- Head the Asian hub in psychology within the Monash global program of psychological sciences
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
At a time of continuing growth and ambition, Monash University Malaysia is actively recruiting a new Professor and Head for the Department of Psychology within the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Monash University is Australia’s largest university and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, a group of Australia’s eight leading research universities. The University is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, at 37th globally in the QS World University Rankings and 58th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2025
Monash University is a global university with four campuses in Australia and a campus in Malaysia and Indonesia. In India, Monash Research Academy is a postgraduate research and PhD training partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, whilst Monash-Suzhou is a partnership between Monash University and Southeast University.
Established in 1998, Monash University Malaysia is Monash’s third-largest campus and one of Malaysia’s most respected higher education institutions. It has graduated more than 27,500 students, including 800 PhDs. More than 9,700 students representing approximately 77 nationalities are currently enrolled at Monash Malaysia.
In line with Monash University’s strategic plan, Impact 2030, research at Monash Malaysia focuses on issues of national and global significance.
This is an incredible time to join Monash in Malaysia to make impact through research, education and partnerships. Recently consolidated outcomes of the Monash University strategic plan Impact 2030 put focus on its foundational purpose to realise social and technological transformation and meet challenges of the age, for the communities and industries around the Monash global campus network which arcs across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
At Monash Malaysia, research aims to formulate and implement solutions that could mitigate the effects of climate change, promote geopolitical security in the ASEAN region and improve health and wellbeing to enable communities to thrive. research projects and researchers are making long-term and sustainable impact across health, economics, policy, technology, the environment and society at large. At Monash Malaysia a broad range of world-class infrastructure and services also support the needs of the research community and industry.
Located in Greater Kuala Lumpur, one of the region’s industrial hotspots, Monash Malaysia sits in the heart of the rapidly developing economic corridor linking Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and beyond. At Monash Malaysia, education and research are oriented towards deep engagement with this dynamic socio-economic and industrial landscape
For more about Monash Malaysia, visit www.monash.edu.my
Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences was established in 2005 with a vision to become a leading medical school in Asia. The school engages with and serves the broader community, playing an integral role in reshaping medical education and addressing global public health challenges.
In addition to its flagship MD program, JCSMHS offers a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs in Human Nutrition, Psychology, Medical Science and Biomedical Science, Professional Counselling, with opportunity for new offerings to fill local workforce capability gaps and emerging priorities. All JCSMHS programs adhere to the rigorous academic quality standards set by Monash University Australia, ensuring a comprehensive and research-driven educational experience.
Research is a foundational pillar at JCSMHS, with the school’s strengths spanning various disciplines such as non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, microbiome and bioresources, nutrition and nutraceuticals, and clinical research and trials. In response to evolving global health challenges, the school has expanded its research focus to include migrant and indigenous issues, digital health, and aged care.
The School is located at the Monash University Malaysia main campus in Bandar Sunway, Malaysia, about 20 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur while the Clinical School Johor Bahru (CSJB) is located in the southern Malaysian city of Johor Bahru. All Years Three to Five MBBS students are based at the CSJB which is situated at the southern-most point of the Malaysian Peninsula, just across the causeway from Singapore.
The School offers the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Human Nutrition, Bachelor of Psychology and Business, Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), Master of Professional Counselling, Master of Biotechnology, Master of Biomedical Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs.
Delivery of the medicine program is spread over several locations with the first two years being taught at the Monash University Malaysia at Main Campus in Bandar Sunway, Selangor while the subsequent three years are taught at the Clinical School in Johor Bahru.
For more information, please visit: https://www.monash.edu.my/jcsmhs
Monash University Malaysia Department of Psychology
Teaching in psychology at Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, commenced in 2007 with the establishment of the Discipline of Psychology, coinciding with the introduction of the Bachelor of Psychological Science and Business program (now known as Bachelor of Psychology and Business). In 2011, the introduction of an Honours degree in Psychological Science (now known as Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)) expanded the academic offerings. The Discipline of Psychology was subsequently elevated to the Department of Psychology in 2015, coinciding with the launch of two new programs: Bachelor of Psychological Science (now known as Bachelor of Psychology) and Master of Professional Counselling. The Department is envisaged to launch the Master of Clinical Psychology in 2025
The department boasts excellent research facilities in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, clinical/counselling psychology, and social and cross-cultural psychology. The (Future) Southeast Asian Centre for Workforce Wellbeing unite researchers from the Department of Psychology and the School of Business, along with colleagues from Malaysia and Indonesia, to study how people can thrive at work in Southeast Asia via three specialised research labs: +Lab, Inclusion Lab, and the Wellmetric Lab.
For more on the Future Centre see https://www.monash.edu.my/workplace-wellbeing-centre
Situated at the main campus of Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia in Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, the Department continues to evolve and thrive.
For more information, please visit https://www.monash.edu.my/jcsmhs/department-of-psychology
The Department in Malaysia is well-interconnected with the Monash School of Psychological Sciences in Australia, positioning it to further adapt and develop strengths in research and education programs for the benefit of the Southeast Asian region. The Psychological Sciences were established at Monash over 60 years ago and now rank amongst the best in the world, at 52nd in globally in the QS World University Rankings and 50th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2024. The research strengths of this multinational academic community are organised into six core research programs: Addiction and Mental Health, Ageing and Neurodegeneration, Brain Injury and Rehabilitation, Brain Mapping and Modelling, Neurodevelopment, and Sleep and Circadian Rhythms.
For more about Monash University School of Psychological Sciences see
https://www.monash.edu/medicine/psych
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
To lead the continuing success of psychology in this high-performing, global university environment, candidates must bring a doctoral qualification (PhD) and evidence of outstanding scholarly research activity of an international standard in an area of psychology (ideally workplace mental health or child and adolescent mental health) and a demonstrated ongoing commitment to research. Qualified as a psychologist, and preferably as a clinical psychologist, with an internationally recognised professional registration (or eligible to register), candidates bring proven capabilities in the management of research, education and administration including the ability to develop and implement of research strategies for that support with broader institutional research priorities, and a vision for education programs and delivery that meet the institution’s and professional standards and workforce needs. The University will support the international relocation of the right candidate and their dependents to take up this position, if required.
TO LEARN MORE, AND TO APPLY
The University has engaged global academic search firm De Sailly Search to handle the recruitment process. To learn more about the opportunity, candidates are encouraged to make a confidential enquiry via email to Dr Rosalind De Sailly, at MUMPsych@desailly.com.au
Applications are to be sent via email to the address above, and must include:
- a cover letter indicating why you are interested in the position and an introduction to your vision for the department of psychology;
- a criteria statement of no more than four pages, systematically addressing the selection criteria listed in the position description;
- a full academic CV;
- names and contact details of five referees. Nominated referees are to include at least two who have been at a peer level or above at your organisation within the past two years, and at least one past supervisor within the past two years.
Referees are not contacted without prior consultation with applicants.
Further information for prospective candidates
Living in Greater Kuala Lumpur and working at Monash University Malaysia
The virtual campus tour of Monash University Malaysia provides an introduction to the campus neighbourhood and the educational and other facilities on campus.
Monash University Malaysia is in Sunway City in the state of Selangor, about 20 kilometres south west of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur and only minutes away from the city of Petaling. The town has gained a reputation as Selangor’s higher education hub.
Singapore is only 28 minutes away by plane and four hours by car, Thailand just one hour by plane and eight hours by car, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, an easy 45-minute drive.
More about the campus location in Sunway City is available on the Monash University website here.
Details about the staff benefits package at Monash University Malaysia is available here.
Kuala Lumpur, commonly known as “KL”, is a modern, multicultural city that values its traditions. The rich living heritage of Malaysia’s European, Chinese, Malay and Indian populations and influences contributes to its famous street food.
Expatriates rate Kuala Lumpur in the world’s top ten cities for its local friendliness, affordable quality housing, quality of life, healthcare, culture and ease of settling in — helped, no doubt, by the fact that English is widely spoken and known as the city’s second language. InterNations, the largest global community for people who live and work abroad, found in its survey that international living in Malaysia valued its quality of life, citing environment and climate, safety and security, and finding friends as some of the country’s top-rating benefits and that working abroad in Malaysia ranked highly for its career prospects, salary, work life balance, personal finance, and for work culture and satisfaction (source: Expat Insider 2022, and 2023).
Malaysia is central member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and has close cultural and other ties to neighbouring ASEAN nations, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines and Vietnam.
Living in KL puts all these countries within easy reach, with European cities just a few hours away. People in Malaysia love the leisure and travel options, from exploring ancient rainforests and many of the world’s top beaches, to cultural and art tourism.