Post-Doctoral Fellowship - Riley Child Development Center
/Riley Child Development LEND Program
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship: Clinical Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Riley Child Development Center (RCDC) Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental
Disabilities (LEND) program is currently accepting applications for a psychology postdoctoral
fellowship position for the 2021-2022 academic year with a focus on clinical research in autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to be part of a vibrant crossinstitution
research team as well as to gain clinical and research experience in assessment of
toddlers at risk for ASD.
The RCDC LEND has been situated in the Department of Pediatrics in the Indiana University
School of Medicine (IUSM) since 1970. The Department of Pediatrics is home to several research
centers, boasts an outstanding reputation in clinical, basic science and translational research,
and is consistently among the top five to ten percent of National Institutes of Health pediatric
funding recipients nationally. The mission of the RCDC LEND is to provide an interdisciplinary
training experience that prepares graduate and post-graduate professionals from numerous
health, education, and related disciplines to deliver high-quality services that result in improved
systems of care for persons with ASD and other neurodevelopmental and related disabilities
(including cognitive disabilities, neurodegenerative and acquired neurological disorders) and their
families. More information about the RCDC LEND program can be found here:
https://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics/specialties/child-development/lend-training
The psychology postdoctoral fellow will work with faculty in the RCDC LEND to develop a tailored
training plan that incorporates the following clinical and research experiences:
• Participation in clinical research evaluations of toddlers at-risk for ASD in the primary care
setting. The fellow will obtain research reliability in use of the ADOS-2, as well as gain
significant experience with developmental evaluation and clinical interviewing. Evaluations
are conducted as part of an NIH-funded project (Dr. Becca McNally, IUSM; Dr. Brandon
Keehn, Purdue University) focused on investigating an innovative model of early ASD
diagnosis that links community-based clinical evaluation with the assessment of
biobehavioral markers in the primary care setting.
• Participation in training of primary care clinicians in assessment and diagnosis of ASD as
part of an ongoing statewide network and learning collaborative focused on lowering the
age of ASD diagnosis. As part of this experience, the postdoctoral fellow will obtain
experience in quality improvement science (Dr. Mary Ciccarelli & Dr. Becca McNally,
IUSM).
• Participation in RCDC’s LEND interdisciplinary assessment and diagnostic clinics. A
primary focus is differential diagnosis of ASD in toddlers through transition-aged young
adults. Fellows acquire significant experience in clinical interviewing as well as
administration, scoring, and interpretation of ADOS-2 and cognitive and adaptive
assessments. Some clinics include working with an interdisciplinary team with a
speech/language fellow, social workers, nutritionists, dental residents, and a
developmental pediatrician. Other opportunities may include conducting early intervention
evaluations, learning disability assessments, and short-term interventions.
• Engagement in clinical research with the expectation to develop an individual research
project resulting in a poster presentation and/or publication. Formal research training and
mentorship in project development/implementation, data collection and analysis, and
scientific dissemination will be provided.
• Didactic and discussion-based group learning opportunities are offered weekly. In addition
to department and division-wide grand rounds and journal club, fellows participate in the
LEND didactic seminar with the interdisciplinary LEND cohort. The LEND seminars
encompass a variety of topics including policy and advocacy, family-centered care, and
cultural competency. practices, and the creation of community support programs.
• Psychology post-doctoral fellows receive supervision from licensed psychologists within
the Division of Child Development. Each fellow has a primary supervisor with whom they
meet weekly to discuss cases, professional development, and other administrative and/or
supervisory issues. Additionally, each clinic (and research clinic) has a primary
psychologist who provides live supervision throughout that day.
Qualifications:
1. Doctorate in psychology (clinical or school psychology) from an APA-accredited program
2. Demonstrated potential for a career in child psychology with an emphasis on
neurodevelopmental evaluation
The ideal candidate will have experience in 1) assessment and diagnosis of individuals with ASD,
with a preference given to candidates with experience in assessment of toddlers and clinical or
research use of the ADOS-2, and 2) participation on a research team with a demonstrated interest
in research focused on neurodevelopmental disabilities, including ASD. Candidates from diverse
backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Application:
1. Letter of interest outlining fit with fellowship position and training goals for the postdoctoral
year
2. Curriculum Vita (include awarded or expected date of doctoral degree)
3. 3 letters of reference
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Salary and Benefits: $40,000 stipend plus IUSM healthcare benefits
Start Date: September 1, 2021
Contact Dr. Becca McNally, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, at mcnallyr@iu.edu with
questions about the fellowship or to submit your application.