Neuroscience Research Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Position overview
Position titles:

• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Professor

Salary range: The posted UC salary scales ( Academic salaries | UCOP ) set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 5 for the salary range. The Base Salary range for this position is $136,500 - $358,300. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan ( Health Sciences Compensation Plan ), which provides for eligibility for additional compensation.
Application Window
Open date: July 28, 2026
Next review date: Tuesday, Sep 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, which is a rapidly growing department in the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, is recruiting up to three tenure track or tenured faculty members at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor. We seek highly accomplished scholars with active research programs focused on behavioral health equity and translational and clinical neurosciences research. The focus on equity and health justice may be combined with any number of substantive areas. We are especially interested in outstanding scholars whose research, teaching, and service on health equity are coupled with expertise in health services delivery, implementation science, community-based participatory research, behavioral health, substance use, environmental health, climate change, public health informatics, or structural and social determinants of health. Deep interest and commitment to conducting collaborative research with diverse populations of Inland Southern California is a preferred qualification.
Candidates must possess a PhD, DrPH, EdD, MD, or equivalent degree in psychiatry, neurosciences or psychology or other related field applied to mental health research, such as public or population health, anthropology, economics, education, political science, preventive medicine, sociology, and quantitative methods. Candidates seeking a clinical appointment must possess an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree and be eligible to practice in the State of California. Physician candidates must be board certified or board eligible. Applicants interested in a clinical appointment must qualify for medical staff privileges at UCR Health and our affiliated hospitals.
The School of Medicine at UCR is the sixth University of California medical school and serves the rapidly growing, diverse, and dynamic Inland Southern California region by training a much-needed physician and biomedical workforce and catalyzing innovations in research, education, and health care delivery that will improve the health of medically underserved populations.
The School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience is home to Community Responsive and Engaged Equity Research (CREER) in Mental Health, a center for research, education, and community leadership led by Dr. Lisa Fortuna in addition to Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR), which is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The successful candidate(s) will have opportunities to collaborate with researchers in CREER and CHDR. In addition, the School of Medicine is home to the Center for Healthy Communities (CHC), which serves the needs of Inland Southern California's culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse communities. The successful candidate(s) may have opportunities to serve in a leadership role within the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences. We are especially interested in candidates whose work complements the current expertise of faculty in departments in the UCR School of Medicine and the broader UCR schools and communities.
The University of California, Riverside provides an environment that is highly conducive to interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges, departments, and centers. Beyond the School of Medicine, there are opportunities to collaborate with other Schools and University of California campuses including the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering; the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; the Graduate School of Education; the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; the School of Business; and the School of Public Policy.
UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A strong commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification. The successful candidate for Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor rank should demonstrate notable scientific contributions, evidenced by high quality and impactful peer-reviewed publications and a record of sustained extramural funding. Successful candidates will also be expected to show a strong commitment to education, University, and public service. Successful candidate(s) will have opportunities to contribute to the education of medical students, residents, and graduate students.
The appropriate rank at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level at the time of appointment will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and experience. After appointment, advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input. The posted UC salary scales ( Academic salaries | UCOP ) set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 5 for the salary range. The Base Salary range for this position is $136,500 - $358,300. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan ( Health Sciences Compensation Plan ), which provides for eligibility for additional compensation.
The University of California, Riverside is situated in a historic citrus growing area surrounded by mountain ranges. Riverside is a culturally diverse city with a historic downtown, an assortment of dining options and cultural amenities, including the Mission Inn and the Cheech Museum of Chicano Art. Riverside is about an hour away from ski slopes, beaches, and hiking and sightseeing in mountain or desert environments. Housing in the area is relatively affordable in comparison to other regions in California. There is also easy access to the rich cultural amenities of the greater Los Angeles and San Diego area.
TO APPLY: Open Faculty & Academic Positions | School of Medicine
Initial review of applications will begin on September 29, 2026, and applicants will be considered until the position is filled.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Candidates must possess a PhD, DrPH, EdD, MD, or equivalent degree in psychiatry, neurosciences or psychology or other related field applied to mental health research, such as public or population health, anthropology, economics, education, political science, preventive medicine, sociology, and quantitative methods.
Candidates seeking a clinical appointment must possess an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree and be eligible to practice in the State of California.
Physician candidates must be board certified or board eligible.
Applicants interested in a clinical appointment must qualify for medical staff privileges at UCR Health and our affiliated hospitals.
Preferred qualifications
Deep interest and commitment to conducting collaborative research with diverse populations of Inland Southern California Deep knowledge and understanding of the diverse populations of Inland Southern California.
UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.
Application Requirements by Level
Assistant Professor
Position title: Assistant Professor
Submit a cover letter, most recently updated curriculum vitae, three to five reference letters, a Statement of Teaching, a Statement of Research, and Teaching Evaluations. In order to be considered, your application needs to be marked as completed.
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching
• Teaching Evalutions (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Upload 3-5 reference letters, or have the system send the request to the letter writers.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02312
Associate Professor
Position title: Associate Professor
Submit a cover letter, most recently updated curriculum vitae, contact information for six to nine references, a Statement of Teaching, a Statement of Research, and Teaching Evaluations. In order to be considered, your application needs to be marked as completed.
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching
• Teaching Evalutions (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 6-9 required (contact information only)

Provide contact information for 6-9 referees.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02312
Full Professor
Position title: Professor
Submit a cover letter, most recently updated curriculum vitae, contact information for six to nine references, a Statement of Teaching, a Statement of Research, and Teaching Evaluations. In order to be considered, your application needs to be marked as completed.
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching
• Teaching Evalutions (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 6-9 required (contact information only)

Provide contact information for 6-9 referees.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02312
Help contact: brenda.carrion@medsch.ucr.edu
About UC Riverside
The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission ( https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement ) is a preferred qualification.
We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC's criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal ( https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf ).
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.
For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH .
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination .
For the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf .
Job location
Riverside, CA