The Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks an innovative researcher for a tenure-track assistant professor position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027.

We seek a researcher whose work combines the following two elements. First, the research addresses substantive theoretical questions concerning how people understand, reason about, and interact with other people and social environments, broadly construed. This may include, for example, research on how people reason about the beliefs, knowledge, intentions, and capabilities they attribute to other agents; perceive intentions and social interactions from visual scenes; form and revise inferences about other minds, including how these capacities develop; reason about moral actions and judgments; solve problems in groups. Relevant work may be situated within social cognition, judgment and decision making, developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, or neighboring areas. We are particularly interested in approaches that can be applied to naturalistic data. Second, the research uses quantitative methods and/or computational modeling to develop and test theories of social reasoning and behavior. The position is intended for researchers whose primary emphasis is theoretical and quantitative.

The successful candidate will build an independent research program while contributing to teaching, mentoring, and service. Learn more about our department and the university at: Department of Cognitive Sciences' website.

For full consideration, applications must be completed by November 15, 2026. Priority will be given to applications received by this date, but we will continue reviewing qualified candidates until the position is filled.

Interested candidates can find specific application requirements and the online application at: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10411