Description
VA CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR RESEARCH ON RETURNING WAR VETERANS
ADVANCED FELLOWSHIP IN MENTAL ILLNESS RESEARCH & TREATMENT
2-Year Postdoctoral Program for Clinical Psychologists
Waco VA Medical Center
The VA Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans is accepting applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in our VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA)-funded advanced training program in mental illness research and treatment, specifically addressing war Veterans with co-occurring disorders such as PTSD, TBI, depression and substance use disorders. Training will commence between July- October.
BRIEF OVERVIEW:
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Our VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA)-funded advanced training program in mental illness research and treatment provides a model with up to 75% of time protected for research and 25% of time protected for clinical training, including obtaining licensure. We offer individualized, mentored research and clinical training, combined with a grant-writing curriculum and opportunities for development in teaching and leadership. Our mentor-based model is offering the below opportunities. Training will commence between August and October 2026.
Predoctoral Internship: Our Center also offers research and leadership rotations as part of the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System Psychology Pre-Doctoral internship with many interns staying for our postdoctoral fellowship.
CURRENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Positive Psychology, Digital Health, PTSD, and Moral Injury (Dr. Adam McGuire): This lab studies how to integrate positive psychology principles into treatment for veterans suffering from trauma-related distress. Areas of focus include 1) improving our understanding of prosocial emotions (e.g., moral elevation and gratitude) in clinical populations; 2) investigating the potential impact of moral elevation in experimental settings; 3) examining natural occurrences of positive experiences/emotions for veterans; and 4) treatment development for trauma-related distress. Key upcoming projects include a large, VA-funded efficacy trial that will start in October 2025. This project will evaluate the effects of a web-based moral elevation intervention (titled, MOVED) on PTSD symptoms, quality of life, and functioning among veterans. Ideal candidates for this lab will have an interest in positive psychology and how related principles can be integrated into trauma-focused treatments. Opportunities are also available for studying technology integration as another domain of focus for interested applicants. Fellows will have opportunities to be involved in study and data management, PTSD assessment, trial coordination, manuscript development, and grant-writing. ELEVATE (elevateresearchlab.com)
Neuromodulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Dr. Crystal Lantrip): This lab studies affective neuroscience, exploring neurological correlates of trauma and emotion regulation, with a focus on neuromodulation as a mechanism for intervention. One of the actively funded studies is a double-blind RCT adding transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to written exposure therapy (WET) to attempt to augment treatment effects in veterans with PTSD. The study is funded through the VA Clinical Science Research and Development Department (CSR&D) and is in the active recruitment phase and currently funded through 2027. Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to perform treatments as study therapists and receive hands on training in randomized clinical trial methods and VA research. Additionally, fellows will have opportunities for manuscript development and grant-writing.
Psychosocial Impact of Trauma Lab (Dr. Suzannah Creech): This lab conducts applied health services and treatment development work to directly improve psychosocial outcomes in vulnerable populations who have experienced trauma. Our focal area is in interpersonal functioning and PTSD in military veterans, with a growing focus on depression. Current projects include a DoD funded clinical trial testing the efficacy of a trauma informed parenting treatment for veterans with PTSD and an expected Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) of a web-based treatment for mild to moderate depression, both with the goal of addressing psychosocial functioning. Fellows will be trained to deliver our parenting treatment and serve as a study therapist/co-therapist. They will receive hands on training in RCT methods and VA research.
Moral Injury and Group Psychotherapy Lab (Dr. Sheila O’Brien): Moral injury refers to unique psychological harm resulting from acting in a way or failing to prevent actions that violate an individual’s most closely held values leading Veterans to feelings of guilt and shame. Dr. O’Brien conducts multiple clinically oriented research projects on the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of moral injury. Fellows will have opportunities to be involved in clinical trial coordination, assessments, and study management, as well as group psychotherapy (in-person and/or virtual) as well as other projects related to moral injury, trauma, and suicide prevention. They will be supported to make use of available data sets for first-authored publications and presentations and receive mentorship and support in writing their own scholarly products including proposals for external funding if desired.
Longitudinal Assessment and MRI Neuroimaging (Drs. Sheila O’Brien & Rakesh Guleria): The Veterans Gateway Project is a unique longitudinal study that combines psychosocial assessments with blood-based biomarkers, EEG, and structural and functional MRI brain scans to identify neural correlates and biomarkers (e.g., genomic/proteomic/metabolomic) of mental health issues affecting Veterans (e.g., PTSD, depression, TBI, anxiety) and to use precision-medicine-based approaches to the development of new treatments. Fellows will gain hands on experience with: MRI, physical mobility/ambulation testing, structured psychiatric interviews, and psychosocial assessments with Veterans from all age ranges. They will also have opportunities for publishing and presenting findings from this large dataset and working with an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, cognitive neuroscientists, and biochemists.
Across these opportunities, fellows will be supported to make use of available data sets for first-authored publications and presentations and receive mentorship and support in writing their own scholarly products as well as proposals for external funding.
For a complete list of our current investigators and some of their areas of focus visit: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn17/personnel.asp
PROGRAM DETAILS
Research Training: Fellows will work with a CoE investigator as their primary research supervisor, receiving training and supervision in conducting and publishing research, applying for grants, and developing an independent research career. Additionally, fellows will attend weekly virtual didactics through the national OAA Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT) Advanced Fellowship Hub Site in Palo Alto, offering training in grant-writing, research and professional development. Over the past decade over 80% of our fellows have secured grant funding, including competitive career development awards, prior to end of their fellowship.
Clinical Rotations: Fellows will assume clinical responsibilities in an outpatient, residential, or telemedicine clinic within the CTVHCS under supervision of a licensed provider and support to pursue licensure, including training materials for licensing examination. Clinical opportunities available are aligned with fellow’s training plan. In previous years fellows have completed their clinical work through general mental health, PTSD clinical team, blind rehabilitation unit, primary care mental health integration, and neuropsychological assessment.
Training, Leadership, and Administrative Opportunities: Based on training interests, fellows will have access to teaching/mentoring opportunities through one of our undergraduate research internships. Fellows may choose to be instructors in our weekly didactics, mentor trainees in development of research posters, contribute to program evaluation and/or participate in quality improvement research focused on opportunities for undergraduate trainees in the mental health field. Additionally, fellows can obtain opportunities to be clinical supervisors to predoctoral interns and practicum trainees.
ABOUT THE CENTER
The VA Center of Excellence (CoE) is a unified scientific and administrative center featuring clinical space, observation rooms, wet labs, and a 3T MRI for structural and functional neuroimaging. The CoE is located within one of the largest integrated health care systems in the United States, which serves a Veteran population of more than 252,000, and is located near Fort Hood with approximately 35,000 active duty forces. The CoE also has active partnerships with Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas, and Baylor University, in addition to collaborations with other academic institutions and VA systems.
STIPEND AND BENEFITS
The Fellowship Program currently offers a full-time first year stipend of $54,518 per annum, and a second year stipend of $ 57,464, and an available third year extension for $60,409. Thirteen days of vacation, 13 days of sick leave, 11 federal holidays, authorized leave for conferences, health insurance and other benefits are offered. Fellows receive a $1,000 annual conference travel allowance, and $2,000 for research start-up funds may be available. Additionally, depending on funding other training and resources may be available, including but not limited to EPPP preparation and grant-writing workshops.
Requirements
TO APPLY
Please contact Dr. Laura Zambrano-Vazquez at 254-297-5154 or at laura.zambrano-vazquez@va.gov with questions and discuss available opportunities that may align with your particular interests. Applications should be emailed to Dr. Zambrano-Vazquez and include 1) a cover letter, 2) a CV, 3) official transcripts, and 4) three letters of reference. For more information visit: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn17/fellowship.asp
*Applications may be accepted on a rolling basis until available positions are filled.
