Faculty Position in Clinical Psychology | College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Position in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Employer: American University of Sharjah

Location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Start date: August 2027 (a later start may be negotiated)

Position type: Open rank, full-time (part-time can be considered)

Position Description

The Department of Psychology at American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications for a full-time faculty position in clinical psychology to begin in August 2027. The appointee will play a leading role in establishing the department's planned master's degree program in clinical psychology, which is intended to admit its first cohort in Fall 2028, and will be a founding member of the program's faculty.

The program is being designed as a practice-oriented, evidence-based degree that integrates supervised clinical experience with coursework from an early stage, makes use of new technologies in clinical training and gives sustained attention to the cultural and linguistic context of clinical practice in the UAE and the wider region. It will be the first clinical psychology master's degree program in the Emirate of Sharjah.

A defining emphasis of the program will be cross-cultural clinical competence. Most of the evidence base in clinical psychology was developed in Western, English-speaking populations, while the UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities and a largely multilingual client population. The program will therefore train students to evaluate, adapt and validate assessment instruments and intervention protocols for new, non-Western contexts, and to practice competently across cultures, languages and religious traditions. Candidates with research or clinical experience adapting psychological assessments and interventions to non-Western settings are particularly encouraged to apply.

The appointee will contribute to the design of the curriculum; help build placement partnerships with mental health services in Sharjah and the wider UAE; teach graduate and undergraduate courses in clinical psychology; supervise student clinical work if licensed; and maintain an active program of research. The appointee will work closely with the department head and the program planning committee, and will be eligible to apply for director of the program.

Two Profiles

The department welcomes applications from candidates with either of the following profiles. Both are needed for the program to succeed, and the rank and terms of appointment will reflect the candidate's qualifications and experience.

• Clinical or counseling psychologists with a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and a strong record of research and publication, at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor, who will help lead the program academically and supervise graduate research
• Practicing clinical or counseling psychologists with a PhD or PsyD who hold a license to practice in the UAE, or are eligible for one (check your eligibility with the relevant health authority before applying) who bring supervisory experience; appointment may be at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professors or Professor of Practice

Required Qualifications

• A PhD or PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology or a closely related field
• A record of, or clear potential for, excellence in teaching at the graduate level
• A commitment to research, teaching and service appropriate to the rank sought
• Fluency in English as the language of instruction

Preferred Qualifications

• A current license to practice psychology in the UAE or eligibility for one
• Experience supervising trainee clinicians in health service settings
• Experience designing, launching or accrediting graduate programs in clinical psychology
• Research or clinical experience with internet-delivered interventions, simulation-based training or the cultural adaptation of assessment instruments and treatments
• Proficiency in Arabic
• Experience in American-style higher education

The Department

The Department of Psychology offers the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in psychology, and is growing rapidly. Faculty research spans clinical and counseling psychology, cognitive psychology, cultural psychology, psycholinguistics, social psychology and work and organizational psychology. The department has five laboratory spaces for research with human participants, a research participation pool supported by Sona Systems, and dedicated technical and administrative support. The planned master's degree program will be the department's first graduate program.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following through the online application form at https://acg-apps1.aus.edu/cas/empapp/apply.php?p=PSY-27-01:

• A curriculum vitae (PDF)
• A letter describing the applicant's interest in the position, which of the two profiles the applicant best fits, and, where relevant, the applicant's licensure status (and eligibility for licensing) in the UAE or elsewhere
• The names and contact details of three referees

Review of applications will begin January 15, 2027 and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position, the planned program or life in the UAE may be directed to the search committee chair, Tatiana Tairi, at [email protected].

About American University of Sharjah

American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications from accomplished scholars committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research within an American-style, globally recognized institution. Successful candidates will be offered a salary commensurate with experience, along with free housing, paid utilities and other attractive benefits.

As a comprehensive, independent, non-profit, coeducational university, AUS is consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the Arab region and among the top 17 percent of ranked universities in the world (QS, 2027). The university fosters a diverse community of over 6,000 students from more than 100 nations, with English as the language of instruction and the workplace.

Located in Sharjah's University City, AUS is directly adjacent to the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, providing faculty with significant opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research and contribute directly to the UAE's rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem. The campus is set in a vibrant and cosmopolitan area, offering abundant opportunities for travel, entertainment and cultural experiences, with Sharjah International Airport minutes away and Dubai International Airport only 30 minutes from campus. A number of schools aligned with various international curricula are located nearby.

AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. AUS has been accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 USA) since June 2004.

For more information, please visit www.aus.edu.