Assistant Research Professor

USC Rossier School of Education

Research Assistant Professor (non-tenure track)

Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education

The USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (USC CANDLE) is seeking applicants for a non-tenure track Research Assistant Professor. 

To date, what is happening in the brain has not been firmly connected to what is happening in the classroom. The mission of USC CANDLE is to bring educational innovation and developmental affective neuroscience into partnership, and to use what is learned to guide the transformation of schools, policy, and the student and teacher experience for a healthier and more equitable society. By inventing new study methods and launching a transdisciplinary conversation about the goals and processes of education in the modern era, USC CANDLE integrates research in schools and laboratory settings, leveraging the expertise of both practitioners and scientists. 

The position will involve contributing to USC CANDLE’s transdisciplinary research studies relating how adolescents and teachers think and feel to their brain function and development, physiological regulation, health, and well-being. This work will involve designing, conducting, and analyzing data from synergistic field and laboratory studies, which document live teaching and learning while simultaneously capturing physiological data, and measure brain activities during authentic learning and teaching activities. The position will also involve preparing reports, publications, and presentations to communicate scientific findings to the academic community as well as the public, including especially educators and education policy makers. Additional key responsibilities include pursuing external funding and mentoring/leading junior members on the research team and managing IRB protocols. 

A doctoral degree in cognitive/social/affective neuroscience, developmental psychology, education, or a related field is required, in addition to a developing record of relevant publications and a focus on adolescence. Depending on their specialty, experience with collecting and analyzing data from real-life settings (such as high school classrooms) would be desirable, as would experience with and knowledge of psychophysiological and fMRI experiment design, data acquisition and analysis, statistical and programming skills, and experience relating qualitative analyses of natural behavior to neurophysiological dynamics using wearable sensors. Experience working with interdisciplinary teams, with youth, and with schools, especially those serving low-SES minority populations, would be an asset.

Applicants should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, example of a recent publication (e.g., journal manuscript, report), and the names and email addresses for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The position is anticipated to begin as soon as June 15, 2025.

The annual base salary for this position is between $100,000-$110,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC CANDLE is a center of the USC Rossier School of Education and housed at the Brain and Creativity Institute.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.