Faculty Position in Early Learning and Cognitive Development at UMBC
The Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities (Sherman Center) and the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invite applications from advanced assistant and associate level candidates for a faculty position beginning in August 2020. We seek someone with an active research program and expertise in early learning and cognitive development within families and/or schools in urban communities. The candidate will contribute to the Ph.D. program in Applied Developmental Psychology (ADP) and should be committed to teaching and research mentoring at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and have the potential to attract outside funding. For the first three years, the candidate will have a reduced teaching load in order to advance the work of the Sherman Center, including but not limited to service on its advisory committee and active engagement with its diverse initiatives. (For information about Sherman Center initiatives, see: https://shermancenter.umbc.edu/.) Successful candidates will demonstrate commitment to equity-focused, strengths-based research and pedagogy and exhibit the ability to serve in a leadership role in a diverse, collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. If you have questions about your qualifications or fit for this position, please contact Dr. Mavis Sanders of the Sherman Center (msanders@umbc.edu) or Dr. David Schultz of the Department of Psychology (dschultz@umbc.edu), co-chairs of the Search Committee.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
UMBC is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research University with high research activity (RU/H). It serves over 14,000 graduate and undergraduate students and is located in the Baltimore-Washington corridor near major medical schools and federal research institutes that afford rich opportunities for research collaboration. (See www.umbc.edu/psyc for more information.) UMBC is innovative, interdisciplinary, inclusive, and committed to advancing ground-breaking research. UMBC is consistently cited – most recently by U.S. News & World Report – as one of the best universities for undergraduate teaching, and as a leading innovator in higher education. For the past seven years, it has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Great Place to Work.
The Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities
The Sherman Center is a campus wide, multidisciplinary center focused on improving the educational experiences and outcomes of young learners. Its diverse staff, campus advisory committee, and steering committee represent UMBC’s three Colleges (the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Engineering and Information Technology, and the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences) and reflect its commitment to community engagement and partnerships. The Sherman Center has a strong commitment to children, families, and communities, and to fostering rigorous research that practitioners and policymakers can use to enhance young children’s learning. Partnering with principals, teachers and staff, families, and community members and organizations, the Sherman Center’s overarching goal is to advance data-driven improvements in early childhood classrooms in Baltimore City and other urban centers.
Psychology Department
The Department of Psychology offers graduate programs leading to Ph.D. degrees in Applied Developmental Psychology and Human Services Psychology (including tracks in Clinical Psychology (APA-accredited), Behavioral Medicine, and Community Psychology). It also offers master’s degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The Department of Psychology also offers undergraduate programs of study leading to either a B.A. or B. S. degree, as well as concentrations in human services psychology, biopsychology, developmental psychology, and ethnic and cultural diversity and a certificate in personnel and industrial psychology.
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in psychology, child development, educational psychology, or a related field
- Demonstrated commitment to equity-focused, strengths-based research, pedagogy, and professional practice
- An established research agenda with a strong record of published scholarship in early learning and cognitive development
- Interest and experience in applying for grants
- Teaching and research mentoring experience in higher education
- Experience and/or interest working collaboratively and/or with multi-disciplinary teams
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
UMBC is dedicated to training underrepresented scholars at the undergraduate and graduate levels through the MARC-U Star, Meyerhoff, McNair Scholars, and other scholarly programs. UMBC is especially proud of its student diversity, and we seek to attract an equally diverse applicant pool for this position as part of our strong commitment to increasing faculty diversity. We encourage applications from people of color, veterans, women, and individuals with disabilities and candidates who demonstrate experience in and commitment to fostering equity and justice in research, leadership, teaching, mentorship, and service. Information on faculty diversity initiatives is available at http://facultydiversity.umbc.edu. Resources to promote work-life balance for our faculty are available at http://hr.umbc.edu/work-life-balance/.
Application Submission
Applicants should provide: (a) a cover letter, (b) a curriculum vitae, (c) a description of teaching and research accomplishments and interests, (d) a description of commitment to equity, justice, and inclusive excellence in research, leadership, teaching, mentorship, and service, (e) two representative publications, and (f) three letters of recommendation (sent directly by recommenders). Please submit all application materials via Interfolio at the following link: https://apply.interfolio.com/66339.
Please address any inquiries about the application process to Arianne Burroughs (410-455-2614 or aburroug@umbc.edu). Questions regarding the position can be directed to Dr. Mavis Sanders/Sherman Center (msanders@umbc.edu) and Dr. David Schultz/Psychology (dschultz@umbc.edu), Co-Chairs of the Search Committee. Review of applications will begin October 14, 2019 and will continue until the position is filled.