Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience

We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

Located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on Vancouver Island (near Vancouver and Seattle), the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level in Cognitive Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience. The position begins on 1 July 2027.  The extant core faculty members in the Cognition and Brain Sciences Program share interests in the basic mechanisms that give rise to mental events and productions (e.g., perceptions, actions, memories, beliefs). We are a diverse, closely integrated, and collegial group, and we often work together on collaborative research enterprises. Our faculty are major players in the world of cognitive and brain science, as indicated by grants, journal editorships, leadership positions in large professional organizations, etc. We are very excited about recruiting and supporting the success of a new member of our group.

Salary Range  
The candidate's qualifications, experience and overall market demand will determine a candidate’s final salary offer. The salary for this position includes a competitive salary range of $113,000 – 140,000. UVic is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leaves and pension plan.  

Requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a Ph.D. by the time of the appointment, in an area directly relevant to the exploration and analysis of basic cognitive mechanisms. The appointment will be made at the level of Assistant Professor; we are unable to consider applications from more senior candidates.  Expertise in a methodology that adds to existing departmental expertise is valued; for example, EEG, fNIRS, TMS, motion capture, eye-tracking, virtual reality, or computational modelling. Candidates must have demonstrated excellent research skills, evidenced by publications, grant funding, or otherwise disseminating research findings that have impact, appropriate to their level of experience. Candidates must also present potential for excellence in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels in an environment that supports diverse cultures and perspectives. This position will require teaching courses in both basic and advanced areas of cognitive psychology or cognition and brain sciences. Interest in teaching statistics and methodology courses will also be considered an asset.

We are seeking candidates with the potential to be an active collaborator in the future of our Cognition and Brain Sciences group. Our aim is to build on our strengths and therefore we are seeking applicants whose research interests will complement and extend those of our current faculty and students (e.g., attention, high-level vision, memory, cognitive control, decision making). Duties will include maintaining a successful program of research and scholarship (as evidenced by publications, external grant support, and other impacts), effective teaching and student supervision of a diverse student body at the undergraduate and graduate levels, respectful interactions and collaborations with colleagues, and contributions to the collegiality, reputation, and day-to-day operation of the Program, Department, and University (e.g., collaborative research, curriculum development, committee service).

Additional information

The Department of Psychology offers opportunities for research collaborations with colleagues in the Cognition and Brain Sciences, Lifespan Health and Development, Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Individualized Programs including Environmental Psychology. There are also opportunities to collaborate in multidisciplinary groups such as the University’s Centre for Youth and Society,​ Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and CanAssist.

Faculty and Librarians at the University of Victoria are governed by the provisions of the Collective Agreement. Members are represented by the University of Victoria Faculty Association.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. If you are neither a Canadian citizen nor permanent resident, please indicate if you are authorized to work in Canada or are willing to apply for authorization if offered a position contingent upon eligibility and approval from Canadian government authorities.  

Contact information

How to Apply

Please convert the following application materials into PDF format, and email to the Chair of the search committee Professor Steve Lindsay at slindsay@uvic.ca, copied to the Assistant to the Chair Sheena Macaulay at smacaulay@uvic.ca. As part of your application, please provide each of the following:

• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of your current research program and future research plans
• Copies of 3 representative publications
• Statement of teaching philosophy and experience and, if available, evidence of mentorship and/or teaching effectiveness
• Statement describing your efforts to promote equity and diversity in research, teaching, and/or community work

Please make your statements as succinct as you can while communicating your key points.

 In addition, please arrange to have three letters of reference sent to the same email addresses. Please ask letter writers to include your name in the subject line.

Please note that reference and background checks, including credential and degree verification, may be undertaken as part of this recruitment process. 

Application deadline

Application review will begin on 24 November 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. We hope to hold interviews before the end of the year.                                                          

Equity statement

UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups.   

Read our full equity statement. 

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process are invited to contact Faculty Relations and Academic Administration in the Office of the VP Academic and Provost at FRrecruit@uvic.ca. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.