Psychology Post-Doctoral Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at the VA Bedford Healthcare System
The Bedford site of the VISN 1 New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) is seeking applications for a two-year Psychology Post-Doctoral Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. The Bedford site of the VISN 1 New England MIRECC is located at VA Bedford Healthcare System in Bedford, MA. The mission of the VISN 1 New England MIRECC is to improve mental health treatments and access to services for Veterans who have addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders, as well as related issues such as VA-compensated disabilities, homelessness, criminal justice histories, and medical co-morbidities. We aim to:
• Better understand the prevalence and consequences of co-occurring addictions and mental health disorders;
• Improve the treatment of Veterans with addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders by developing innovative new treatments;
• Devise more effective ways to deliver established treatments; and
• Create more effective programs by training VA health care professionals in therapies with proven efficacy.
For more information on the VISN 1 New England MIRECC, please visit: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn1/
For more information on the Post-Doctoral Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at the VA Bedford Healthcare System, please visit: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn1/fellowships.asp
We will be recruiting for one position to start in the Fall of 2024.
Fellows will spend 75% of their time on research and related educational activities and 25% in direct clinical care. Fellows will develop and implement a mentored research project, participate in scientific writing, grant writing, and presentations, as well as contribute to MIRECC educational activities and clinical service delivery, particularly within addictions-related settings. The Bedford Site of the VISN 1 New England MIRECC is formally affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Applicants must have received a doctorate from an APA or CPA accredited graduate program in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology or PCSAS accredited Clinical Science program. Persons with a doctorate in another area of psychology who meet the APA or CPA criteria for respecialization training in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology are also eligible. Applicants must have also completed an APA or CPA accredited psychology internship program. Fellows must be U.S. citizens. For the 2024-25 training year, we expect that the postdoctoral fellowship stipend will be no less than $58,222 for year one and $61,032 in year two.
To apply, please submit the following required application materials by email to to Dr. Victoria Ameral at Victoria.Ameral@va.gov and Dr. Brian Stevenson at Brian.Stevenson4@va.gov
1. A letter of interest that provides information on your research interests, as well as previous experiences in clinical work, education, and research (2 pages). Please provide information on a) how your research and clinical interests align with the mission of the VISN 1 New England MIRECC (see above); b) what you would like to accomplish during your fellowship; c) research mentors you are interested in working with (refer to list of faculty below); d) your professional goals as a psychologist; and e) the names of your three letter writers (#5 below).
2. A current curriculum vitae
3. A work sample, such as a published or unpublished manuscript on which you are first author or other written product in which you were lead author (e.g., case report, manuals).
4. Graduate school transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application but official ones will be required if applicant is selected)
5. Three signed letters of recommendation. Include at least one letter from a research mentor and at least one letter from a clinical supervisor. Letters can be sent directly from the recommender or emailed with the completed application packet.
A completed packet with all application materials is due on November 27, 2023.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Psychology Fellowship Co- Directors, Dr. Victoria Ameral at Victoria.Ameral@va.gov or Dr. Brian Stevenson at Brian.Stevenson4@va.gov.
Bedford Site, VISN 1 New England MIRECC Fellowship Faculty Interests Victoria Ameral, Ph.D.: Psychotherapy treatment development for addiction and co-occurring conditions, continuity of addiction treatment and Veteran experiences of care, recovery-oriented outcomes, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principles in experimental and applied addiction research.
Brian Stevenson, Ph.D.: Developing vocational interventions that support meaningful employment goals and self-efficacy for veterans with addictions and co-occurring conditions, upstream interventions to prevent job loss, employer bias interventions, provision of recovery-oriented psychological services, harm reduction.
Jay Gorman, Ph.D.: Enhancing social connection and building support systems to improve treatment for Veterans with addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Mo Modarres, Ph.D.: Application of neuroimaging and data analysis techniques, particularly using EEG and fNIRS, to characterize and understand the brain mechanisms underlying neuro-psychiatric disorders.
Andrew Peckham, Ph.D.: Development and evaluation of cognitive remediation interventions in acute, naturalistic treatment settings. Expertise in cognitive mechanisms of serious mental illness.
Erin D. Reilly, Ph.D.: Development and evaluation of technology-delivered interventions (e.g., mobile apps, robotics, and websites) to assist with at-home self-management of chronic, comorbid mental and physical health conditions including (but not limited to) chronic pain, insomnia, PTSD, and depression.
Eric Smith, MD, MPH: Depression in Primary Care, Pharmacoepidemiology and Adverse Drug Events, Pharmacotherapy, Suicide Prevention
Megan M. Kelly, Ph.D.: Development of mHealth and psychosocial treatment approaches for tobacco use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorders; development of social support approaches using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy applications.
Lisa Mueller, Ph.D.: Developing interventions to address employment and education functioning in Veterans with addiction and mental health conditions as well as psychosocial challenges.
Dongchan Park, M.D.: Reducing systematic barriers in addressing substance use disordersand cross-cultural influences on the development of behavioral addictions.
(Information submitted on September 8, 2023)