Training opportunities

Postdoctoral Position in Pre-clinical and Clinical Brain Imaging Of Drug Abuse

Psychiatry Spect Imaging Program, Yale opening Summer/Fall 2013

The Psychiatry SPECT Imaging Program at Yale invites applications for postdoctoral positions in neuroreceptor imaging of addiction and other psychiatric disorders in human subjects and in animal models. Ongoing projects include imaging the nicotinic acetylcholine and GABAA-benzodiazepine receptors in living humans and animals during the recovery from alcohol dependence and chronic tobacco smoking. We are also interested in examining the genetic polymorphisms that mediate neurochemical changes in addiction and the cognitive impairments associated with chronic addiction and recovery. Additional studies include preclinical radiotracer development and opportunities to acquire training in MRI and PET imaging. Applicants must have completed a MD or PhD or equivalent degree in neuroscience, psychology, biology, chemistry, pharmacology or related discipline. Willingness to conduct animal research is preferable.

To apply: Applicants should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references to Dr. Kelly Cosgrove, Director, Psychiatry SPECT Imaging, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine & VACHS 116A6; 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven CT 06516. US Citizenship is required. Yale University School of Medicine is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Assistant Professor Addiction Treatment Research, Department of Psychiatry

Dartmouth Medical School

The Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center invites applications for one non-tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level. Applicant should have: interest in substance use disorder treatment development and testing, services research in community settings and/or implementation/dissemination science research and some clinical expertise, as well as documented knowledge of standardized assessment, research design and conduct, and data analytic techniques.

Qualifications include: A doctoral degree in a relevant psychological, medical, social or public health discipline; background in clinical research; a commitment to improving community services or the public health; and capacity to work effectively on a team.

The Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center is a multi-disciplinary group of researchers with broad range of interests and faculty members from the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Community & Family Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. A commonality of the work at the Center is the design, testing and dissemination of evidence-based treatments for implementation in routine community settings. Of particular focus in this position are services to persons with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders. Dartmouth Medical School is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and seeks diversity in faculty and staff. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply: Candidates should send a CV, cover letter describing areas of expertise, and a list of three references to: Mark McGovern PhD, Dartmouth Medical School, 85 Mechanic Street, Suite B4-1, Lebanon, NH 03766. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Tenure Track Assistant Professor Position, emphasis in Health Psychology

Washington State University

We seek applicants with interests in either (a) health and aging research, (b) health and addictions research, or (c) methodologies for studying health-related outcomes. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining a productive research program, mentoring graduate student research, and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. Required qualifications: Applicants must have earned a PhD in psychology or a closely related discipline, with a demonstrated record of research publication and college-level teaching experience. Preferred qualifications: Applicants who can contribute to the Department’s graduate training areas in Neuropsychology, Clinical Health Psychology, Psychopathology, Applied Quantitative Methods, or Biopsychology, and who have documented experience working with historically disadvantaged populations, are especially desirable.

Washington State University is a moderate-sized (20,000 students) land-grant institution located in Pullman, Washington, a small college town in rural southeastern Washington. The Psychology Department has over 800 undergraduate majors and wellestablished doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology and in Experimental Psychology, with the first PhD degrees granted in 1956. Learn more about the Department of Psychology

Our department is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching, research, and service. WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Washington State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action educator and employer. People of color, women, Vietnam-era or disabled veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are strongly encouraged to apply.

WSU is committed to excellence through diversity, has faculty friendly policies including a partner accommodation program, and a NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering and math

To apply: Applicants should apply online through WSU Human Resources and submit a letter of application describing their relevant experience, a c.v., up to four reprints, and three letters of recommendation. Inquiries can be directed to Dr. Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe, Chair of the Health Psychology Search Committee. Review of applications begins November 15, 2012.

Postdoctoral Traineeship In Drug Abuse Treatment and Services Research

University of California—San Fransisco (UCSF)

Overview

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is offering this National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded postdoctoral program. Our program is one of the few that trains scientists in treatment and service research. Scholars work with a preceptor to design and implement studies on treatment of drug dependence, including nicotine dependence. Scholars also select a specific area of focus for independent research.

Current research interests of our faculty include

• trials of efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial and pharmacologic treatment of drug abuse, including tobacco dependence;

• innovative methodology including internet based studies;

• treatment of complex patients in innovative settings;

• diagnostic techniques and research on treatment tailored for HIV positive drug abusers and drug abusers with psychiatric and medical disorders;

• research on provision of services to drug abusing populations; and

• instrument development in drug abuse.

A variety of university-affiliated and community substance abuse programs are available as research sites. These include inpatient and outpatient setting programs that treat a range of problems related to drugs of abuse, including dependence on cocaine, nicotine, alcohol, and opiates. The program encourages close research involvement with the preceptor, and involvement in selected classes, seminars, and grant preparation.

The training program is supported in part by a Center grant, the San Francisco Treatment Research Center, and a grant supporting the Western States Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network program. Intellectual resources from other significant extramural funding and R01-level grants are also routinely available to scholars.

Philosophy

Our program’s unifying philosophy is:

1. Drug abuse treatment and services research must be methodologically excellent and clinically relevant;

2. Problems related to drug abuse are best attacked from a multidisciplinary perspective; and 3. Integration of knowledge of various intellectual domains is essential to the development of effective treatment.

Because our philosophy implies that the quality of the postdoctoral program depends on the quality of the scholars, faculty, and environment, rather than on any particular class or activity, we energetically recruit in order to bring high-quality applicants into a research environment where they will work under the guidance of research-sophisticated investigators.

Program Faculty

Our postdoctoral program is directed by a seven-member Executive Committee and has twenty core faculty, representing psychiatry, public health and policy, the behavioral sciences, medicine, and biostatistics. They represent a diverse, but overlapping, range of research interests.

Postdoctoral Training Program

Each year, scholars participate in a Core Research Seminar and the Writers' Task Force, a group that facilitates, supports, and encourages the publication of manuscripts.

As part of their research training, scholars interact daily with investigators who guide them in responsible conduct of research and in solving the special ethical dilemmas of treatment and clinical research. Most scholars also take one of the several advanced statistics courses offered by the UCSF Biostatistics Department. Scholars' research projects and those of their mentors are closely tied. As scholars move from Year 1 to Year 2, they progress from a project designed by their mentor to a more independently conceived project, which they lead.

Goals for Postdoctoral Scholars

At the end of our postdoctoral program, we expect scholars to have acquired the following competencies and completed the following tasks:

1. gained knowledge of drugs of abuse and their treatment;

2. advanced their knowledge of statistical and methodological techniques needed for clinical and services research;

3. understand drug abuse treatment systems and drug research projects;

4. conducted at least two research projects in a clinical setting: One designed by their preceptor; and one of their own design, for which they have primary responsibility;

5. made multiple internal presentations;

6. made at least two presentations of their work at national meetings;

7. published one to three journal articles;

8. submitted a small grant application to local funding sources; published additional manuscripts from the work completed as a scholar during the two years following enrollment in our program.

Support for Postdoctoral Scholars

Scholars are funded by two sources. Stipend levels are set by NIH, based on years of related experience, and range from $38,496 to $53,112. Preceptors are often able to augment these stipends from non-NIH sources. Scholars are provided with other research support, including travel to at least one annual professional meeting and other support required for a useful training experience, including statistical consulting, some administrative support, and access to computers for writing and data analyses.

Background of Former Postdoctoral Scholars

Our postdoctoral scholars have come from a variety of fields, including clinical psychology, counseling psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, nursing, political science, psychiatry, pharmacology, and social psychology. Their studies have included vocational issues among methadone outpatients, social identities and treatment outcomes among alcohol and cocaine abusers in private treatment, the effects of acute nicotine use on cue-induced cocaine craving, mood management intervention for injection drug users, childhood trauma and PTSD in inpatient substance abusers, prevention and treatment of HIV in drug users, studies of effective educational method in drug abuse education, studies of the relationship of readiness to change and depression to nicotine dependence, studies of service utilization and outcome among elderly substance users, and studies of drug abuse treatment and services within health maintenance organizations.

Success of Our Postdoctoral Graduates We admit two to four scholars every year. Graduates of our postdoctoral program have been placed at numerous high-caliber institutions where research is valued.

To apply: For consideration in the postdoctoral program, please send an application packet consisting of your curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and representative work. Two letters of reference should be sent directly from the recommenders to the address below. Research statement should include the following items: 1) history of research projects, 2) current interests, 3) what you would like to learn and accomplish during your postdoctoral traineeship at UCSF, and 4) a list of program faculty with whom you would like to work. Representative work can include dissertation chapters if no publications are available. Electronic submission of materials (except reference letters) is strongly encouraged.

All applicants must have completed the doctorate at the time of entry into the program and be a U.S. citizen or have Lawful Permanent Residency (Green Card) at the time of appointment.

Please direct information requests, application packets and letters of recommendation to:

James L. Sorensen, PhD
c/o Barbara Paschke
Postdoctoral Program in Drug Abuse Treatment and Services Research
2727 Mariposa Street, Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94110
Telephone: (415) 437-3032
Fax: (415) 437-3020

Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor

University of Kansas

The Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor, academic year, tenure-track faculty position expected to begin as early as August 18, 2012.

KU seeks to hire an outstanding applied and intervention research scholar in substance abuse. Along with qualifications and experience, salary is commensurate with other leading research universities. PhD or ABD in a social or behavioral science discipline with specialization in applied behavioral pharmacology is expected by start date of the appointment.

Required qualifications for the Assistant Professor include the potential for high quality research and teaching in the area of applied behavioral pharmacology that compliments the needs of the university and the department faculty.

For the Associate Professor, the required qualifications include demonstrated high quality research and teaching in the area of applied behavioral pharmacology that compliments the needs of the university and the department faculty.

The University of Kansas is especially interested in hiring faculty members who can contribute to four key campus-wide strategic initiatives: (1) Sustaining the Planet, Powering the World: (2) Promoting Well-Being, Finding Cures; (3) Building Communities, Expanding Opportunities; and (4) Harnessing Information, Multiplying Knowledge.

To apply: For a complete announcement and to apply on-line and search for the position 00002480. Attach (upload) the following documents to the on-line application form: (1) letter of application describing educational and work experiences; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) teaching portfolio; (4) statement of research interests; (5) a list of three-five references.

In addition, applicants should arrange to have three-five reference letters, as well as selective reprints/preprints sent separately to

Applied Behavioral Pharmacology Search
Coordinator, Department of Applied Behavioral Science
1000 Sunnyside Avenue
4001 Dole Human Development Center
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-7555

Review of applications begins December 1, 2011, and will continue until no longer needed. EO/AA Employer.

Research Scientist

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The Division of Neurobehavioral Research (Department of Psychiatry, UT Health Science Center as San Antonio), is seeking a motivated individual to join our ongoing NIH studies of the behavioral and biological effects of human alcohol consumption. These studies bridge human laboratory assessment and interventions to reduce dangerous drinking patterns outside the lab. This is a "springboard" position designed to allow the candidate to grow into a faculty-level position. The division offers training in the areas of behavioral pharmacology (Dr. Donald Dougherty), psychiatry (Dr. Rene Olvera), psychophysiology (Dr. Charles Mathias), neuroimaging (Dr. Ashley Acheson), and molecular biology (Dr. Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak). This position has a significant administrative/supervisory focus with ample opportunities for publication. Responsibilities include study coordination and supervision of study personnel; participant recruitment, screening, and psychological testing; data management and statistical analyses; and manuscript/grant preparations. Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in behavioral pharmacology, experimental psychology, or other relevant area. Previous postdoctoral experience preferred and preference given to those with a history or evidence of interests in developing an alcohol-related research program.

To apply: Submit curriculum vitae, a letter outlining interests and career goals, and representative publication reprints (PDF files) to:

Dr. Donald M. Dougherty
Department of Psychiatry
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antoni
MC 7793,
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229- 3900

UTHSCSA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action.