Robert B. Cialdini Endowed Professor in Social Influence

Robert B. Cialdini Endowed Professor in Social Influence, Arizona State University Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology at Arizona State University invites applications for the newly created Robert B. Cialdini Endowed Professor in Social Influence, a tenure-track position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in Social Psychology, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026.

The province of social influence is in understanding the social drivers of human behavior and behavior change, including the successful application of basic research in this domain to real-world settings. Social influence processes, broadly conceived, are central to decision-making and behavior in multiple contexts including environmental sustainability, AI, health care, the workplace, entrepreneurship, social media, and civic life. The ideal candidate is a mid- to senior-level faculty member with a demonstrated track record of excellence and impact in conducting innovative theory-building research on social influence processes strongly applicable to real-world problems. The high-profile scholar will enhance training for our graduate and undergraduate students, complement existing strengths and further raise the stature of our highly regarded social psychology program and department, and further align us with ASU’s design aspirations that emphasize research innovation and impact, solution deployment, and instructional excellence.

Essential responsibilities include having a highly productive and visible research program, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, contributing to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and providing service to the department, university, and profession.

About the Department of Psychology at ASU

Our award-winning faculty in Social Psychology conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research spanning a broad range of theoretical perspectives on social, evolutionary, cultural, and ecological processes related to interpersonal and intergroup relations, motivation and emotion, self- and social- cognition, decision making, and other social phenomena. 

The Department of Psychology is a part of the Natural Sciences division in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Department is a dynamic, highly collaborative community with doctoral training areas in behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology, cognitive science, clinical, developmental, quantitative, and social psychology. The department also offers undergraduate programs in Psychology and Neuroscience, as well as Masters’ programs in Applied Behavior Analysis and Addiction Psychology. In alignment with the ASU Charter, the department is committed to meeting the needs of our students and engaging with the communities we serve. For more information, please visit https://psychology.asu.edu/. 

About The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University, committed to improving communities on a local, national, and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. Within The College, our faculty engage with a large, curious student body, guiding them as they grow into socially aware, critical thinkers and writers able to succeed in a wide range of careers and to address the challenges of the twenty- first century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority. To learn more about The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please visit https://thecollege.asu.edu.

About Arizona State University

ASU exemplifies a new prototype for the American public research university. As articulated in the ASU Charter, ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the communities it serves.

Essential Functions

1. Having a highly productive and visible research program in social influence, broadly conceived
2. Mentoring doctoral and undergraduate students across training milestones
3. Contributing to undergraduate and graduate teaching
4. Providing service to the department, university, and profession

Required Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in Psychology or closely related field by the time of appointment
2. Demonstrated track record of excellence and impact in conducting innovative theory-building research on social influence processes, broadly conceived
3. Evidence of high-quality mentoring and teaching

Desired Qualifications:

1. Demonstrated social influence research in real-world field settings
2. Demonstrated application of theory-based social influence insights to address real-world problems.
3. Demonstrated visibility of research excellence
4. Demonstrated ability to attract research funding
5. Demonstrated interdisciplinary research interests
6. Ability to connect with or complement existing strengths within the social psychology program and the Department of Psychology
7. Demonstrated commitment to working with faculty, staff, students, and communities to advance the principles of the ASU Charter

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is January 16, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. Formal application must be accomplished through submission of the following materials via interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/178988

1. Cover letter indicating interest and quality-of-fit to the position
2. CV
3. Names and contact information of three references. They will only be contacted for candidates who move to the interview stage

Email and paper applications will not be accepted.

Inquiries concerning the search should be addressed to the Co-Chairs of the Search Committee, Steven Neuberg, at [email protected], and Michael Varnum, at [email protected]. Be sure to include “Cialdini Endowed Professor Search” in the subject line when sending e-mails.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. ASU’s full nondiscrimination statement (ACD 401) is located on the ASU website at https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX.

Clery Act Statement

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.