Visiting Part-Time Instructors (Fall 2022) Cognitive Science

POSITION SUMMARY

Occidental College seeks part-time Visiting Instructor(s) who will teach in the Fall 2022 semester, starting in August 2022. This position is included in the Non-Tenure Track Bargaining Unit, and the successful applicant will be a bargaining unit employee, subject to the terms of the College’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with SEIU Local 721.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND GOALS

Occidental College seeks visiting part-time instructors for Fall 2022. Occidental College serves a diverse body of students, as reflected in the enrollment in our courses. The ideal candidate will have teaching experience at the college level and be enthusiastic about working closely with undergraduate students. Mentorship, teaching support, and professional development opportunities will be provided through the Cognitive Science Department, our Center for Teaching Excellence, and our Center for Research and Scholarship.

We seek instructors for the following courses:

COGS 262: Culture, Identity, and Cognition is a 4-unit course offered in the Cognitive Science Department. For Fall 2022, the course will be offered MWF from 11:45am-12:40pm and will have up to 24 students. In addition, the faculty member is required to hold at least one office hour per week. Instructors are expected to teach in-person but office hours may be held virtually, at the instructor’s discretion. The instructor will be compensated $8,000. The current course description is provided below.
This course will examine the multifaceted relationship between culture and cognition. How do our cultural and environmental contexts shape our perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors? How do specific aspects of a culture change the ways in which people acquire, store, and process information? What is the relationship between our culture experiences and our social identities? To what extent are our beliefs and knowledge structures culturally relative or universal? In this course, students will explore these questions and more using the tools of cognitive science. Topics will include conceptual development, knowledge organization, causal reasoning, cultural transmission, morality, trust, and cooperation. Prerequisite: COGS 101 or instructor permission.

COGS 201L: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science Lab is a lab co-requisite tied to the Empirical Methods lecture course in the Cognitive Science Department. The instructor will teach all three lab sections offered Thursdays 8:30am-11:25am, Thursdays 1:30pm-4:25pm, and Fridays 1:55pm-4:50pm. Content will be coordinated in conjunction with the faculty member teaching the lecture portion of the course. In addition, the faculty member is required to hold at least one office hour per week. Instructors are expected to teach in-person but office hours may be held virtually, at the instructor’s discretion. The instructor will be compensated $12,000. The current course description is provided below.
This course provides students with a foundation to think critically about research in Cognitive Science and lays the groundwork for the original research that will be done in the senior year. We will examine primary literature, carefully considering the processes involved in moving from a general idea to a specific research question. We will consider the strengths and weaknesses of a range of approaches to studying cognition, with a focus on experimental design. The course will culminate in an original research proposal. Prerequisite: COGS 101. Corequisite: COGS 201L

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants should have a Master's degree or equivalent experience in cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, or related fields, with college-level teaching experience preferred.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants should submit their application via email to the current Chair of Cognitive Science, Carmel Levitan, at cogs_search@oxy.edu, with the subject "Cognitive Science Part-time Visitor Application." The application should state which of the two courses (or both) the applicant is interested in, and should include:

a curriculum vitae; a letter of interest addressing preparation for the responsibilities articulated above, with special attention to your approach to teaching a diverse student body (maximum two pages); and a list of two references (they will only be contacted at the interview stage)

Review of applications will begin May 15 and continue until the positions are filled. References will not be contacted for candidates until interviews are scheduled. Please direct all questions about the position to Carmel Levitan at cogs_search@oxy.edu.

Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Occidental is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their work are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups that are underrepresented in the field are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@oxy.edu). Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. 

As a condition of hire for a staff position and for appointment to a faculty position, Occidental College requires that all candidates who have received a conditional offer of employment complete an application form (if they have not already done so) and consent to a background check.  Satisfactory completion of a background check, along with pre-employment verifications and references are required as a condition of employment, but only as permitted by federal, state, and local law, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.