POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR

The University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry is currently accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Intellectual Disability-Mental Illness (IDMI) program for 2026/27. The candidate will be an active member of a specialized interdisciplinary team of social work, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, and medicine with expertise supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and severe challenging behaviors. The Postdoctoral Scholar will train in providing outpatient therapy, clinical assessments, education, and consultation to patients/families and care providers.

This clinically based fellowship program will offer exceptional opportunities that will produce a highly marketable, well-rounded professional positioned to excel in a variety of desirable career settings. The fellowship program will include approximately 2000 hours of specialized training (including paid time off, vacation, and sick leave) in clinical psychology; 1500 hours will be supervised professional experience as required by the Iowa Board of Psychology for licensure purposes.

The IDMI team is also highly involved in research projects and its members support regional and national presentations, training and publication process. They interface with safety and security, nursing, and physicians to support patients with behavioral needs throughout the hospital. Working in the state's only tertiary academic medical center offers unique opportunities for program development and application of skills for very complex patients.

The Fellowship is a full-time (40 hours per week) position with a primary placement in the adult IDMI outpatient program. Clinical obligations include 25-30 hours a week of billable clinical services. The postdoctoral scholar has the opportunity for rotations that will include a combination of the following activities based on the fellow's interests:

• Outpatient Individual Psychotherapy (Lifespan)
• Outpatient Adapted Group therapy (Adult)
• Child/Adolescent Psychological Assessment with Pediatric Psychology (Inpatient and Outpatient)

Postdoctoral scholars have opportunities for education, training, and professional development (~4 hours per week) and can benefit from a variety of educational opportunities within the team as well as in the Psychiatry Department and larger hospital system. Activities include weekly multidisciplinary team meetings/didactic seminars and Psychiatry Grand Rounds, and may include pediatric Grand Rounds and other hospital educational programs. Training will include weekly individual supervision with the Clinical Director. The Postdoctoral Scholar may also have the opportunity to provide clinical supervision to doctoral-level psychology students and will be encouraged to present professional lectures and programs to clinic, department, and hospital staff, as well as to external agencies.

Completion of a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in Clinical, School, or Counseling Psychology from an APA/CPA accredited program and completion of an APA/CPA accredited internship prior to the start date in August 2026.

Required qualifications/application instructions:

1. Completion of a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in Clinical, School or Counseling Psychology from an APA/CPA accredited program and completion of an APA/CPA accredited internship prior to start date in August 2026.

2. Cover letter that describes training goals for the fellowship year, a description of ways in which the applicant's training and clinical experiences fit the mission and multidisciplinary composition of the IDMI program and potential ideas for the Capstone Clinical Project/Fellowship Research Project.

3. Current CV

4. Graduate transcripts

5. Three letters of reference from the applicant's a) internship director, describing progress and anticipated completion date; b) chair of the dissertation committee, detailing status of dissertation and the anticipated completion date of doctoral training; c) supervisor who is familiar with the applicant's clinical work.

Search Committee Contact Information: Kelly Vinquist, Ph.D., BCBA. Associate Vice Chair of Acute Inpatient Services; Co-Director, IDMI Team. Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Phone: 319-384-8486. Email: Kelly-Vinquist@uiowa.edu

To start the Online Application process for this position, click the "Apply for This Position" button located below the Contact Information.