Postdoctoral Scholar: Curiosity & Character Development, Schooler META Lab, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

Position overview

Salary range: The posted UC system-wide salary scales set the minimum pay based on prior months of postdoc service (both domestic and international) before the start of appointment. See Table 23 and 23N (Hourly) for experience level minimums. A reasonable estimated full-time rate for this position at 100% time is $69,073 to $82,836. Salaries that are higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated experience level minimum, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: September 2026 or later

Position duration: This will be a 2 year position with the possibility of renewal

Application Window

Open date: August 13, 2026

Next review date: Sunday, Sep 13, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

META Lab at UC Santa Barbara seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to help lead a three-year, multi-institution initiative on cultivating curiosity as an intellectual virtue in higher education. The project, funded by the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University, integrates an evidence-based, app-delivered curiosity program into classrooms, wellness programming, and campus culture at UCSB and George Mason University (GMU). Building on published pilot work showing that curiosity can be trained and that it catalyzes broader positive development, the project asks how these gains scale, and how curiosity supports belonging and academic success among first-generation, Pell-eligible, and transfer students.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with participating faculty and campus partners (Health & Wellness, CITRAL, GMU's Center for the Advancement of Well-Being)
• Develop shared pedagogical and assessment materials
• Lead assessment design and data collection across student and faculty samples
• Conduct analyses of longitudinal, multi-time point intervention data
• Present findings at conferences and ECI convenings; lead and co-author publications

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

At the time of application, candidates must have completed all requirements for a PhD (or equivalent) except the dissertation. The PhD should be in psychology, education, cognitive science, or a related field

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• 1 year or more of quantitative training - multilevel modeling and longitudinal/repeated-measures designs preferred
• PhD must be conferred by the appointment start date

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with applied or field-based intervention research a plus
• Excellent writing, organization, and collaborative skills; comfort working across research and student-facing teams

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter - Please describe research interests and fit

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Applicants that are chosen for the shortlist will have letters of references requested.

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03136

Help contact: pamelawilks@ucsb.edu

About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Job location

Santa Barbara, CA