Heriot-Watt University
Assistant Professor in Psychology
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Role: Assistant Professor in Psychology
Grade and Salary: Grade 7, (£37,694 - £47,389)
FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE (35hrs per week), Fixed term, 12 months
Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)
Purpose of Role
This vacancy combines the opportunity to apply subject-specialist knowledge in Neuropsychology and/or Neuroscience to deliver a final year undergraduate course in the September semester, with the adaptability to cover a range of other undergraduate courses across the BPS core curriculum.
In the 2026-27 academic year, the department is developing a suite of new online courses as part of our exciting new online Psychology (Conversion) programme. For a candidate with the right level of discipline expertise in biological psychology and neuroscience, there is an opportunity to contribute to this exciting initiative in collaboration with Heriot-Watt's team of learning designers and digital media producers.
About our Team
The Department of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University is a supportive and inclusive academic community committed to delivering an outstanding student experience. Located on our beautiful Edinburgh campus but globally connected with our departments in Dubai and Malaysia, we offer high-quality, research-informed teaching across a broad range of psychology topics and are proud of our collaborative, globally connected approach to education. We value innovation in teaching, student engagement, and interdisciplinary work, and provide a welcoming environment in which staff can develop their academic and professional skills. This 12-month Assistant Professor opportunity offers the chance to join a friendly and dedicated team and make a meaningful contribution to our undergraduate programmes.
Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities
Teaching and Learning Support
- Teach as a member of a teaching team in a developing capacity within an established programme of study, with the assistance of a mentor if required.
- Teach in a developing capacity in a variety of settings from small group tutorials to large lectures.
- Transfer knowledge in the form of practical skills, methods, and techniques.
- Identify learning needs of students and define appropriate learning objectives.
- Ensure that content, methods of delivery, and learning materials will meet the defined learning objectives.
- Planning, and authoring (or revising) new course material as part of the School/Institute’s teaching programmes.
- Develop the skills of applying appropriate approaches to teaching, challenge thinking, foster debate, and develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse and rational thinking.
- Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills, and help them with learning problems.
- Select appropriate assessment methods, assess the work and progress of students on this basis, and provide constructive feedback to students.
Research and Scholarship
- Reflect on practice and the development of own teaching and learning skills.
Communication
- Deal with routine communication using a range of media.
- Communicate complex information, orally, in writing, and electronically.
- Preparing proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g., for funding and accreditation purposes.
- Communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature.
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Liaison and Network
- Liaise with colleagues and students.
- Participate on School/Institute committees; for example, teaching groups, recruitment groups, examination boards, etc.
- Build internal contacts and participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration.
- Join external networks to share information and ideas.
Managing People
- Agree responsibilities.
- Manage own teaching, scholarly, and administrative activities, with guidance if required.
- Supervise students on taught courses when carrying out projects, fieldwork, and placements.
- Assist students in the capacity of personal mentor.
Teamwork
- Collaborate with academic colleagues on course development and curriculum changes.
- Attend and contribute to subject group meetings.
- Collaborate with colleagues to identify and respond to students’ needs.
Pastoral Care
- Use listening, interpersonal, and pastoral care skills to deal with sensitive issues concerning students and provide support.
- Appreciate the needs of individual students and their circumstances.
- Act as student mentor, giving first line support.
- Refer students as appropriate to services providing further help.
Initiative, Problem-solving and Decision-making
- Develop initiative, creativity, and judgement in applying appropriate approaches to teaching and learning support and scholarly activities.
- Respond to pedagogical and practical challenges.
- Share responsibility in deciding how to deliver modules and assess students.
- Contribute to collaborative decision making with colleagues on academic content, and on the assessment of students’ work.
Planning and Managing Resources
- Use teaching resources and related facilities as appropriate.
- Plan and manage own teaching and tutorials as agreed with mentor.
Expertise
- Possess sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established teaching programmes.
- Engage in continuous professional development.
- Able to engage the interest and enthusiasm of students and inspire them to learn.
- Develop familiarity with a variety of strategies to promote and assess learning.
- Understand equal opportunity issues as they may impact on academic content and issues relating to student need.
Education, Qualifications & Experience
The person requirements to successfully perform the role.
Essential
- BSc or BA in Psychology (at least 2:1 classification) accredited by British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Prior teaching experience at undergraduate level
Desirable
- Expertise in Neuropsychology and/or Neuroscience (at least to MSc level)
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
- PhD in Psychology
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Wednesday 19th of August 2026.
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt online recruitment system:
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- Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post
- Full CV that includes the list of publications
- Research and teaching statements
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
About the School
The School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University comprises of Edinburgh Business School, the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies, and the Department of Psychology.
We specialise in industry-focused degree programmes which embrace a truly international outlook. Our degrees are taught by experienced professionals and highly regarded academics, and we are proud to produce high-calibre, career-ready graduates and offer a full range of degree choices at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Social Sciences is the largest of five academic schools at Heriot-Watt University and we provide teaching and research across our core disciplines:
- The Edinburgh Business School: Accountancy, Economics, and Finance Management Marketing and Operations
- Languages and Intercultural Studies
- Psychology
The WWW site for SoSS is https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/schools/social-sciences.htm
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