Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship (PPF) Position in Psychology and Law

Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship (PPF) Position in Psychology and Law

For this Fellowship, we are recruiting a scholar in psychology. The area of specialization is open within psychological science applied to law or the legal system. The scholar will be supported by a mentoring team (drawn from Drs. Melanie Fessinger, Karey O'Hara, Cortney Simmons, and Laura Smalarz) and embedded in the lab of a primary mentor selected based on the scholar's research interests. The team may also include an additional content-area mentor from other psychology and law faculty, as appropriate.

The Fellow will be a core member of ASU’s Law and Behavioral Science group, an interdisciplinary collective of psychological scientists engaged in research that addresses current and emerging issues facing the legal system in its broadest sense. The group has expertise in varied areas, including but not limited to criminal, civil, juvenile, and family law. Information about our Law and Behavioral Science group—including faculty, research labs, academic programs, and events—can be found at https://lbs.asu.edu/. Additionally, the Fellow will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty across ASU, including colleagues in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Psychology, and other behavioral science units. These collaborations will support the continued development of interdisciplinary academic programs and initiatives in law and psychology.

About the School:
SIF bridges science, law, and justice, offering a unique approach to forensic research and education. The School has strengths in the psychological sciences (including social, clinical, and developmental psychology), the natural sciences (including anthropology, biology, chemistry, entomology, and genetics), and information technology (including cybersecurity and digital forensics). We integrate a wide array of disciplines, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of science and technology in the legal system. With a focus on real-world applications and ethical considerations, SIF prepares students for careers that require scientific and technical expertise and a commitment to improving the administration of justice.
 
About the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences:
At ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, we take pride in breaking down disciplinary barriers, cultivating an environment where innovative research flourishes. Our faculty and researchers are not just educators; they are trailblazers in their fields, consistently expanding the frontiers of knowledge. We invite you to join this dynamic community, where you will lead and engage in pioneering projects that redefine academic excellence.

Our interdisciplinary approach offers you unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. By joining our faculty, you’re not just advancing your career; you’re shaping the future of education and research in meaningful ways. You’ll be empowered to innovate and address complex global challenges, all while preparing the next generation of leaders. We are committed to supporting and guiding you throughout your academic journey, ensuring that your contributions are impactful and transformative. For more information visit us at https://newcollege.asu.edu/. 

New College is located on ASU’s West Valley campus, blending a liberal arts and science education with 21st-century workforce preparation and a learning hub for students of all ages and backgrounds supporting the rapid growth of its surrounding 14 communities. Integrating modern amenities with the natural beauty of outdoor spaces, the West Valley campus offers over 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across business, engineering, education, and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. 

About Arizona State University: 
Arizona State University, ranked the No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 12 years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Year after year, ASU ranks at or near the top of the list in areas that matter. ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations. To learn more about ASU, visit http://www.asu.edu. 

 All we do at ASU is guided and inspired by the ASU Charter, which reads: 
ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

Successful candidates will demonstrate throughout their materials how their teaching and service, and, for tenured or tenure-eligible appointments, their teaching, research, and service, will contribute to the fulfillment of this charter.

About the PPF Program
The Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship is a prestigious faculty development program. The postdoctoral scholars selected will join a strong cohort of other postdoctoral scholars at ASU. The goal of the program is to support the career development of outstanding Ph.D. recipients with great potential for advancing the ASU Charter into a future tenure track appointment at ASU. 

The program seeks applicants whose professional preparedness, experience, and accomplishments are aligned with the ASU Charter. Applicants who can demonstrate, through prior actions and achievements, intentional and actioned commitment to inclusive excellence are ideal candidates for this postdoctoral fellowship program.

The School of Interdisciplinary Forensics has committed to providing individualized mentorship and career development to ensure each candidate is well prepared to succeed in a future tenure track appointment. Career development and community building will also occur through programmatic support through the Office of Inclusive Excellence and the ASU Graduate College’s Postdoctoral Affairs Office.

This position is located at Arizona State University at the West Valley Campus. All postdoctoral fellowship positions are funded for two years on an annual contract basis and include relocation costs in addition to yearly professional development funds to support scholar research, conference attendance and other professional development activities. 

Options for an additional year of funding or a transition to a tenure track position may be offered, depending on the fellow’s progress, training needs, and department funding capacity. The scholar will complete a document of expectations with their unit to help guide their work and monitor progress for both the scholar and their units. Transition to faculty tenure track appointments will require a process of review within the designated tenure home unit.  

 Essential Functions of the position: 
Successful candidates will engage in scholarly research and may be also asked to perform duties common to academic personnel, including grant writing and limited but focused teaching and service in order to devote as much time to developing a strong program of research. 
Qualifications and Characteristics

Required Qualifications:
A doctoral degree in psychology or related field by the time of appointment, conferred no more than five years before the start date.

Desired Qualifications:
•    Demonstrated interest in conducting research with applications to the law or legal system, broadly defined
•    A record of research and scholarship that demonstrates an ability to conduct psychological research that is publishable in high-quality academic journals
•    Evidence of activities consistent with the ASU Charter and Design Aspirations
•    Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in research
•    Experience conducting advanced quantitative statistical analyses 
•    Demonstrated interest in pursuing an externally funded research program
•    Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with students from a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, including first-generation college students
•    Demonstrated interest in bridging basic research with practical implications for the law, policy, or legal practices
•    Evidence of excellent organizational and communication skills

Application Deadline:
The initial application deadline is December 13, 2026 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. A background check and official transcripts are required prior to employment. For assistance with your application, or for position-related questions, contact Kristin Warriner at Kristin.Warriner@asu.edu. 

Application Procedure:
Only electronic submissions via Interfolio will be reviewed. All required materials must be submitted at the time of initial application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please submit all application materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/194241. 
 
Applications must contain:
•    A one- to two-page cover letter that addresses the required and desired qualifications, and explains how the applicant’s experience will complement existing expertise in the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics and advance the University Charter;
•    Curriculum vitae with the applicant’s contact information, including telephone number and e-mail address;
•    A two- to three-page statement that describes your research and future research plans;
•    up to three representative publications (either published or unpublished);
•    Contact information for three professional references (including their positions, titles, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers); one reference must be from the applicant’s current employer.

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. (See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. (See ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which is available online at https://cfo.asu.edu/campuscrime.)