Faculty Positions in Psychology and Behavioural Sciences

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Academy of Life and Natural Sciences - Faculty positions in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Contract type: Fixed-term, renewable. 3rd contract is open-ended

About the University

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with an interesting and diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from West and East. For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn

About the Academy of Life and Natural Sciences (ALNS)

XJTLU is embarking on a transformative journey by establishing a new integrated Academy of Life and Natural Sciences (ALNS), which is a cornerstone of the university's strategy to lead in the rapidly evolving fields of life, biopharmaceuticals, materials, and health sciences. This initiative is a fundamental re-imagining of XJTLU’s academic architecture to foster unprecedented collaboration between foundational science, pharmaceutical innovation, and engineering principles.

The ALNS will create a powerful ecosystem that leverages the existing strengths of the School of Science in fundamental biological, chemical, materials, and environmental sciences, along with the Academy of Pharmacy’s expertise in drug discovery, pharmaceutics, and translational medicine. This integration is essential for tackling complex global challenges, from personalized medicine to sustainable health solutions, and aligns with national and global research priorities.

Vision

To be a world-leading hub of interdisciplinary innovation where the convergence of life, health, biochemicals, materials, and pharmaceutical sciences delivers transformative education, groundbreaking research, and sustainable solutions for global health and well-being.

Into this mix of established expertise, Academy has now embarked on developing a Research Centre focusing on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences that aims to support the launch of a new BSc in Psychology programme accredited by the British Psychological Society. Supported research and teaching areas will include: cognitive psychology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, social psychology, biological and abnormal psychology, clinical and forensic psychology, counseling and health psychology (especially aging), behavioral sciences, psychology methods, and studies of mental health, conflict, and decision-making. We are looking to recruit and hire experienced, motivated, productive and accomplished scholars/researchers in the above fields to help launch BSc programming and research development.

About the city

Staff also benefit from the fact that Suzhou is a ‘hot-spot’ for biotechnology and biomedical science. Cold Spring Harbor Asia is located within walking distance from campus and there are over 1,000 biotechnology companies in BioBay providing ample industry collaboration and entrepreneurship opportunities. As a state-level economic and technical development zone (ETDZ), Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) boasted a No.1 ranking among 218 zones of its kind in China for five consecutive years (2016-2020) as determined by the Ministry of Commerce based on the zone’s comprehensive development level. The broader Suzhou area encompasses the spirit of both old and new in China, with the historic old town’s canals, UNESCO World Heritage Site gardens, and the I.M Pei-designed Suzhou Museum attracting millions of tourists annually. SIP offers an excellent quality of life. The nearby Jinji Lake provides attractive views, by day and night, and there are a variety of high-quality shopping facilities, international and local restaurants, entertainment hubs and a great nightlife.  Suzhou became the world's largest industrial city in 2021, with the gross industrial output value reaching the milestone of 4 trillion RMB.

Responsibilities and duties

• To teach undergraduate students
• To maintain active and highly productive research agenda and obtain research funding 
• To carry out various administrative duties related to university teaching and research (e.g. Research Officer, Lab Safety Officer, and Examination Officer)
• To supervise graduate students and support teaching and research staff
• To establish an innovative, productive and well-funded research group that is open to interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Personal attributes

• Effective communication skills; fluent in written and spoken English
• Problem-solving/creativity 
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Professionalism and high-level work ethic
• Interpersonal abilities to manage a research team
• Team player and strong collaborator
• Positive attitude
• Diversity/Sensitivity

Essential qualifications/experience

• PhD or equivalent degree in Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, or a related discipline and ability to demonstrate appropriate teaching experience/potential in these areas, with strong evidence of the ability to produce high quality research publications and secure external funding.
• Fluency in English is a requirement, as English is the working language of the university.

Desirable qualifications/experience

• Candidates with 1) a PhD degree completed at an English-language and globally-recognized University, 2) postdoctoral experience from a highly reputable academic institution, 3) university-level teaching experience at an English-language University, 4) research interests in China or East Asia will be given preference

Citizenship and visa regulation

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labor Laws and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment to obtain work permits and visas. Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China.

Career development

1. Clear career development path with annual review.
2. Professional development training is provided.

Compensation & benefits

Salary:

Competitive salary package in the market

Benefits:

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances such as:

• Housing allowance
• Travel allowance
• Kids’ education allowance
• Relocation allowance
• Etc.

2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy)

3. Paid holidays:

• Statutory Holidays (11 days)
• Annual Leave (36 days)
• Family Matters Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Marriage Leave
• Paternity Leave
• Parental Leave
• Etc.

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff.

How to apply

Please send the following materials to Dr. Sekar Raju (Sekar.Raju@xjtlu.edu.cn), and HR representative Ms. Lidan Yang, lidan.yang@xjtlu.edu.cn.

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae (ideally with key information highlighted)
3. A brief research statement
4. A brief teaching statement
5. Up to two most representative publications

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled.

For specific enquiries relating to the position, please email Dr. Sekar Raju. Informal enquiries may be addressed to Ms. Lidan Yang.