Human Resources

The Lake Forest College Department of Psychology invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of Psychology to begin August 2023.  We seek a Ph.D. level experimental scientist (or ABD status with Ph.D. completed by the start date) with expertise in the biological foundations of psychology, broadly construed. Possible areas of specialization include biological psychology, physiological psychology, health psychology, behavioral genetics, cognitive neuroscience, or related fields. 

 Candidates should have broad training in psychology, demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level, and evidence of scholarly productivity commensurate with experience. Applicants should expect to teach three undergraduate courses per semester (i.e., a 3:3 load). Candidates should expect to contribute to fundamental courses, including Research Methods and Statistics I & II (with lab) and Intro to Psychological Science Lab. Candidates also will teach courses in their area of expertise (e.g., a new biological/physiological psychology course; a new senior seminar; and 1-2 of our other course offerings). Most of these courses draw students from and meet requirements for both the psychology and the neuroscience majors.  

 Our curriculum is focused on psychological science, with heavy emphasis on research design, analysis, and interpretation of research, and is designed to strengthen scientific inquiry and critical thinking skills. We attract high quality students: our seniors routinely score in the top 10-15% nationally on the Psychology Major Field Test and 59% of our students have gone on to graduate school over the last 20 years. We place high value on faculty-student interactions both in the classroom and in the laboratory. An ideal candidate will demonstrate a clear understanding of teaching and research at a liberal arts institution.    

 At Lake Forest College, the quality of a faculty member’s teaching is the most important criterion for evaluation, but an active research program also is important. Candidates will be expected to develop an active research program leading to publication with undergraduates in peer-reviewed journals. Lab space in a new science center and research start-up funds will be provided. Importantly, an ideal candidate must show how their research can be successful within the constraints of a small, liberal arts college.  Candidates who pass third-year review will earn a half-year sabbatical at full pay in preparation for tenure review.  

 A highly selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest College enrolls approximately 1,700 students from more than 40 states and from more than 100 countries. Lake Forest is one of the most diverse small colleges in the Midwest with nearly 40% of our student body comprised of domestic students of color and international students. The majority of our STEM pool is female and also includes a significant number of first generation and traditionally underrepresented students. Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Lake Forest College has been recognized as a top college by U.S. News & World Report, including #2 in the nation for Social Mobility and #16 as a Best Value College. Princeton Review ranks the College #4 for best science lab facilities, among other top distinctions.  

 In a single PDF, please send the following: 1) a cover letter that describes your motivation for applying to Lake Forest College and explains how a liberal arts environment dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion aligns with your teaching philosophy, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) teaching statement, 4) research statement, 5) sample syllabi and evidence of teaching effectiveness, and 6) representative (p)reprints. All application materials and three letters of reference should be sent to the Search Chair, Prof. Matthew Kelley at this email address: psychsearch2023@lakeforest.edu.     

 Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but must be received by January 4, 2023, to be assured full consideration.