Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship - Riley Child Development LEND Program, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN
Posted: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
The Riley Child Development Center (RCDC) Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program is currently accepting applications for a psychology postdoctoral fellowship position for the 2021-2022 academic year with a focus on clinical research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to be part of a vibrant cross-institution research team as well as to gain clinical and research experience in assessment of toddlers at risk for ASD.
The RCDC LEND has been situated in the Department of Pediatrics in the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) since 1970. The Department of Pediatrics is home to several research centers, boasts an outstanding reputation in clinical, basic science and translational research, and is consistently among the top five to ten percent of National Institutes of Health pediatric funding recipients nationally. The mission of the RCDC LEND is to provide an interdisciplinary training experience that prepares graduate and post-graduate professionals from numerous health, education, and related disciplines to deliver high-quality services that result in improved systems of care for persons with ASD and other neurodevelopmental and related disabilities (including cognitive disabilities, neurodegenerative and acquired neurological disorders) and their families. More information about the RCDC LEND program can be found here: https://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics/specialties/child-development/lend-training.
The psychology postdoctoral fellow will work with faculty in the RCDC LEND to develop a tailored training plan that incorporates the following clinical and research experiences:
- Participation in clinical research evaluations of toddlers at-risk for ASD in the primary care setting. The fellow will obtain research reliability in use of the ADOS-2, as well as gain significant experience with developmental evaluation and clinical interviewing. Evaluations are conducted as part of an NIH-funded project (Dr. Becca McNally, IUSM; Dr. Brandon Keehn, Purdue University) focused on investigating an innovative model of early ASD diagnosis that links community-based clinical evaluation with the assessment of biobehavioral markers in the primary care setting.
- Participation in training of primary care clinicians in assessment and diagnosis of ASD as part of an ongoing statewide network and learning collaborative focused on lowering the age of ASD diagnosis. As part of this experience, the postdoctoral fellow will obtain experience in quality improvement science (Dr. Mary Ciccarelli & Dr. Becca McNally, IUSM).
- Participation in RCDC's LEND interdisciplinary assessment and diagnostic clinics. A primary focus is differential diagnosis of ASD in toddlers through transition-aged young adults. Fellows acquire significant experience in clinical interviewing as well as administration, scoring, and interpretation of ADOS-2 and cognitive and adaptive assessments. Some clinics include working with an interdisciplinary team with a speech/language fellow, social workers, nutritionists, dental residents, and a developmental pediatrician. Other opportunities may include conducting early intervention evaluations, learning disability assessments, and short-term interventions.
- Engagement in clinical research with the expectation to develop an individual research project resulting in a poster presentation and/or publication. Formal research training and mentorship in project development/implementation, data collection and analysis, and scientific dissemination will be provided.
- Didactic and discussion-based group learning opportunities are offered weekly. In addition to department and division-wide grand rounds and journal club, fellows participate in the LEND didactic seminar with the interdisciplinary LEND cohort. The LEND seminars encompass a variety of topics including policy and advocacy, family-centered care, and cultural competency. practices, and the creation of community support programs.
- Psychology post-doctoral fellows receive supervision from licensed psychologists within the Division of Child Development. Each fellow has a primary supervisor with whom they meet weekly to discuss cases, professional development, and other administrative and/or supervisory issues. Additionally, each clinic (and research clinic) has a primary psychologist who provides live supervision throughout that day.
Qualifications:
- Doctorate in psychology (clinical or school psychology) from an APA-accredited program.
- Demonstrated potential for a career in child psychology with an emphasis on neurodevelopmental evaluation.
The ideal candidate will have experience in 1) assessment and diagnosis of individuals with ASD, with a preference given to candidates with experience in assessment of toddlers and clinical or research use of the ADOS-2, and 2) participation on a research team with a demonstrated interest in research focused on neurodevelopmental disabilities, including ASD. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Application:
- Letter of interest outlining fit with fellowship position and training goals for the post-doctoral year.
- Curriculum Vita (include awarded or expected date of doctoral degree).
- Three letters of reference.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Salary and Benefits: $40,000 stipend plus IUSM healthcare benefits
Start Date: September 1, 2021
Contact Dr. Becca McNally, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, at [email protected] with questions about the fellowship or to submit your application.