Research Scientist Cognitive Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Boulder, Colorado

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

About the Institute of Cognitive Science

ICS is a highly interdisciplinary research and training environment that brings together faculty and students from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, philosophy, education, and speech, language & hearing sciences. The Institute is home to graduate and undergraduate programs in Cognitive Science, and is affiliated with numerous centers and initiatives across campus, including the NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (NSF iSAT), Intermountain Neuroimaging Consortium, the Center for Research and Education on Cannabis and Health, and campus-wide initiatives in AI and data science. We embrace responsible innovation and community-engaged initiatives in the design and development of AI science, models, and tools.

The mission of the Institute of Cognitive Science (http://ICS.colorado.edu) is to identify and address key questions in Cognitive Science through interdisciplinary research and education. We explore the nexus of humans and machines as we seek to understand and extend human cognition, emotion, machine intelligence, and fruitful collaborations between the two. Our research builds on artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, and human learning to tackle some of society's most pressing challenges: understanding brain health and wellness, developing personalized therapies and interventions, enhancing and deepening human learning and education, and optimizing complex cognitive processes to improve human performance and human-agent collaboration. ICS spans and connects researchers from nine units - Computer Science; Education; Psychology and Neuroscience; Information Science; Integrative Physiology; Linguistics; Philosophy; Architecture and Planning; and Speech, Language and Hearing - and offers two interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs as well as certificate programs in Cognitive Science. ICS houses the NSF National AI Research Institute for Student-AI Teaming (www.iSAT.ai), which aims to develop AI technologies to facilitate rich socio-collaborative learning experiences for all students.

Successful applicants will have a tenure home in a department most appropriate to their research program and background. Possible tenure home departments include Computer Science, Information Science, the School of Education, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Linguistics. Responsibilities will include teaching, service and research duties of a Tenure Track Faculty at the Institute of Cognitive Science as well as the tenure home department. 

Appointment rank and starting salary, within the range of $85,000 - $140,000, will be determined based on the candidate's education, experience, and academic home department.

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

• A Ph.D. in Computer Science, Information Science, Cognitive Science, Learning Sciences, Psychology and Neuroscience, Linguistics, or a related field.

• Outstanding track record of research, as evidenced by a notable publication history and a demonstrated record of seeking and securing funding as a Principal Investigator, as appropriate to their current academic rank.
• A clear and compelling research plan with strong potential for external funding.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

• The candidate will have an outstanding track record of interdisciplinary research in Artificial Intelligence or related fields, as evidenced by productive collaborations and partnerships.

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Cover Letter specifically addressing the applicant's match to the criteria described above.
3. Statement of Research describing current activities and future plans
4. Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Experience
5. Three publications demonstrating a focus on one or more of the research areas listed above (combined into one PDF)
6. At least three references, including names and contact information. If advanced, we will request letters of recommendation from your references.

(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources Department using an approved online vendor. However, if your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit an English-translated version as an Optional document.

Please apply by 6/30/26 for full consideration. Job will remain open until filled.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.