The Psychology & Child Development Department
The Psychology & Child Development Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applications for two full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in Developmental Science - one with specialization in middle childhood development and one with specialization in infant and toddler development, to begin approximately August 12, 2027.
Position 1: The Child Development program seeks to recruit a developmental scientist specializing in middle childhood (ages 6–12 years). This hiring area directly supports departmental, college, and university goals to advance research and teaching that address contemporary challenges and opportunities in child development. Middle childhood is a critical period for cognitive, social, and emotional growth, and our program aims to deepen its expertise in this age range to better serve our students, research mission, and community partnerships.
We are particularly interested in candidates whose research addresses salient and evolving contexts of development during middle childhood, including but not limited to:
Use and impacts of technology and media: We are seeking candidates whose research and expertise focuses on the way digital platforms shape children's learning, socialization, and well-being.
Position 2: We are seeking a developmental scientist with expertise in infant and toddler development. Area of specialization within this developmental period is open. The faculty member would contribute to faculty and student research on children’s learning and development, ensuring the department-affiliated Preschool Learning lab continues to serve as a hub for innovative scholarship and experiential learning.
The ideal candidates will have a strong commitment to teaching excellence, university-level teaching experience, and evidence of professional activity that builds the foundation for a program of research and keeps them abreast of knowledge and developments within their discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with research specialization in child development among marginalized and underserved populations (including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, sexual and/or gender minority populations).
The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in child development (e.g., Infant and Toddler Development, and Early and Middle Childhood Development). The candidate may also teach additional developmental courses (e.g., Children’s Development in Diverse Cultures, Developmental Psychology, Adolescence, Family Psychology), Research Methods, and/or upper-division courses on select topics in child development. New courses within the candidate’s area of specialization may also be proposed.
Salary: Anticipated Hiring Range: $90,276 - $98,244/year, $7,523 - $8,187/month
(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)
Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units per semester, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development.
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, Cal Poly 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. Cal Poly 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.
Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Position 1: Specialization in social identity formation, intergroup cognition, and the psychological impacts of systemic inequities or use and impacts of technology and media.
Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings.
Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment.
Special Conditions
All CSU employees are designated "mandated reporters" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. As a condition of your employment, you will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 and any subsequent amendments.
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.
Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.
For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
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 and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.
About the Department
The Psychology & Child Development department includes 24 tenure-track faculty, over 28 part-time lecturers, 790 undergraduate students and 30 masters students in Psychology and Child Development. The department's website is http://psycd.calpoly.edu
How to Apply
To apply, please visit http://jobs.calpoly.edu/, complete a required online faculty application and apply to Requisition #560194. Please upload the following required materials as part of the electronic application:
Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application.
Cal Poly’s ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.
Projected Start Date: Approximately August 12, 2027
Review Begin Date: 9-15-2026
Applicants with complete files by the Review Begin Date will be given full consideration. Applications received after this date may be considered.
For questions about the position please contact Dr. Linda Lee via email at llee10@calpoly.edu
The California State University is the nation's largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 450,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are people of color, and nearly one-third of them are first-generation college students.
Because the CSU's 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly.
The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 127,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU.
Learn more at https://www.calstate.edu/
