Assistant Professor (T/TE), Educational Psychology and Cognitive Science

The Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education at the University of Arizona, in partnership with Cognitive Science, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning in August 2027.

We seek a scholar who studies human cognition in AI- and data-rich environments, with applications to learning and education. We are particularly interested in scholars whose work examines cognitive processes such as decision-making, reasoning, memory and metacognition, or cognitive biases and applies this understanding to questions such as how people interpret data and AI-generated information, evaluate risk and probability, make data-informed decisions, or interact with AI-supported systems.

This position is part of an interdisciplinary cluster titled "Understanding the Human Intelligence Behind the Use of Artificial Intelligence." The broader initiative connects Educational Psychology, Cognitive Science, Information Science, Public Health, and the Humanities around shared questions about using AI to recommend reform, best practices, and data-based decisions in P-16+ formal and informal education settings. The cluster emphasizes making AI and data-intensive systems interpretable, trusted, behaviorally informed, and effective in real-world human systems with a focus on mental health, wellness, and learning. We therefore especially welcome scholars whose work bridges basic and applied research and who are interested in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Formal review of applicants will begin November 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; sick leave and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocation services, please click here.

The position is a joint appointment between the Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Cognitive Science in the College of Science. The successful candidate will be positioned to connect these communities, bringing cognitive perspectives to interdisciplinary work on AI, data, learning, and educational systems.

The Department of Educational Psychology (https://education.arizona.edu/educational-psychology) conducts research and graduate training in learning and cognition, human development, motivation, measurement, and research methodology. Faculty use a range of experimental, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to study learning and behavior in educational and other real-world settings. The department is also expanding its work in areas such as artificial intelligence and data literacy.

The Cognitive Science Program (https://cogsci.arizona.edu/) serves as an interdisciplinary hub, bringing together many affiliated faculty members from various departments including Computer Science, Information Sciences, Psychology/Neuroscience, Linguistics, Speech Language & Hearing Sciences, Education, and Philosophy. A small but growing group of core faculty members are jointly appointed between the CogSci program and their home department. The CogSci program offers a joint undergraduate major (B.S. in Neuroscience and CogSci) and a graduate minor in CogSci. Students and affiliated faculty in the community actively collaborate and regularly come together for interdisciplinary activities.

Located in the beautiful desert Southwest, Tucson is nestled between the Catalina and Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park. This bicycle-friendly city is known for its arts, music, food, and rich history. Tucson is a designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy and is consistently ranked as one of the country's best places to live.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain an active, independent research program that advances understanding of human cognition and decision making, particularly in AI- and data-rich environments, with applications to learning and education.
• Pursue external research funding through grant proposals.
• Develop collaborations within and across disciplines, particularly as they related to the cluster hire initiative.
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and other scholarly activities.
• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses, including in-person and online courses in Educational Psychology and Cognitive Science, with opportunities to contribute to instruction in data literacy. The expected teaching load is 3 classes per academic year.
• Advise and mentor master's and Ph.D. students by supporting their research and professional development.
• Actively participate in departmental, college, university, and interdisciplinary program service.

• PhD in Educational Psychology, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Psychology, Learning Sciences, or a closely related field by the start date.
• Outstanding record of research, as evidenced by a notable publication history and a demonstrated record of seeking and securing funding.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring in Educational Psychology (with some emphasis in data literacy) and Cognitive Science at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Ability to contribute to interdisciplinary research and collaboration across Educational Psychology and Cognitive Science.

• Experience conducting research in educational or other real-world settings.
• Experience teaching and mentoring students from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds and/or conducting multilingual or cross-cultural research.

Applications will be reviewed starting November 15, 2026 and will be accepted until the position is filled.

Please submit the following application materials:

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover Letter specifically addressing the applicant's match to the criteria described above.
• Statement of Research describing current scholarly activities and future plans
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Experience
• Three publications demonstrating a focus on one or more of the research areas listed above (combined into one PDF)
• Three references, including names and contact information. If advanced, we will request letters of recommendation from your references.