|
|
 |
Postdoctoral
Education and Training
Over the past 50 years, the advancement of psychology as a science was fueled by significant grant programs for faculty and postdoctoral fellows through such federal agencies as the Office of Naval Research (ONR), National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA).
How important is postdoctoral training? For those interested in and planning to seek a research university faculty position in an academic or applied professional department, having a postdoctoral research or combination clinical/research fellowship experience is very likely to help, if not be required. There also are opportunities on occasion, though less formally organized at this time, for postdoctoral teaching appointments to enhance one's competencies as a faculty person. Finally, for those planning to seek a license in psychology for independent practice, most licensing jurisdictions require at least one year of supervised postdoctoral experience prior to application for license examination.
In most cases, it is at the postdoctoral level that psychologists are more likely to seek and obtain highly specialized training, in some instances preparing residents to seek specialty credentialing in addition to licensure for the recognized professional specialty areas of psychology. Finally, of course, in addition to formal postdoctoral fellowships or residencies, there are a myriad of continuing professional education needs and programs to serve psychologists' needs for professional development through lifelong learning.
The APA Minority Fellowship Program provides financial support and professional guidance to individuals pursuing postdoctoral fellowships in psychology.
The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) provides information and assistance in matching students with training programs.
Eligible psychologists can receive loans of up to $70,000 to pursue careers in clinical research as well as in specific areas of clinical research through the Extramural Loan Repayment Program.
The Early Career
Psychologists website provides information for those who are interested
in licensure, plus data and employment research on psychologists.
The Graduate Education Policies section provides more information related to policies affecting graduate education.
International Postdoc Survival Guide
This Survival Guide is intended to help international postdocs navigate life and work in the United States. It includes information on how the postdoctoral training experience in the U.S. differs from other countries, tips on how to cope with personal and professional challenges as an international postdoc, guidance on the various types of visas, questions to ask prospective mentors and institutions before accepting a position in the U.S., illuminating personal stories from international postdocs from various countries, and a comprehensive database of web resources for postdocs in other countries.
Postdoc Association Toolkit
Postdoctoral Associations (PDAs) are a vibrant and dynamic source of support for postdoctoral scholars at their home institutions and nationally. The NPA's PDA Toolkit is intended to serve as a resource guide to assist postdocs and their allies in starting and sustaining an effective PDA. In this toolkit, NPA members will find a wealth of information, including best practices shared from PDAs nationwide, suggestions on how to gain support from key institute administrators, strategies for conducting surveys and methods for affecting institutional policies. The PDA Toolkit is a member benefit of the NPA.
Recommendations for Postdoctoral Policies and Practices
An excellent resource for institutional leaders, postdoc office administrators, principal investigators and postdoc association leaders, these recommendations reflect the best current thinking on those policies and practices that every institution should consider for enhancing the postdoctoral training experience.
|
