Tenure Track Position in Cognitive Decision Science/Complex Social Dynamics, Department of Social and Decision Sciences

Description

Tenure track Assistant Professor position (starting Fall 2026). The Department of Social & Decision Science (SDS) seeks candidates with research in one of the following areas:

• Cognitive Decision Science: candidates who use computational modeling to illuminate fundamental questions about representation and cognitive operations in higher order cognition.

• Complex Social Dynamics: candidates who use mathematical or computational modeling along with empirical data to address transdisciplinary questions about decision making in complex social systems

Candidates should have a PhD by the start of the appointment.  The successful candidate will teach in our undergraduate and graduate programs. 

The Department of Social & Decision Science and Carnegie Mellon University has been at the forefront of computational social science and behavioral decision research for over seventy years and hosts a renowned faculty.  In addition to PhD programs in Behavioral Decision Research, Cognitive Decision Science, Autonomous & Human Decision Making, and Behavioral Economics, SDS offers unique undergraduate majors in Decision Science, Behavioral Economics, and Policy & Management. The newly formed Institute for Complex Social Dynamics brings together researchers in this area from across campus. CMU also houses other interdisciplinary centers including the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making and the Center for Behavioral and Decision Research.

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university of approximately 14,000 students that offers unmatched opportunities for interdisciplinary work.

Application review will begin on October 15, 2025. Applicants should submit:

• CV

• Research Statement (3-4 pages)

• Teaching Statement (1-2 pages)

• At least 1 and up to 3 papers or manuscripts  

• 3 letters of reference

The teaching statement should present your approach to teaching and mentoring, explain your ability to teach and mentor students from a broad range of backgrounds, and describe the courses you have taught or would like to teach as well as any previous mentoring experience.  SDS is committed to providing excellent undergraduate and doctoral teaching and recognizes that many new faculty do not have previous teaching experience. CMU is home to the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation which provides paramount pedagogical resources for faculty of all levels.

To apply, please see: https://apply.interfolio.com/168910. Questions can be addressed to Russell Golman, rgolman@andrew.cmu.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Carnegie Mellon University is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related condition, family status, marital status, parental status, religion, ancestry, veteran status, or genetic information.  Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. Consistent with this commitment, Carnegie Mellon will no longer be requiring or considering applicant diversity statements. If you are interested in this position and have not yet submitted a diversity statement, please do not do so. If you have already submitted a diversity statement, please know that any diversity statements submitted by applicants for this opportunity will not be considered in the hiring decision.