Assistant Professor of Quantitative/Computational Psychology – Penn State

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The Department of Psychology at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Quantitative/Computational Psychology. The position is co-funded by Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute.

We seek candidates who use cutting-edge methods to advance our understanding of complex social, cognitive, and behavioral phenomena–specifically in the areas of Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or Industrial-Organizational psychology.

Follow this link for more information on the job and how to apply.

Assistant Professor of Archaeology – Penn State

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The Department of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park (https://anth.la.psu.edu/) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position, at the rank of Assistant Professor.

We seek an outstanding archaeologist whose interests and skills are consistent with Penn State Anthropology’s integrative, scientific, quantitative, and empirical approach to studying human diversity. Specifically, we wish to recruit an archaeologist whose research record addresses the material manifestations of sociopolitical stratification, population transformation, human-environment interactions, and/or evolutionary variability. Methodological and geographical areas of expertise are open. We encourage applicants whose work can contribute toward collaborative scholarship within the department and across the university on initiatives focused on inequality, sustainability, human-environmental systems, and human health.

Follow this link for more information on the job and how to apply.

Assistant Professor of Anthropology in Human Reproductive Ecology – Penn State

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The Department of Anthropology (https://anth.la.psu.edu/) and the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI: https://ssri.psu.edu/) at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position, at the rank of Assistant Professor.

We seek innovative social science researchers whose work focuses on the social and ecological determinants of reproductive health via field-based research using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Candidates may work on topics including, but not limited to, reproductive outcomes, such as fertility or parental investment in children (e.g. breastfeeding, child mortality, education); reproductive life stages, such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause; and/or the social and ecological determinants of reproduction, such as environmental risk, social support, inequality, healthcare access, or communicable disease. Penn State Anthropology prides itself on its integrative research and is interested in hiring a scholar whose work is interdisciplinary and/or integrates across anthropology’s subfields. We welcome candidates with interdisciplinary interests or training in fields including, but not limited to, demography, human biology, epidemiology, ecology, evolutionary medicine, and/or public health. Study population is open and could include nationally representative samples, underrepresented groups, Indigenous communities, or small-scale populations, and regional focus could be in the U.S. or international.

Follow this link for more information on the job and how to apply.

Submit your abstract for HBES 2026!

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Dear HBES Community,

HBES 2026 will be held in Rabat, Morocco, at the University Mohammad VI Polytechnic (UM6P) from May 13-16, 2026. This will be a joint conference with the Cultural Evolution Society (CES).

Abstract submissions for the 2026 HBES conference are now open. Submissions will be accepted until November 16, 2025. You will be notified whether your abstract has been accepted in early January, 2026.

For more information about the meeting and to submit your abstract, please follow this link.

HBES 2025 Conference Survey Results

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HBES Members,

I am writing in my capacity as Communications Officer to share with you survey results about our recent meeting in Atlantic City.

We had 127 responses, most of whom are faculty at various career stages, doctoral students, and postdocs. The vast majority of survey participants are from North America. Anthropologists and psychologists made up over 100 of the 127 responses, with psychology outnumbering anthropology three to one.

Here are statistical summaries of Likert scale questions, ranked from most satisfied to least satisfied

  • 83% (65/78) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt free to express their views about scientific topics and questions at the 2025 meeting.
  • 82% (86/105) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the science in our journal, Evolution & Human Behavior.
  • 76% (80/105) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the degree to which HBES provides an environment in which people are free to express their ideas, opinions, or beliefs.
  • 76% (80/105) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the claim that HBES provides an environment in which people have an opportunity to excel regardless of their identity or background.
  • 70% (73/104) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the HBES e-newsletter. (As this is my first newsletter, I can take no credit, but would like to take a moment to thank my predecessor, Pat Barclay, for many years of service to HBES in this role.)
  • 70% (73/104) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with HBES e-mail communications.
  • 65% (65/101) of participants would like to or are planning to attend HBES 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.
  • 62% (64/104) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied by the society’s overall impact.
  • 60% (62/102) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the Executive Council leadership over the last year.
  • 59% (61/103) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the disciplinary diversity of HBES.
  • 57% (58/102) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied by the society’s transparency of operations.
  • 54% (56/102) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the HBES website (33 participants are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied).
  • 40% (42/102) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with HBES social media (another 42 participants are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied).
  • 26% (26/100) of participants are satisfied or extremely satisfied with the contractual agreement with Elsevier for our society journal, *Evolution & Human Behavior*.

In a large and diverse society, we can’t expect consensus on most issues. That said, most survey participants are broadly satisfied with the society.

There were two items in which a plurality of participants were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied: social media and the contractual agreement with Elsevier for Evolution & Human Behavior. (I’ll note that on no item was there a plurality, let alone a majority, who were dissatisfied or extremely dissatisfied.)

I cannot speak to any concerns you have about the contract with Elsevier, but as Communications Officer I am happy to relay any messages to the Executive Council. Social media, however, is within my purview as Communications Officer. Please send me concerns you have and suggestions on how we can improve this aspect of our society (same goes for the website, the newsletter, email communications. etc.).

Lastly, I’d like to highlight some of the qualitative opinions members shared with us. Rather than reproduce multiple responses verbatim, I’ll share with you my summaries.

  • A few participants expressed feelings of being an outsider, whether that’s because of their academic discipline (i.e. not being an anthropologist or psychologist) or their academic home (e.g. not being from a “respected lab”, a “California school”, or an “R-1”). This is unfortunate and certainly not something the society encourages. The EC is planning on adding events to the next annual meeting to try to address this issue.
  • A few participants complained that the society has become “too political”, with roughly equal numbers worrying it was too left-wing and too right-wing. The EC strives to maintain an environment in which HBES members are free to express themselves. This means that some members end up saying things that others deem “too political.” (I will also note that roughly the same number wrote lengthy responses commending the society for fostering an inclusive environment that allowed people to express their ideas. Furthermore, 80% of participants thought the society was doing a good job with freedom of expression and 83% felt they could express their ideas without a problem.)
  • A few participants felt that psychology is over-represented and anthropology is underrepresented. Among survey participants, psychologists did, in fact, outnumber anthropologists three to one. The EC remains committed to fostering disciplinary diversity. For example, plenary lectures tend to be balanced between psychology and anthropology. (I’ll also note that this is not a long-standing issue and that our society has very little representation outside these two disciplines—something we may want to work on in the future.)

Please reach out to the society if you feel your opinions are not being heard.

If you have specific suggestions on how we might improve our society, feel free to email me (communications@hbes.com) and I will relay the message to the Executive Council.

If you witnessed or experienced inappropriate behavior at conference , please contact the Grievance Committee (https://www.hbes.com/grievance/).

Sincerely,
Karthik Panchanthan

Postdoc focusing on interdependence and cooperation – University of Arizona

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Dear colleagues,
I wanted to circulate an opening for a postdoctoral position, and would like to kindly ask that you share this opportunity with grad students who may be interested in working with me on topics related to interdependence and cooperation. I will also be reviewing graduate student applications this cycle, and would be grateful if you shared this information with undergraduate students with an interest in emotions, interdependence, and cooperation. Thank you for your time.
Postdoc position. The SPECIEs (Social Psychology of Evolutionary Cooperation, Interdependence, and Emotions) Lab in the psychology department at the University of Arizona is hiring a Research Scientist (i.e., postdoctoral scholar). This is a 3 year position at $65k/year (yearly contracts with renewal). The postdoc will be involved in the analysis of existing field data on cooperation and well-being among the Mayangna of Nicaragua, help in the design and development of new projects (e.g., experiments, large-scale cross-cultural surveys, ecological momentary assessment), and conduct fieldwork in the Bosawas biosphere reserve of Northern Nicaragua during two field visits, each lasting 1-3 months. Therefore, the candidate must be fluent in Spanish, and willing to conduct fieldwork in a remote area (i.e., no basic services like water, sewage, electricity, etc.). The researcher will also collaborate on ongoing projects, gain mentorship, and professional development. The ideal candidate has strong skills in statistics (e.g., SEM, multi-level models, longitudinal data, social networks), data visualization, and is knowledgeable in the science of cooperation/prosocial behavior, the evolutionary human sciences, and/or affective science.
Start date: Summer-Fall 2026.
Review of applications: until filled.
Application materials: 1-2 page cover letter, CV, 2-3 reference contacts (email and phone number).
Contact: Diego Guevara Beltran at dguevarabeltran@arizona.edu
For an overview of current/ongoing research see: https://psycheddiego.mystrikingly.com/publications
Best,
Diego Guevara Beltran, PhD
Assistant Professor
Psychology Department
University of Arizona

Biological Anthropology Faculty Hire – University of Minnesota Twin Cities

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UMN Search for a Biological Anthropologist in 2025-2026

About the Position

The Department of Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in paleoanthropology beginning fall semester 2026. We seek scholars at the cutting edge of biological anthropology who critically utilize scientific approaches, broadly conceived, to answer anthropological questions related to the evolution and variation of humans and/or hominin ancestors. Possible research areas include hominin fossil record and skeletal anatomy, biomechanics and functional morphology, or evolutionary approaches to the study of human adaptations. Appointment will be 100% time over the nine-month academic year (late August to late May). The appointment will be made at the rank of tenure-track Assistant Professor, depending on qualifications and experience, and consistent with collegiate and University policy. 

Faculty in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts are expected to maintain an active program of scholarly research or creative activity that includes publications; teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses; advising students; pursuit of extramural funding; and service effort appropriate for the level of appointment to the department, college, university and profession. The holder of this position is expected to teach two courses per semester, which includes joining the teaching rotation for a large introductory course in biological anthropology, as well as developing specific undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. We are especially interested in candidates who, broadly conceived, enhance diversity in the department and whose interests integrate with and expand on current department expertise in biological anthropology, and can interface with the four fields of anthropology. 

The Standards for Promotion and Tenure in the Department of Anthropology are available at: https://faculty.umn.edu/sites/faculty.umn.edu/files/anthropology.pdf 

The Workload Principles and Guidelines for Regular Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are available at https://neighborhood.cla.umn.edu/college-knowledge/workload-principles-and-guidelines

State law requires a good faith estimate of the salary range for all advertised positions. The range for this position is $75,000 to $150,000, depending on discipline, experience and other considerations. Faculty positions also include significant start-up funds, as well as retirement, health and other benefits. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: A Ph.D. in anthropology or closely related field is expected to be in hand at the time of the appointment.

Preferred Qualifications: Evidence of research – including postdoctoral or equivalent post-degree experience – in biological anthropology, specifically of paleoanthropology, functional anatomy, or similar.

Candidates will be evaluated according to the overall quality of their academic preparation, the strength of their research and its relevance to the department’s academic priorities and the field of inquiry, evidence of commitment to teaching and skills as a teacher, and the quality of recommendations. The successful applicant will have a strong commitment to contribute at all levels of our undergraduate and graduate programs.

How to Apply

The priority deadline for application materials is October 17, 2025. This position will remain open until filled. Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions for completing an application.

Required documents must be attached by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and can be attached after submission of the application by exiting and re-entering the Job Center, accessing your “My Job Applications” page, and uploading documents there. The following materials must be attached to your online application: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) research statement; (4) teaching statement; (5) and names, addresses and email contact information for three references as a separate attachment in “My Job Applications.” Additional materials may be requested at a later date.

Questions may be addressed to search committee chair Michelle Brown [brow7100@umn.edu].

Assistant Professor in Traditional Ecological Knowledge – Stanford

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We seek applicants for a tenure-track appointment at the assistant professor level in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability in the field of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (also referred to as Indigenous and local knowledge, Indigenous science, Native science, and other similar terms) and its relevance to social and environmental sustainability. Topical research areas of interest include, but are not limited to: the role of fire and other aspects of Indigenous land stewardship in the changing climate; establishment and management of natural protected areas; conservation and application of the wild relatives of crops and animals; the ethical and responsible collection and use of socio-ecological data; environmental governance; the role of tribal food and land sovereignty and cultural revitalization for environmental sustainability; and two-eyed seeing, the multicultural approach to understanding the natural world using both Indigenous and Western sciences as independent, but complementary, ways of knowing.

The range of expertise and facilities across Stanford University’s main campus, as well as Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (‘Ootchamin ‘Ooyakma) and Hopkins Marine Station, provide opportunities to develop a research program that bridges Indigenous and Western knowledge systems.

For more information, visit the link below:
https://facultypositions.stanford.edu/en-us/job/494875/assistant-professor-in-traditional-ecological-knowledge

Two Faculty Positions in Biological Anthropology – The University of Western Australia

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The University of Western Australia is hiring for two faculty positions

  • Lecturer in Biological Anthropology
  • Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology

The School of Human Sciences is a multi-disciplinary School with expertise in Anatomy, Physiology, Human Biology, Sport Science, and Exercise Health.

The School is one of the largest in the University and offers a highly populated Major in Anatomy and Human Biology, and a Minor in Biological Anthropology. Biological Anthropology encompasses evolutionary demography, genetics, and behavioural ecology of humans and non-human primates, with a focus on health, disease, and conservation.

The School manages a very productive research program, supervising Honours, Masters and PhD students. The breadth of research and researchers can be explored further on our webpage.

In these teaching-research position, you will be expected to make a strong contribution to the School’s teaching and research portfolio in Biological Anthropology.

Key Responsibilities

  • Contributes to outstanding teaching and learning outcomes
    • Contribute to world-class teaching in the degree programs of the School at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels; undertake administrative duties as required
    • Contribute and commit to high quality teaching and unit coordination
    • Attract and recruit quality postgraduate students
    • Design and implement best practice assessment of student learning outcomes and participate in assessment panels
  • Contributes to research outcomes within discipline or area of expertise
    • Join or develop a research team to initiate research in local, national, and international arenas Undertake independent and collaborative research to generate research outputs of high impact
    • Communicate research findings through scientific publications, reports, meetings, and teaching
    • Enhance the reputation of the School and the University by producing publications in highly ranked, peer reviewed, journals of international standing
    • Either as an individual or as part of a team, play a role in bids for major research funding from national and international competitive funding agencies, industry, and government partners
  • Service and Engagement
    • Contribute to the governance and collegial life within the School, across the University, and more broadly outside the institution
    • Work within the legislative requirements of the University and support the University’s commitment to inclusion and diversity
    • Represent the University of Western Australia through involvement in professional associations, conferences, non-academic (e.g. government, not-for-profit, industry) partnerships, and other external activities
    • Maintain knowledge of standards of practice and required procedures for student assessment and policy, and ensure that these are completed to required standard and within an acceptable time frame
    • Undertake administrative duties as required in relation to teaching and research supervision
    • Perform other duties as directed by the Head of School and the Head of the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology

Selection Criteria

  • Qualifications and/or certifications
    • PhD in an academic field relevant to the discipline
  • Teaching and learning
    • Capacity to teach human behavioural ecology
    • Demonstrated ability, relative to opportunity, to deliver high quality teaching approaches, assessments, and materials for units and courses
    • Demonstrated commitment to inclusive teaching practices to extend equality of opportunity for all learners
  • Research
    • A demonstrable track record, relative to opportunity, of excellence in research, as evidenced by peer-reviewed journal articles published in high quality journals
    • A demonstrable track record, relative to opportunity, of successful applications for competitive funding
    • Demonstrate evidence, relative to opportunity, of successful supervision or co-supervision or mentoring of HDR or Honours students
  • Service/ Engagement
    • Demonstrated ability to relate well to staff and students at all levels, and evidence of a commitment to equity and diversity principles
    • Demonstrated ability to positively contribute to team, school and wider University activities such as team and school meetings, strategic planning, and program development
    • Demonstrable experience, relative to opportunity, of participation in education/research leadership in public engagements that promote research and/or education outcomes, including engagement with government and industry

The deadlines for these positions are August 22 (Associate Professor) and August 29 (Lecturer).

For more information, click on the links below:

Royal Society Publishing Competition 2025

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Are you a scientist with an interest in photography? We’re delighted to announce that the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition is now open for entries until 15 August 2025 for a chance to win £1000! The competition celebrates the power of photography in conveying the wonder of science happening all around us and photographs can be submitted in the categories of: Astronomy, Behaviour, Earth Science and Climatology, Ecology and Environmental Science, and Microimaging.

The competition is free to enter and open to anyone studying or working in science at graduate level or above. Category winners will receive a one-year membership to the Royal Photographic Society and the overall winner will receive a grand prize of £1,000. Find out more: https://bit.ly/RSPphotocompDES9271_4_Publishing photography competition 2025_QR poster_A4.