Postdoctoral position in clinical research with autism spectrum disorders

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 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 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 in the summer of 2015, 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:

•  Doctoral degree from an APA-Accredited program in Clinical Psychology

•  Successful completion of an APA-accredited or APPIC-member internship

•  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

To apply, please submit: (1) Letter of interest; (2) CV/Resume to susan.faja@childrens.harvard.edu

Candidates being considered for this position will be asked to provide 3 letters of professional reference and a writing sample. 

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Susan Faja, Ph.D. 
Research Associate | Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience | BCH3178
Boston Children’s Hospital | 1 Autumn Street | AU459 | Boston, MA 02215 
617-919-4486 | susan.faja@childrens.harvard.edu

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