POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP, HARVARD UNIVERSITY Research on Psychotherapy Effectiveness with Children and Adolescents

19 Sep 2023    

 HARVARD UNIVERSITY 

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY 

232 William James Hall 33 Kirkland Street Cambridge, MA 02138 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP, HARVARD UNIVERSITY 

Research on Psychotherapy Effectiveness with Children and Adolescents 

[Start date: Summer 2024] 

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship under the direction of Professor John Weisz in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. This is a research position, with primary responsibilities that include… 

• Leadership in the NIMH-funded randomized clinical trial of FIRST, our principle-guided, transdiagnostic psychotherapy* for children and adolescents. The intervention addresses anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and conduct-related problems and disorders. 
• Training and providing consultation to community clinicians in evidence-based practices for common youth mental health concerns. 
• Engaging with community clinic partners to establish and implement study procedures and facilitate participant recruitment. 
• Supervising research assistants to coordinate study procedures, including assessments. 
• Supervision of data collection, management, and sharing. 
• Grant correspondence (e.g., annual progress and recruitment reports). 
• Preparing manuscripts and grant applications for the postdoctoral fellow’s own research 

Strong applicants will have: 

• A Ph.D. in Clinical, Counseling, or School Psychology from an APA-accredited program, completed prior to the start date 
• Experience and demonstrated effectiveness in youth treatment-related research. 
• Clinical training and experience in CBT for youth depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, and in behavioral parent training for youth conduct problems. 
• Clinical training and experience in conducting evidence-based assessments (i.e., diagnostic interviews, standardized progress measures) for common youth mental health concerns with children, adolescents and caregivers. 
• Experience and skill in giving professional presentations. 
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. 
• Publications related to youth mental health care. 

Other highly desirable skills include: 

• Experience in training or supervising clinicians in evidence-based methods. 
• Experience supervising standardized assessments with children, adolescents and caregivers. 
• Experience providing and/or teaching modular youth psychotherapy. 
• Strong computer, statistical, and technical skills and familiarity with online data collection (e.g, Qualtrics). 

Activities may include co-directing an NIMH-funded randomized clinical trial of the FIRST treatment program (Weisz & Bearman, 2020*), training and supervising research assistants in project coordination and standardized assessments , consultation with community clinicians who are research participants, oversight of online clinician feedback systems, and database management. Manuscript preparation and grant-writing will be encouraged and supported, consistent with the individual’s research interests. The work involves collaboration with an active research team at Harvard University under the mentorship of PI John Weisz. Data from multiple clinical investigations are available for the postdoctoral fellow’s individual research. There will be opportunities to participate in development and testing of brief digital mental health interventions that are part of the lab’s agenda. In addition, a large and ever-growing database of more than 600 treatment outcome studies spanning five decades is available for meta-analyses, according to the postdoctoral fellow’s interests. 

The salary and benefits are quite competitive. Initial appointment is for one year with renewal contingent upon continued funding and mutual agreement. Applicants with potential availability for 2 years are preferred. 

Applicants should submit a formal application and email (1) a letter of interest (including your experience in clinical assessment, supervision, and implementation of evidence-based youth psychotherapies), (2) curriculum vitae, and (3) names and contact information for three professional references, to Olivia Petersen, Lab Manager, at opetersen@fas.harvard.edu. In your message, please cc Prof. John Weisz (john_weisz@harvard.edu). 

The Department of Psychology sits within the Division of Social Science, which is strongly committed to creating and supporting a diverse workforce. Respect and fairness, kindness and collegiality, and trust and transparency are among the values we espouse and promote in our workplace culture. We work hard to ensure a healthy, inclusive, and positive environment where everyone does their best work in support of Harvard’s mission. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our departmental diversity statement. 

Harvard is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

* Weisz, J.R., & Bearman, S.K. (2020). Principle-Guided Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: The FIRST Treatment Program for Behavioral and Emotional Problems. New York: Guilford Press. s 

* Articles and other information about the FIRST Model and FIRST treatment program can be found here: https://weiszlab.fas.harvard.edu/first-model-and-therapy-programs