email address, telephone number, and address). Note: The form will ask for one contact reference - please list all three references on one form. References will not be contacted until after in-person interviews are conducted.

Please note that the University’s Mission Statement affirms its

• “enduring commitment to a vibrant and unique residential learning environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas;”
• “unwavering support of a collaborative, diverse community bound together by distinctive foundational values of honor, integrity, trust, and respect;” and
• “universal dedication to excellence and affordable access.”

For the descriptions of your potential contributions to any aspect of this mission in a cover letter, please focus upon your work skills and experience. In doing so, you may choose to refer to your personal perspective, but the focus of our consideration is on your potential contributions through skills and experience, rather than personal opinions or beliefs.

For questions about this position, please contact the Search Chair Lieny Jeon, Associate Professor of Education, at LJeon@virginia.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact Rajiva Seneviratne at rs9c@virginia.edu.

Charlottesville and central Virginia offer a distinctive community for both personal and professional activities. Located only about an hour from Richmond and two hours from D.C., Charlottesville is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is consistently listed among the top cities in national rankings of the most desirable places to live. It offers a thriving community, highlighted by regular literary, film, musical, theatrical, and historical festivals. For more information about UVA and the surrounding area, please visit http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/. UVA assists faculty spouses and partners seeking employment in the Charlottesville area. To learn more please visit https://dualcareer.virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers. To learn more, please visit the Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights at https://eocr.virginia.edu/.

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physicians Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.