Postdoctoral Fellow - REPEAT Lab, Psychology Department

Virginia Commonwealth University   Richmond, VA   Full-time     Science
Posted on April 1, 2024
Apply Now

Position Responsibilities:

We invite applications for a postdoctoral fellow position in the Psychology Department at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) working with Dr. Ann Haynos and her team. Responsibilities may vary flexibly according to the fellow's background and training goals, but will primarily focus on providing oversight on ongoing NIMH-funded studies (on investigating and treating neurocomputational mechanisms of anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder) and supporting data analysis and manuscript preparation for studies within the lab. Clinical responsibilities, such as conducting or supervising or assessments or therapy for ongoing research studies could be involved in the position as desired by the candidate.

The position start date is flexible; although an earlier start date is possible, anticipated start date would be Summer or Fall of 2024. The duration of the position will be for at least one year and the ideal candidate will be interested in two or more years in the role. The position will be supported by the REPEAT (Research on Excessive, Persistent, and Emotion-based Actions and Traits) lab headed by Dr. Haynos, which focuses on understanding and intervening upon eating disorders and other rigid and persistent psychological concerns (e.g., obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, non-suicidal self-injury). Current and recent projects involve a wide range of methods (e.g., fMRI, neurocognitive measures, ambulatory assessment), collaborations with a range of disciplines (e.g., psychiatry, neuroscience, engineering, biostatistics), and research across the developmental spectrum (i.e., across adolescence and adulthood).

This position will present many opportunities for training in advanced psychological and neuroscience-based methods and analyses, computational modeling, clinical trial administration, as well as for publication, grant-writing, and working towards licensure. A strong emphasis will be placed on the professional development of the fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Haynos and colleagues.

The position will be for one year with the possibility of renewal. Future renewal is contingent on continuation of grant funding and/or performance.

Interested candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter, and the names/contact information for at least three references.

Initial application review will begin on October 20th. However, applications may be considered on a rolling basis after this date.

Required Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. or M.D. in Psychology, Neuroscience, or any closely related field
  • Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Interest in research on eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or neurobiological and/or computational mechanisms of psychiatric disorders broadly
  • Strong quantitative skills, especially pertaining to neuroimaging analysis or computational modeling, or interest in and willingness towards learning these skills
  • Strong writing skills and a desire to work on a range of manuscripts
  • Strong communication skills and ability to work well with others
  • Experience in supervising and managing research staff and/or students
Job Specific Physical and Cognitive Requirements:

Physical Demands & Activities
Light Lifting (<20 lbs): Marginal
Moderate Lifting (20-50 lbs): Marginal
Heavy Lifting (>50 lbs): N/A
Pushing/Pulling: N/A
Standing: Marginal
Sitting: Essential
Repetitive Motion: Essential
Walking: Marginal
Climbing: N/A
Reaching: Essential
Bending: Marginal

Emotional Demands
Fast pace: Essential
Average Pace: Essential
Multiple Stimuli: Essential
Intense Customer Interaction: Marginal
Frequent Change: Essential

Mental/Sensory Demands
Memory: Essential
Reasoning: Essential
Hearing: Essential
Reading: Essential
Analyzing: Essential
Logic: Essential
Verbal Communication: Essential
Written Communication: Essential

Salary Range:
Starting at $54,840

Position Details:
Department: Psychology

Employment Type: PD - Post Doc

Restricted Status: Yes

FTE: 1

Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:
Dr. Ann Haynos

haynosa@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.