Assistant or Associate Professor (Relationship Science) in the UCLA Department of Psychology

The UCLA Department of Psychology seeks to hire a full-time tenure-track Assistant or early Associate  Professor pursuing innovative research on interpersonal relationships, at any phase of the lifespan from  infancy through adulthood. Relevant interpersonal contexts may include the family (parent-child and sibling relationships), intimate partners, friends, peers, co-workers, strangers, and so on. Possible areas of specialization include, but are not limited to: understanding the development, maintenance,  longevity, or consequences of interpersonal relationships; emotional processes in relationships; articulating how interpersonal contexts affect processes of learning, memory, and perception;  evaluating interventions designed to improve interpersonal functioning; explaining change in  relationships across the lifespan and at specific developmental stages; and identifying links between  interpersonal relationships and emotional and physical well-being. Applications are encouraged from  scholars whose research addresses interpersonal relationships among people from historically excluded  groups, including sexual and gender minorities. Candidates should add to the Department’s existing  strengths in relationship science, and preference will be given to individuals whose areas of focus have broad application and connection to ongoing research throughout the Department. Potential applicants  who have questions about how their specialization aligns with the position can inquire to Prof. Benjamin  Karney, search committee chair, at SearchCommittee@psych.ucla.edu.  

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Psychology or related field no later than one year after hire. Applicants  should demonstrate a strong track record of or potential for productive and impactful research relative  to their career stage, with a substantive focus on interpersonal relationships. In addition to an  outstanding record of research and potential for extramural research support, the successful candidate  will demonstrate a history of, or the potential for, contributing to the teaching, mentoring, and service  missions of the Department and University, and the candidate should have a demonstrated interest in  collaboration with researchers in psychology and the social/behavioral sciences. Applicants with a  history of commitment to mentoring students from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged  to apply. 

UCLA Psychology has been an internationally recognized hub for relationship science since the field took  shape. Faculty across areas of the department (including Developmental, Social, Clinical, and Health)  and across the campus (including Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, Public Health, the School of  Medicine, and the Anderson School of Management) focus on interpersonal relationships and their  implications for well-being, pursuing both the basic science and translational science (i.e., applications to  intervention and policy).  

We strongly encourage applications from women, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic  groups, and other individuals who are underrepresented in the field, across color, creed, race, ethnic  and national origin, physical ability, gender and sexual identity, or any other legally protected basis.  UCLA offers a diverse campus community and is a leader in advancing strategies to diversify its faculty.  This includes recent initiatives such as Rising to the Challenge, Hispanic-Serving Institution initiative, and  Native American/Pacific Islander Bruins Rising. UCLA has programs to assist in partner employment,  childcare, schooling, and other family concerns. For additional information, visit the UCLA Academic  Personnel Office website (https://apo.ucla.edu/faculty-career-development/work-life-balance) or the 

UC Office of the President’s website (https://www.ucop.edu/faculty-diversity/policies-guidelines/family friendly-practices-and-policies/index.html and https://www.ucop.edu/faculty-diversity/policies guidelines/index.html). 

Review of applications will begin as soon as they are received and will continue until the position is  closed. Candidates are urged to apply by or before October 8, 2022. Applications should include a cover  letter, curriculum vitae, contact information for three recommenders, three relevant publications, and  three personal statements, each of no more than three pages. Letters of recommendation will be  requested at a later date from applicants who progress to a later stage of review. UCLA and the UCLA  Department of Psychology are firmly committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).  Therefore, in addition to research and teaching statements, applicants should submit with their  application a statement that addresses their past efforts, as well as future plans, to advance EDI in their  scholarship, teaching, and service. Applicants should indicate their history of commitment to mentoring  students from underrepresented groups in their cover letter or EDI statement. Additional information  about the EDI statement is available at the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion website  (https://ucla.app.box.com/v/edi-statement-faqs). Requests for information should be sent to the search  committee chair at SearchCommittee@psych.ucla.edu.  

Apply at the following website: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF07802 

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the  advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic  excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and  learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, bullying and other  demeaning behavior, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. With this commitment as well as a  commitment to addressing all forms of academic misconduct, UCLA conducts targeted employment  reference checks for finalists to whom departments or other hiring units would like to extend formal  offers of appointment into Academic Senate faculty positions. The targeted employment reference  checks involve contacting the finalists’ current and prior places of employment to ask whether there  have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University’s Faculty Code of  Conduct. To implement this process, UCLA requires all applicants for Academic Senate faculty positions  to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” into RECRUIT as  part of their application. If the applicant does not include the signed authorization to release  information with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete. As with any  incomplete application, the application will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for  faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists (i.e., those to whom the  department or other hiring unit would like to extend a formal offer) considered for Academic Senate  faculty positions will be subject to targeted employment reference checks.  

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide  proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption,  Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable  deadline. New University of California employees must (a) provide proof of receiving at least one dose of 

a COVID-19 Vaccine no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment and provide  proof of Full Vaccination no later than eight weeks after their first date of employment; or (b) if  applicable, submit a request for Exception or Deferral no later than 14 calendar days after their first date  of employment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local  public health directives may impose additional requirements.  

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction).

Tori Pena