Post-Doctoral Associate - Military Veterans

Our fellowship program aims to prepare postdoctoral fellows for an academic career as a highly trained early childhood mental health specialist in translational research and clinical service provision of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. Post-doctoral fellows will work within a longitudinal neurodevelopmental clinical-research program that aims to reduce the risk of toxic stress by providing early neurodevelopmental evaluations, relationship-based support, and therapeutic interventions for young children and parents in a high-risk population.

This program primarily services children 0-3 years old with complex medical conditions. Many of these patients are identified prenatally, often placed in the NICU, and have multiple hospitalizations with complex surgeries or medical procedures throughout their early years. These experiences put young children at high risk for toxic stress, which can further impede their health and brain development. With early identification and effective therapeutic interventions these risks can be mitigated through sensitive and supportive caregiver-child relationships. This fellowship will include working with multidisciplinary teams, conducting research, and engaging in clinical work in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Clinical training will focus on understanding and implementing the diagnostic classification of mental health and developmental disorders of infancy and early childhood (DC:0-5), early developmental and relational assessment techniques, and evidence-based interventions that promote emotion regulation and secure attachment relationships (e.g., Child Parent Psychotherapy, Attachment Biobehavioral Catch-Up). Potential research opportunities include designing clinical and scientific protocols, scientific writing, interpreting results, co-authoring manuscripts, and submitting research grants. Positions are available to conduct research with faculty mentors on a variety of topics in pediatrics or in one of its subspecialties. The department of pediatrics maintains a file of applications from candidates for postdoctoral positions on a continuous basis.

Required Qualifications:

In addition to a demonstrated interest in risk and resilience factors in infancy and early childhood, applicants must have a PhD or PsyD in clinical, counseling, or school psychology and have completed an APA-accredited internship

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated expertise in developing and carrying out scientific protocols, scientific writing, and excellent letters of reference.