Assistant or Associate Research Professor – Child and Adolescent Psychology

Position Summary

The Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at the University of Denver (DU) seeks an Assistant or Associate rank professor (Research Track) to lead and expand research initiatives focused on child and adolescent mental health.

The Research Faculty will lead projects addressing child and adolescent mental health. The role includes building partnerships, developing and administering projects, mentoring graduate students, and contributing to GSPP’s mission through impactful applied research and dissemination. This position reports to the Associate Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs. This position also collaborates closely with the Director of the Caring for YoU and Baby (CUB) Clinic, GSPP faculty with expertise in child and adolescent psychology, the Associate Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs, and other faculty to ensure that externally funded projects align with the strategic priorities and capacities of GSPP academic programs.

This position is a 12-month research-track appointment. The Research Professorial Series does not necessarily imply a remunerative relationship with the University. Candidates for this role are expected to be fully funded from external sources. Depending on what funding is available, the position may be full-time benefited, part-time benefited, or part-time non-benefited. Appointments are subject to the availability of external funding and may terminate due to the lack of external funding. The generation of adequate external funds is the responsibility of this faculty member. The individual must pursue a portfolio of externally funded projects that advance GSPP’s scholarship, reputation, and community impact.

About the University of Denver & GSPP

The University of Denver is a top-ranked private university located at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) was founded in 1976 and offers doctoral and master’s programs that integrate applied practice, theory, research, and scholarship. GSPP emphasizes culturally informed services and inclusive excellence, fostering innovation and collaboration in mental health education and research.

Essential Functions

• Serve as Principal Investigator and/or in a supportive role on externally funded projects.
• Secure and maintain external funding aligned with the strategic applied research priorities and capacities of GSPP academic programs and GSPP Clinical Services.
• Develop and lead a robust applied research program focused on child and adolescent mental health.
• Mentor graduate students and supervise staff tied to externally funded projects.
• Publish and disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
• Build and maintain interdisciplinary collaborations within DU and with external partners.
• Provide reasonable service as faculty (up to 10% of appointment) to the GSPP program(s) under which the external funding is aligned, currently the PsyD program.

Appointment, tenure, and promotion for this role will be governed by the University of Denver's Policies and Procedures Relating to Faculty Appointment, Promotion & Tenure. This position will be filled at the Assistant or Associate Professor level and will be appointed at the rank appropriate for the candidates documented experience and excellence in the field:

• Assistant Professors will be candidates in the first two to seven years of experience post-doctorate with strong, documented potential for excellence in research, including initiating projects to begin a research program.

• Associate Professors will be candidates who are mid-career scholars with a strong, documented record of excellence in maintaining and expanding a strong research program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in child and adolescent mental health research.
• Advanced skills in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research design.
• Ability to secure and manage external funding from federal and private sources.
• Strong leadership and team management skills in inclusive settings.
• Exceptional administrative and financial management skills.
• Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PsyD, PhD or equivalent) in psychology or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing extensive external funding.
• Extensive, strong record of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly impact.
• Experience mentoring graduate students and supervising research staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Licensed as a psychologist in Colorado.
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Track record of externally funded research projects.
• Expertise in community-engaged research and program evaluation.
• Experience with clinically applied research

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, clinical supervision needs, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 10, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:

Salary and FTE for this position may vary depending on available funding. The 12-month full-time equivalent salary range for this position is $93,600 - $138,000. If available funding is equal to or greater than 0.5 FTE, the position will include benefits.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Contact information for three professional references

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.