Faculty Search for Cognitive Neuroscientist and Open Area Position

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Why are you conducting a tenure stream faculty search?

We are replacing a vacancy and expanding Bard's Psychology Program. We have faculty who teach in many of psychology's subfields, but hope to identify new faculty who can add to our expertise, especially in applied domains. Psychology is an expanding field and we are interested in recruiting faculty with commitments to education in a liberal arts setting, research, and supporting students from various backgrounds.

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What areas of interest are you looking for in candidates?

As described in the job ads, we encourage candidates with backgrounds in cognitive neuroscience to apply to one position, while the other position is open area. Cognitive neuroscientists may specialize in a variety of different areas. In particular, for the open area search, we are interested in those candidates who focus their research programs on (a) neurodivergence, (b) culture, or (c) health, broadly construed. However, we welcome applicants with backgrounds in other areas of psychology. All candidates should plan to complement the Psychology Program's existing areas of specialization.

Most importantly, we are looking for candidates who have active research programs that they can carry out at Bard, and in which they want to involve Bard’s undergraduate students.

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Search process timeline

Applications received by October 1, 2024 will receive full consideration; we will review applications as they come in. We anticipate conducting online/telephone interviews shortly after the 10/1 deadline. Candidates who pass an initial screening will be invited to ask references to submit confidential recommendation letters, if they have not already done so. (Letters are not required with the initial application.)

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What are the additional materials required for candidates on the short list?

As with most job listings, we request that candidates submit a cover letter, their curriculum vitae (CV), and separate statements on research and teaching. We encourage those statements to demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) for all candidates. (Candidates may refer to the psychology student handbook for the Psychology Program’s DEI statement, and the website of Bard College's Dean of Inclusive Excellence).

Candidates must also submit contact information for three professional references. Candidates should be prepared to submit three confidential letters of reference. References for candidates advancing beyond the initial review will be contacted directly; letters may be submitted with the application if they are available with the submission.

Optional materials include the following: Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., sample syllabi and/or teaching evaluations); a DEI statement (if this material is not sufficiently covered in the statements on research and teaching). Additionally, we may request that candidates share representative research publications.

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What will an online/telephone interview entail?

Candidates who will be considered for an in-person interview will speak individually with one or more members of the search committee on a video platform (or a phone call) for approximately 30 minutes. All candidates will be asked similar questions. This will also provide candidates with the opportunity to ask questions about the position.

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What will the campus interview entail?

Candidates will meet with the Search Committee, Psychology Program faculty, and the Dean of the College. Meetings may also be held with faculty in programs related to the candidate's area of interest. Interviews will take place over one to two days, depending on travel requirements. Under most circumstances, campus interviews take place in-person during the fall semester. Most applicants will also have meals with the search committee and student members during their interview.

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Accessibility and Covid Safety

Bard is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals. If you have questions relating to the interview process or to what employment at Bard would look like, you may speak with Bard Human Resources, or be in touch with the search chair.

Bard continues to be a mask-friendly campus (see policy); applicants who are invited to visit campus and have concerns relating to Covid-19 should feel free to request more information about accommodations or policies, especially around meetings and meals.

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Who do I contact with more questions?

Please refer to the job posting for contact information for the search chair, Justin Dainer-Best.

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What will I teach if I am hired?

Teaching responsibilities in the Program include Introduction to Psychological Science (taught in rotation by all Program faculty), a course in research methods or statistics (with accompanying lab), and 200-level survey courses and upper-level seminars in the candidates’ areas of specialization. Faculty in psychology also may choose to teach small, half-credit advanced methodology courses (e.g., Research in Cognitive Neuroscience), which give students insight into their research areas. We anticipate that candidates who apply to the position in cognitive neuroscience will teach survey courses relating to cognitive neuroscience, learning & memory, or language, while candidates who apply to the more open position may teach classes relating to cultural psychology, health psychology, abnormal psychology, neurodivergence, and so forth. Current psychology course offerings can be seen through Bard's course catalog.

Additionally, all faculty at Bard supervise Senior Projects. These year-long Senior Projects are distributed across the faculty in Psychology.

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What is the course load?

The standard course load at Bard is 3:2 (i.e., a total of five courses are taught over the academic year), although this is reduced in the first year for faculty hired as part of this search to 2:2.

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What is First-Year Seminar?

First-Year Seminar is a two-semester course taken by all first-year students at Bard. Its goal is to create a basis for shared conversation among first-year students and build foundational skills for success in college: attentive close reading of challenging texts; respectful and inclusive dialogue with others; the ability to ask profound and interesting questions about readings; and developing an academic voice through writing. During the First-Year Seminar, students develop a clearer sense of their own intellectual goals and priorities, which will inform their work during the rest of their time at Bard. A shared reading list addresses a specific theme for the year; recent themes include “What Is Freedom? Dialogues Ancient and Modern” and “What Is Enlightenment? The Science, Culture, and Politics of Reason.” Teaching in FYSEM is optional, although faculty across disciplines, including in the sciences, have been involved in it. As faculty receive one teaching credit for each FYSEM section they teach (and one course release for every two sections they complete teaching), interested individuals would work with the Program Director to ensure that participation and timing of the release do not destabilize the overall curriculum.

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What is Moderation?

The Moderation is a significant feature of bard's education program. It is a crucial point in the individual student's career at Bard at which, with the help of faculty, the student assesses their academic record and plans a future course of study. During a traditional path through Bard, students Moderate at the end of their sophomore year. Successful Moderation assures promotion to the Upper College. More information about Moderation can be found here and here.

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Students and class sizes

Approximately 300 of the 1800 (or 17%) of undergraduates take a psychology course each semester. 100- and 200- level classes, including Introduction to Psychological Science, are limited to 22 students. Upper-level seminars are usually capped at 12. Advanced Methodology (i.e., research lab) courses are usually capped at 6.

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What are the research expectations in the Program?

Faculty are expected to lead their own research projects, and encouraged to involve undergraduate students in those projects. Externally-funded post-bac research assistants or post-docs are possible. Faculty are provided with generous start-up funds to establish their labs and operate them for the first three years of the tenure track. Start-up packages will vary based on the needs of research programs. Internal funding sources such as the Bard Research Fund can be helpful as faculty continue in their roles at Bard

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How is the faculty research funded?

Many incidental expenses such as office supplies or phone calls are covered by the College for all faculty. The Bard Research Fund can help fund larger projects. A “Research & Travel” fund provides $2000 per calendar year to attend conferences or do other research-related activities. The Psychology Program’s budget also supports research assistants (e.g., work study or student labor) and can be used to purchase equipment or software. Finally, the Office of Institutional Support can help faculty apply for external awards.

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How do students get involved in research?

During the academic year, students may participate in research through Advanced Methodology courses or by volunteering in faculty labs. Other students may work through work/study programs in faculty labs. For summer support, faculty may participate in the Bard Summer Research Initiative (BSRI), where students work for approximately 8 weeks in faculty labs across the Sciences. This initiative is funded by the Dean’s office.

Many faculty in Psychology have their own labs; you can view links to the current labs on our website.

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Overview of Service and Mentoring

Service opportunities exist at the Programmatic, Divisional (i.e., the Division of Science, Mathematics, and Computing), and College levels. Faculty are expected to participate in at least one level of service each year (and are evaluated for tenure and promotion across all these levels). Assignments to the various committees and other service opportunities take place in consultation with the Psychology Program Director and the Divisional Chair, as well as with the Dean of the College.

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Advising

Faculty advise students about various aspects of their academic paths, including course selection, research, and cocurricular activities, as well as topics of Senior Projects. Career planning support is in collaboration with the Career Development Office.

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What does service to the Program entail?

Program service includes activities such as organizing colloquium speakers, planning program events (e.g., a lunch for graduating seniors), and serving as faculty advisor for Psi Chi or the Psychology Student Club.

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College Service

Committee assignments are made in consultation with the Psychology Program director and the Divisional Chair, as well as with the Dean of the College. Service may not be expected in the first year of appointment, but is a part of faculty life at Bard or other liberal arts colleges.

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What employee benefits does Bard offer faculty members?

Please see the Bard Human Resources Benefits page. Benefits include competitive retirement contributions, health/dental/life insurance, tuition benefits, parental leave, and an Employee Assistance Program.

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Who are the current psychology faculty?

There are seven full-time Bard faculty in Psychology. Our research covers areas relating to development, cognition and neurosciences, mental health, and social behavior.

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What are Annandale-on-Hudson, Red Hook, and the surrounding Hudson Valley like?

Those interested in learning about the Hudson Valley may read an excerpt from Hudson Valley magazine about Red Hook. Bard is located in a hamlet called Annandale-on-Hudson, where the Catskill mountains are visible across the Hudson River. This is an area where many from New York City vacation, while being far enough from the city to maintain its own charm. Faculty tend to live in nearby towns of Red Hook, Tivoli, or Rhinebeck, or across the Hudson in Kingston. Others live farther north (e.g., in Hudson or Albany) or south (e.g., in Hyde Park or Poughkeepsie). 

The College is situated on the sacred homelands of the Munsee and Muhheaconneok people, and has developed both a land acknowledgment in cooperation with the Stockbridge-Munsee community as well as several initiatives for acknowledging and rethinking relationships to Native peoples. You can read more about the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee here.

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Links for visiting, moving to, and living in the area

Directions to Bard College Annandale Campus: https://www.bard.edu/visiting/directions/
Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce: https://www.dcrcoc.org/
Dutchess County Tourism: https://dutchesstourism.com/
Columbia County Chamber of Commerce: https://columbiachamber-ny.com/
Columbia County Tourism: https://columbiacountytourism.org/
Ulster County Chamber of Commerce: https://www.ulsterchamber.org/
Ulster County Tourism: https://visitulstercountyny.com/