Associate Professor or Professor WOT | Adult Cognitive Development - Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Description

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (PBSCI) at the University of Washington has an exciting opportunity for a full-time faculty position to specialize in geriatric mental health, cognitive aging and resilience. The position may be supported, in part, by the K. Warner Schaie Endowed Chair in Adult Cognitive Development pending approval of the Dean of the School of Medicine and the UW Board of Regents. If awarded, the endowed Chair will be an initial five-year appointment renewable at the discretion of the School of Medicine Dean (at the recommendation of the PBSCI Chair).

JOB SUMMARY AND STRUCTURE

The individual chosen for this position will contribute to the department’s work in developing, testing and deploying innovative approaches to prevent and treat adult cognitive aging with an emphasis on developing new interventions or strategies that increase cognitive resilience or slow cognitive decline. They will provide leadership for department faculty, staff and trainees with an interest in Geriatric Psychiatry and cognitive aging, facilitate productive connections and collaborations with other clinicians and scientists at UW and UW Medicine, and work closely with PBSCI leadership on strategic initiatives related to the department’s work in cognitive aging and Geriatric Psychiatry. 

We are looking for one full-time faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor without tenure by reason of funding in either the clinician-teacher or faculty-scientist pathway. Associate Professors and Professors hold indefinite appointments that align with a 12-month service period (July 1-June 30). Faculty with 12-month service periods are paid for 11 months of service over a 12-month period (July-June), meaning the equivalent of one month is available for paid time off. University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research/scholarship, and service.

This position will report to the Chair of PBSCI. Rank will be determined commensurate with experience and qualifications. Start up resources may be available and would be negotiated with the successful candidate. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2025. Priority Review date as of July 1, 2025.

JOB DUTIES

• Duties include but are not limited to:
• Providing national [regional] leadership leader in the field of adult cognitive development and geriatric mental health.
• Engage in cognitive development research, including the investigation of genetic, biological, psychological, or social / environmental influences on cognitive functioning and resilience and / or the study of behavioral or other interventions for the remediation of cognitive decline or to increase cognitive resilience or performance during the aging process.
• Foster connections among a diverse group of faculty, staff, and community collaborators to facilitate collaboration, promote opportunities, share resources, champion inclusion and inspire innovation.
• Support the training and mentorship of trainees and junior faculty in adult cognitive development and geriatric mental health and demonstrated ability to foster the success of others.
• Support the Department's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as a guiding principle.

Positive factors for consideration include, but are not limited to:

• Experience with interdisciplinary training, research, and clinical work (e.g., collaborations with psychology, social work, and other relevant disciplines).
• Experience with donor engagement, stewardship and fundraising.
• Experience training and mentoring trainees and/or junior faculty and the desire to further build their mentorship skills and portfolio.
• Track record in designing and implementing translational clinical studies.

Geriatric Psychiatry Program

Our long-standing Geriatric Psychiatry program is a well-established, national leader in geropsychiatry patient care, research and education. We offer state-of-the-art clinical services at the Center for Behavioral Health and Learning, Harborview Medical Center, the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and other clinical settings in Seattle and the wider Puget Sound region. Our clinicians also provide consultation to providers throughout the state through our Psychiatry Consultation Line and our Psychiatry and Addiction Case Consultation (PACC) series. A notable strength is our mature and diverse portfolio of basic, clinical and health services research into aging, cognitive functioning changes across the lifespan, age-related mental disorders such as late-life depression and dementia, the link between sleep and cognitive decline and the delivery of evidence-based mental health services to community dwelling older adults. We offer an ACGME-accredited Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship t