Postdoctoral position at Boston Children's Hospital

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Research, Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience,
Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine

The Faja Lab at the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital currently has
a postdoctoral fellowship to conduct clinical research with children and adolescents on the
autism spectrum. The lab is focused on executive control, social cognition and social
perception and, in particular, seeks to understand changes in these systems resulting from
targeted interventions by using electrophysiological as well as behavioral measurement tools.
In addition, the Faja Lab is interested in individual differences within individuals with autism
spectrum disorders. The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to a new NIH-funded project that
will test a novel training intervention for executive control and examine the relation between
executive control and social cognition. The project will use electrophysiological and behavioral
measures to investigate these questions in 7- to 11-year-olds with autism.
The fellow will conduct diagnostic and cognitive evaluations for children with autism spectrum
disorder, typical development and other neurodevelopmental disabilities under the supervision
of a licensed clinical psychologist. As well, the postdoctoral fellow will be involved with
implementing a targeted intervention for school-aged children with autism. Other
responsibilities include: (1) Assisting with preparing extramural grant applications;
(2) Preparing and submitting first-authored and co-authored manuscripts for publication;
(3) Mentoring undergraduate students; (4) Overseeing multi-modal data collection (e.g.,
EEG/ERP; behavioral and computer-based tasks; and surveys completed by parents, teachers,
and research staff). The motivated fellow will also have opportunities for development of skills
in electrophysiological processing and analysis and independent grant writing. The position is
available immediately, but the start date is flexible.
The Faja Lab is part of a larger research network in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience
that includes a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise from a wide range of fields,
including neuroscience, psychology, and education. In collaboration with clinical experts in
fields such as developmental pediatrics and child neurology, we are working to expand our
knowledge of child development and developmental disorders. Areas of focus include the
development of memory and face-processing, the impact of environmental factors such as
stress on cognitive development, and understanding causes of and treatments for autism,
ADHD, and dyslexia. Through this collaborative and comprehensive approach, we aim to drive
the science forward as rapidly as possible, so that we can translate what we learn into earlier
identification, improved therapies, and better outcomes for children and families affected by
developmental disorders. Children’s Hospital of Boston is ranked as the top Children’s Hospital
in the United States and is committed research and to building a diverse workforce.
Applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities are strongly encouraged. For further
information please contact, susan.faja@childrens.harvard.edu.
Requirements:
• A doctoral degree from an APA-Accredited program in Clinical Psychology
• Successful completion of an APA-accredited or APPIC-member internship
• Dedicated interest in child/adolescent psychology with experience administering,
scoring, and interpreting intellectual and diagnostic assessments for children
• Experience and formal coursework in psychopathology and psychotherapy with children
and adolescents
• Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills and strong clinical skills in
diagnosis, assessment, and therapy
Please include: (1) Letter of interest; (2) CV/Resume; (3) Up to 3 letters of professional
reference; (4) Writing sample. You may email your application materials to
susan.faja@childrens.harvard.edu.