Research Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow

Position Summary

The Teen Program Of Weight and Eating Research (Teen POWER) at the Indiana University School of Medicine is seeking qualified candidates for a research-focused Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow position. Patient-oriented treatment research funded by NIH as well as pilot studies will provide advanced clinical-research opportunities for individuals interested in academic careers working with eating/weight disorders or adolescent behavioral health. This full-time position will involve approximately 50% research and 50% clinical intervention (therapy/assessment) delivered in the context of clinical trials.

Clinical work (50%) will involve serving as a research clinician performing assessments on an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial treating adolescents with binge eating. The postdoc will receive intensive training and on-going supervision in the administration of diagnostic and semi-structured interviews (e.g., Eating Disorder Examination) as well as the delivery of evidence-based (CBT, IHBLT) treatments for eating/weight disorders. Additional pilot studies are planned and will involve similar activities.

Research work (50%) will involve data analysis, preparing data reports for grant progress reports and new grant applications, and submitting research papers for publications and conferences. Data from numerous completed treatment and longitudinal studies on eating/weight disorders will also be available for research projects and publications. The postdoc will also supervise/mentor research staff (e.g., postbac and graduate student research assistants) in data management activities.

Candidates must have a doctoral degree in psychology, completed an APA-approved internship, and experience with eating/weight disorders and adolescents/families. Experience with data management systems (REDCap, Qualtrics), strong statistical skills and experiences, and excellent writing skills (including publications in peer-reviewed journals) are required. This position is tailor-made for loan repayment program applications and is ideal for persons pursuing academic clinical-research careers, with a focus on research (e.g., tenure-track faculty) or clinical (e.g., staff psychologist or clinical service director). Intensive mentored opportunities exist for publishing and for grant-writing.

Working at Teen POWER

Teen POWER is a new research clinic in the Department of Psychiatry. Our program received funding from the NIH to conduct treatment studies for adolescents with eating/weight concerns and has a 6-year track record conducting similar behavioral clinical trials. Teen POWER is best suited for individuals who are curious and patient-centered and our research environment is an ideal setting to engage with colleagues about clinical observations, data results, and their significance. Beyond having a strong work ethic and being detail-oriented, Teen POWER prioritizes highly collaborative and collegial relationships with peers and faculty, who make it a point to be highly responsive and accessible.

The Department of Psychiatry has a broad research, clinical, and teaching mission and maintains a clinical psychology internship, a psychiatry residency program, and fellowships in addition to training rotations for medical and graduate students.

Indiana University School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States, with a large academic health center in downtown Indianapolis, the 17th largest city in the United States. In addition to having active sports, cultural, arts, and educational events and programs, Indianapolis is located centrally near several other major cities including Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Columbus.

IU School of Medicine is committed to being a welcoming campus community and we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to robust learning and working environments for all students, staff, and faculty. We invite individuals who will join us in our mission to improve health equity and well-being for all throughout the state of Indiana.

IU School of Medicine is closely aligned with our health system partner, IU Health, which has twice earned a place on the US News and World Report Honor Roll. The shared vision of both institutions is to lead the transformation of healthcare through quality innovation and education to make Indiana one of the nation's healthiest states. IU Health is among the top ten largest single-state nonprofit health systems in the United States operating 16 hospitals statewide (a mix of urban, suburban and rural facilities). This partnership enables the seamless integration of research findings into patient care.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in clinical, counseling, or school psychology; social work; public health; neuroscience, or a closely related field. Doctorate or terminal degree preferred, ABD (pending dissertation defense) will be considered for strong candidates.
• Successful completion of APA-accredited internship, if applicable
• Strong background in academic writing and scientific presentations
• Experience with clinical assessment and therapy, preferably with youth
• Prior experience conducting patient-oriented research and/or clinical trials
• Exceptional clinical, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills