Assistant or Associate Professor of Psychology

This full-time, on-campus, in-person faculty position is a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor role beginning August 2027. The position is part of a broader strategic initiative to build a nationally recognized research program focused on health and well-being.

About the Role

Primary consideration will be given to candidates who have completed a Ph.D. in any area of Psychology. We are particularly interested in health psychology research focused on addiction science, digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), intervention/implementation science, aging, behavioral science/medicine, or biomedical approaches. Applicants must complement and extend the existing strengths of the department and institutes, collaborate across the department and university, and help shape the future of health psychology at TCU.

Applicants must have a well-developed funding trajectory aligned with external funding mechanisms (NIH, NSF, DoD, state, or foundation money). At the Associate level, the candidate must have active, transferable funding and/or Notice of Award (NOA) and strong potential for continued support.

Responsibilities

• Teach relevant undergraduate and graduate coursework in their area of expertise.
• Maintain an active, externally-funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students.
• Collaborate with other faculty members within and external to TCU.
• Provide service to the college and university.

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join TCU at a time of substantial institutional investment in research, as the university advances its national R1 agenda through the LEAD ON: Values in Action strategic plan by expanding research funding, infrastructure, scholarly productivity, and opportunities for graduate and undergraduate researchers.

Within the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering, the Department of Psychology offers a research-intensive environment with dedicated faculty laboratories, shared and specialized facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with undergraduate students, graduate research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty across a range of psychological disciplines.

• Faculty may compete for TCU Invests in Scholarship (TCU IS) awards of up to $20,000 to generate preliminary data, support student researchers, and strengthen proposals for significant external funding.
• TCU’s LEAP FORWARD program offers interdisciplinary teams seed awards of up to $75,000 to develop ambitious collaborative projects likely to lead to external funding.

The university provides support for identifying funding opportunities, developing and submitting proposals, navigating research compliance, and building collaborations across TCU and with external institutions, agencies, industry partners, and community organizations. A competitive start-up package will be offered to allow the successful applicant to engage in productive research.

Teaching

The Department of Psychology is committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. The standard teaching load is 1-2 courses per semester. Faculty are expected to teach at least one undergraduate course per year, with teaching assignments determined by the faculty member's expertise and departmental needs.

TCU's undergraduate students are highly engaged and frequently seek opportunities to participate in faculty research laboratories. Teaching is supported by graduate and/or undergraduate teaching assistants, and the Koehler Center for Teaching Excellence provides resources for course design, pedagogy, and professional development.

Department Details

The Department of Psychology at TCU utilizes the teacher-scholar model to understand and study behavior, and the biological underpinnings of behavior, in both humans and non-human animals. Teaching is central to the department’s mission; faculty are passionate about teaching and highly trained in their area of specialty.

The department offers majors in Psychology (BA, BS), Neuroscience (BS), and Child Development (BA, BS), along with a graduate (PhD) program. Research plays a major role in the professional life of tenure-track faculty, and it is expected that graduate and undergraduate students will be trained in the process of scientific inquiry.

Faculty have access to a variety of research lab-related equipment, and considerable collegiality and sharing of equipment and expertise. The department’s curriculum and faculty-related policies are developed with consultation of the full faculty, emphasizing teamwork and respect for all contributions to student success.

School/College Description

The Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering encompasses 9 departments (Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental and Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Nutritional Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychology) as well as the Ranch Management Program. The college is home to the Pre-Health Professions Institute, the Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development, the Institute of Behavioral Research, the Institute for Environmental Studies, Monnig Meteorite Gallery, and the Institute for Ranch Management.

Davis College is the second largest at TCU in terms of both undergraduate enrollment and number of majors, with a disproportionate percentage of high-achieving students. Research opportunities abound for undergraduates, with 46 percent of majors engaging in substantive research experiences under faculty mentorship. The college also offers five doctoral programs and 16 master’s programs, as well as two graduate certificate programs.

About TCU

Founded in 1873, Texas Christian University is a world-class, private, Carnegie-classified national research university located in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU consistently ranks among the top universities and colleges in the United States, inspired by its mission and core values of integrity, engagement, community, and excellence.

The campus spans 302 acres in a primarily residential area just minutes from downtown. The university comprises nine schools and colleges offering 117 areas of undergraduate study, 62 master’s level programs, and 37 areas of doctoral study. Total enrollment stands at 12,980, including 11,152 undergraduates and 1,828 graduate students, supported by over 2,200 faculty and staff.

About Fort Worth

Fort Worth blends the approachable charm of a smaller city with the amenities, cultural energy, and distinctive personality of a major metro. As the nation’s 11th-largest city, Fort Worth has a rapidly growing population of more than 1 million and shares a deep relationship with TCU, spanning over a century. Many Horned Frogs choose to stay after graduation, drawn by the region’s thriving job market.

Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area — the nation’s fourth-largest and a top tourism destination — Fort Worth was ranked No. 4 best big city to live in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in 2025. The city offers an impressive array of cultural, educational, and entertainment opportunities, including three world-class art museums (Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and Amon Carter Museum of American Art), Bass Performance Hall, and venues like Sundance Square, Dickies Arena, Panther Island, and Near Southside.