Psychology Department: Assistant Professor of Cognitive Psychology (Initial Review 10-14-24)

The Psychology Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in Cognitive Psychology with a focus on human perception, broadly defined. We seek applicants whose research focuses on high-level aspects of perception, such as: scene, object, and person perception; conscious versus unconscious processing; perception in real-world and technology-mediated contexts (via phones, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, or robots); the integration of visual, auditory, or other sensory information; how perception interacts with other cognitive processes such as attention, memory, language, and decision-making; social influences on perception (including face perception and the own-race bias), and neurodiversity in perception (e.g. perception in misophonia, prosopagnosia, synesthesia, and autism). Candidates are expected to conduct empirical research using behavioral, neuroscientific, physiological, pharmacological, and/or computational modeling approaches, teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and contribute to our Psychology and Cognitive Science majors.

UC Santa Cruz values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to hiring faculty who will work to advance these values. UC Santa Cruz is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) with a high proportion of first-generation students. We welcome candidates who understand the barriers facing historically oppressed groups in higher education (as evidenced by life experiences and educational background) and who can clearly articulate participation in equity and diversity advancement efforts with respect to teaching, mentoring, research, and service towards building an equitable and scholarly environment. Activities promoting equity and inclusion at UC Santa Cruz will be recognized as important university service during the faculty promotion process. For more information please refer to the APO Diversity Resources web page.

The chosen candidate will be expected to sign a statement representing that they are not the subject of any ongoing investigation or disciplinary proceeding at their current academic institution or place of employment, nor have they in the past ten years been formally disciplined at any academic institution/place of employment. In the event the candidate cannot make this representation, they will be expected to disclose in writing to the hiring Dean the circumstances surrounding any formal discipline that they have received, as well as any current or ongoing investigation or disciplinary process of which they are the subject. (Note that discipline includes a negotiated settlement agreement to resolve a matter related to substantiated misconduct.)

Psychology Department: https://psychology.ucsc.edu

Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or related fields; a track record of empirical research in human perception; and teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

For applicants who do not possess a Ph.D. when they submit their applications, they must document in their application materials (e.g., c.v., cover letter, etc.) that their projected date for completing their degree will be on or before September 19, 2025.

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation*. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC's confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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University of California Statement on Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of California (University) is an equal employment opportunity employer. The University prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any individual employed by or seeking employment with the University because of actual or perceived race, religion, color, citizenship, national or ethnic origin (including caste and actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics or citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity) , sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (including having a history of a disability or being regarded as disabled), medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), or predisposing genetic information (including family history), or veteran or military status. This prohibition also applies to discrimination or harassment because of a combination of the foregoing Protected Categories or based on an individual's association or relationship with an individual or individuals who are, or who are perceived to be, within a Protected Category.

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The Anti-Discrimination Policy prohibits retaliation in the form of an adverse action against any employee or individual seeking employment who reports alleged discrimination or harassment or related retaliation under the Anti-Discrimination Policy or who participates in, or assists with, the investigative process, reporting, remedial, or corrective action/disciplinary process provided for in the Anti-Discrimination Policy. An adverse action is conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from reporting discrimination, harassment, and/or related retaliation or from participating in a process under the Anti-Discrimination Policy, such as threats, intimidation, coercion, reprisals and adverse employment actions.

Affirmative Action: It is the policy of the University to undertake affirmative action consistent with its obligations as a Federal contractor, for minorities and women, for individuals with disabilities, and for protected veterans (Protected veterans include veterans with disabilities, recently separated veterans, Vietnam era veterans, veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Military, Ground, Naval or Air Service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or Armed Forces service). The University is committed to apply every good faith effort to achieve prompt and full utilization of minorities and women in all segments of its workforce where deficiencies exist. Furthermore, it is our policy to promote equal employment opportunity and to take affirmative action through recruitment and employment efforts, training and development, educational opportunities, advancement in employment, transfer and other terms and conditions of employment of qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

In conformance with Federal regulations, each campus of the University, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Office of the President, and the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is required to prepare and maintain a written affirmative action plan. Such plans must be reviewed and approved by the Office of the President and the Office of the General Counsel before they are officially promulgated. The affirmative action plan is an analytic tool that assists the University's evaluation of its employment programs and processes (consistent with all current legal and regulatory requirements), and documents good faith efforts made in all aspects of the University's employment processes, including efforts aimed at building recruitment pipelines, maintaining high quality standards, and supporting inclusive excellence.

Our obligations in this area stems not only from adherence to various State and Federal regulations, but also from our steadfast commitment to create a culture of inclusiveness and diversity where members of our community thrive and are able to reach their full potential.

For information on the scope and application of affirmative action plans see guidelines from the Office of Federal Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Inquiries regarding the University's equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Equity and Equal Protection Office at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by email at equity@ucsc.edu.

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The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.

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