Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology or related field such as psychiatry (with a research agenda emphasizing biological bases of psychopathology)

Job Description:

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology or related field such as psychiatry (with a research agenda emphasizing biological bases of psychopathology)

Description

Department of Psychology
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Assistant Professor
Fall 2027

The Department of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Psychology with an appointment to begin Fall 2027. In particular, we seek to hire a clinical psychologist with a research agenda emphasizing biological bases of psychopathology.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation’s leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university’s mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Position
The ideal candidate for this position is a committed teacher-scholar who brings empirical research to life for students in classrooms, labs, and individually mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of the department, with their teaching focused on clinical psychology classes. They mentor and advise students, publish empirical research on the biological bases of psychopathology, and serve on department, college, and university committees. The ideal candidate is committed to mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds and to involving students in an active research program. They are also committed to participation in the life and development of the department-including regularly serving on committees- and participation in the broader university and disciplinary communities. The Department of Psychology and CSUF have a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of inclusive excellence. Individuals advancing the University’s strategic goals and those from groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding are strongly encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or doctorate in a related field such as psychiatry. ABDs may apply but are expected to complete their degree by the appointment date.
• Program of clinically relevant research, with an emphasis on biological foundations of psychopathology.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to publishing empirical research in high-quality, peer-reviewed outlets.
• Demonstrated potential in obtaining external funding as a principal investigator.
• Demonstrated interest in teaching core courses in the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology curriculum ( https://psychology.fullerton.edu/academics/graduate/ms-program.html ) and clinically relevant undergraduate classes such as Psychological Disorders, Psychopharmacology, and Survey of Clinical Psychology.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to excellence in teaching and mentorship.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment through activities in research, teaching, mentorship, and/or service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a strong research program that involves both undergraduate and graduate students.
• Has served as the principal investigator in an external grant.
• Licensed or license-eligible as a Psychologist in California.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html , choose full-time faculty, search for the position 561700, and provide the following required materials:

• Cover letter in which you respond to the required and preferred qualifications.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Transcripts from highest degree earned (Unofficial transcripts to be accepted during application process. Official transcripts required upon start of appointment if selected).
• Research statement (1500 words maximum) in which you describe your research program, its most impactful outcomes thus far, and how student mentorship will be incorporated.
• Teaching statement (1500 words maximum) including teaching philosophy and ways in which you incorporate mentorship as part of the teaching role; 1-2 exemplar syllabi. All submitted as a single PDF.
• Statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (500 words maximum).
  • Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).
  • With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about the applicant’s perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, religions, and sexual orientations.
  • Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.
  • Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
  • Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
  • Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment.
  • Your experience integrating creative activities that are inclusive of the identities of our student body and communities.

A list of three references with relevant contact information.

• Semi-Finalists must submit three letters of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information on uploading the letter. You can verify that CSUF has received each letter by logging back into your applicant portal.

Semifinalists and/or finalists may be asked to submit additional materials for further consideration (e.g., scholarly articles, portfolio, etc.).
Please direct all questions about the position to: Christine D. Scher, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected] or 657-278-8428, or Jennifer Trevitt, Department Chair, at [email protected] or 657-278-2669.

Application Deadline
To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by 11/1/2026. The anticipated appointment date is August 2027.

The College and Department
The Department of Psychology is one of nineteen departments housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS). We are the largest department in the CSU with over 4,000 majors. We offer the B.A. in Psychology and Master degrees in general experimental and clinical psychology. The department serves a diverse student body, many of whom are involved in one or more student groups, including the Black Student Psychological Association (BSPA) the CSUF Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Psychological Association (CAPISAPA), the Latinx Student Psychological Association (LSPA), the Psychology Department Student Association (PDSA), Psychology Peer Mentors, and the Psychology Association of Graduate Students of Color and Allies (PAGSOCA). Our students bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse experiences into the classroom, making for a dynamic and engaging learning environment.

We currently have 29 tenure-line faculty with a wide range of research interests and expertise. Colleagues who share interests with psychology faculty are found in many other departments including Biology, Public Health, Child and Adolescent Studies, Human Services, Counseling, Linguistics, and African American Studies. The department prides itself on the extent to which faculty are able to combine teaching and research and involve students in research activities.

The department has research space allocated for faculty research. We also have a videotaping room and animal vivarium. Every faculty member is provided with a laptop and has an office docking station connected to a campus network and the Internet. In addition to the department computer laboratory, there are open student computer labs located in several buildings on campus. Finally, limited access to a confocal microscope may be provided.

H&SS is the largest college at CSUF, offering 23 undergraduate degrees, 38 minors, and 15 graduate degrees. Our mission is to educate students to be culturally, globally, socially, historically and environmentally astute, civically responsible alumni able to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Three primary initiatives in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences - CoJET, Passage to the Future, and IBII - showcase our core pillars of civic engagement, social justice, and global awareness. Our faculty-based Collective for Justice, Equity & Transformation (CoJET) , consists of H&SS faculty fellows whose expertise addresses equity, inclusion, justice, community and organizational transformation. Faculty teaching our Passage to the Future courses help position our students for future success by helping them connect H&SS experiences and knowledge to career paths. The Institute of Black Intellectual Innovation (IBII) is a cross-campus and community-minded initiative to institutionalize the support and inclusion of Black people, culture, creative arts, and intellectual history at California State University, Fullerton and throughout Orange County.

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $7,172 to $7,315 per month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work ( https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm ).

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start-up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee-waiver; access to campus child-care; and a defined-benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/ .

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Additional Information
Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

International Candidates
California State University, Fullerton, is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

For tenure-track faculty positions, California State University, Fullerton is currently not sponsoring H-1B applicants subject to the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on September 19, 2025. Individuals in the U.S. who hold a valid lawful nonimmigrant status visa can have a petition filed on their behalf to change their status to H-1B without being subjected to the fee. For example, the fee does not apply to an H-1B petition filed by an individual presently in the U.S. who is an F-1, J-1, or O-1 status holder.

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Notice of Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator .

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the State of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus instruction, as assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently from a business location outside of the United States.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Advertised: Sep 28 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: