Assistant Professor – Developmental Psychology Institute of Child Development, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Sep 11, 2024 | Faculty, Job Post

Position Overview

The Institute of Child Development in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota seeks to fill a tenure track Assistant Professor position in developmental psychology. We welcome applicants conducting research in any area of developmental psychology, with particular interest in: language and communication; prevention/intervention sciences; social and personality development; developmental psychopathology; risk, trauma, and resilience; stress biology; and family, community, and global contexts. A clear developmental perspective or orientation is required. Our department employs a wide range of methods and approaches, and would especially welcome applicants who use computational, qualitative, epigenetic, sociocultural, epidemiologic, neuroendocrine or immune approaches, as well as community engaged research. Skills in advanced developmental research methods and/or quantitative methods are also of interest. All applicants are expected to have a strong and fundable program of research and to contribute to both graduate and undergraduate mentoring and teaching in developmental psychology. ICD is committed to building and supporting a culturally diverse faculty and encourages applications from minority candidates and other under-represented groups.

This is a 9-month, full-time appointment located on the Minneapolis campus with a target start date of August 25, 2025.

Job Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Research: Developing and maintaining a strong record of scholarship pertinent to the core specialization of the individual, while maintaining a commitment to securing external funds to support the individual’s scholarly inquiry.

Teaching & Mentoring: Strengthening the existing preparation and further development of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in ICD. Teaching and mentoring students in the graduate and undergraduate degree programs in the department. Participating in postdoctoral training and mentoring.

Service & Community Engagement: Participating in College, University, and other outreach activities, including service on internal committees or task forces, and participation in relevant professional organizations.

Required Qualifications 

  • An earned doctorate, Ph.D. preferred, in developmental psychology, clinical psychology, or closely related field. Applications from ABD candidates will be considered provided the individual can document that they are on track to complete the doctorate by the start date of this position.
  • Evidence of strong scholarship in the form of publications in peer-reviewed journals and a history of conference presentations, commensurate with level of experience.
  • Evidence of successful teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and/or postdoctoral levels, commensurate with level of experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • An earned doctorate (or equivalent) in developmental psychology
  • Proven record of success in procuring external research funding, commensurate with level of experience.
  • Proven record in advising undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, commensurate with level of experience.
  • Evidence of service activities/community engagement suitable to a tenure-track position at a major land-grant University, commensurate with level of experience.
  • Evidence of a commitment to multicultural perspectives in the study of developmental psychology.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online at: https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Find-Job. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach the required pdfs listed below.

This position requires that you attach the following documents as PDFs:

  1. cover letter,
  2. curriculum vitae,
  3. a statement of teaching philosophy and prior teaching experience, and
  4. a statement of research interests and scholarly work.

The teaching and research statements should include prior or proposed contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In addition, please request letters of recommendation from three (3) professionals in the field. Letter writers should email letters directly to the search committee administrator Amy Simpson at

Application Deadline: The initial screening of applications will begin on 10/15/2024.

For general questions about the application process, contact Amy Simpson at To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail or call (612)-624-UOHR (8687).

Department Overview

The Institute of Child Development (ICD) has long been a premier center for scholarship, teaching, and outreach in developmental psychology. Coursework and research activities focus on the cognitive, perceptual, social, emotional, cultural, and psychobiological/neuroscience processes underlying the lifespan development of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. We offer undergraduate and doctoral programs in Developmental Psychology, including an APA-accredited program in Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science in collaboration with the Department of Psychology. The University of Minnesota is rich in resources available to ICD faculty, including the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), with both treatment and research facilities; the Center for Neurobehavioral Development (CNBD), with shared equipment resources including EEG/ERP, eye tracking, and autonomic equipment; the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), with four research-dedicated 3T Siemens Prisma scanners; the Child Development Laboratory School, an early childhood learning center with embedded research space and equipment; the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), an applied research and training center supporting the advancement of the early childhood workforce; and the many additional resources afforded in a large metropolitan area. Founded in 1925, the Institute is a pre-eminent department for the study of children’s development in the United States. From its inception, a key tenet of the department has been to “give away” developmental science. This philosophy has created an environment rich with collaborations, new ideas, and exciting interdisciplinary work that spans basic to applied science.

Located in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University offers unique opportunities for research and participation in varied cultural communities, including large Somali and Hmong communities.

Further information about the U of M can be found at https://twin-cities.umn.edu/about-us and on the Relocation Assistance Program site http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/rap/. Additional information about the Institute of Child Development can be found at https://icd.umn.edu.

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the third largest college at the University, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That’s why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice. https://www.cehd.umn.edu/.