Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship
Specialty in Clinical Neuropsychology
Director: Matthew J. Wright. Ph.D.
Supervising Faculty: Kyle B. Boone, Ph.D., ABPP (ABCN); Deborah E. Budding, Ph.D., ABPdN, ABN; Marcel O. Pontón, Ph.D.; Dale Sherman, Ph.D.; Matthew J. Wright, Ph.D.
Overview
The mission of the Neuropsychology track is to develop competency in clinical and experimental neuropsychology. Fellows typically spend 50-60% time in clinical services and the remainder in didactic and research activities, although clinical effort may be increased per student interests and/or program needs. Our program is a member of the APPCN, meets the specialty requirements of APA’s Division 40, and is accredited by the APA for postdoctoral training in clinical neuropsychology. Currently, one fulltime, two-year clinical/research postdoctoral fellowship is offered ever other year.
Clinical Service
Fellows provide direct neuropsychological assessments, assist in supervision of graduate student externs, attend and co-lead weekly group supervision meetings, and help maintain the organization and operations of the lab. With regard to assessment, we utilize a fixed-flexible battery approach, process observations, and qualitative assessment methods. We see a broad spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, as we are a primary referral for Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at Harbor-UCLA. Additionally, we receive referrals from other hospitals and mental health clinics. Most of our clients are adults who suffer from multiple medical and psychiatric co-morbidities and are from diverse cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds. Optional training experiences are available in cognitive neuropsychological methods and Spanish language assessments.
Research
The primary goal of our lab is to gain a detailed understanding of the neurocognitive sequelae of traumatic brain injury via cognitive paradigms, standard neuropsychological tests, and neuroimaging. We also have interests in improving methods of neuropsychological measurement, particularly with regard to populations with diverse cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds. Research opportunities include analysis of neuropsychological and neuroimaging datasets, participation in onsite and collaborative projects, preparation of research presentations and peer-reviewed publications, and coordination of lab projects.
- Required Didactics
- Neuropsychology Service Group Supervision
- Neuropsychology Seminar
- History & Development of Neuropsychology
- Principles & Methods of Neuropsychological Assessment & Research
- Functional Neuroanatomy
- Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders/Syndromes
- Advanced Topics & Professional Development (e.g., assessment of diverse populations, ethical Issues, job talk development, malingering, etc.)
- Case Conference in Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
- Culture & Ethnicity
- Professional Development & Careers in Psychology
Optional Didactics
- Harbor-UCLA Psychiatry Grand Rounds (recommended)
- Harbor-UCLA Neurology Conference Series (recommended)
- Neuroradiology
- Neuropathology
- Neuroscience
- Other onsite & offsite seminars (see Didactics)
Program Objectives
- Develop clinical competencies in clinical neuropsychology
- Provision of comprehensive, individually tailored neuropsychological assessments
- Diagnostic proficiency with psychiatric and neurologic disorders/syndromes
- Identify and adjust for sources of bias (e.g., effort/malingering, ESL)
- Account for the impact of diversity in the neuropsychological assessment process
- Ability to write concise, tailored assessment reports
- Consultation with family members and healthcare professionals
- Ethical practice of neuropsychology
- Supervision of neuropsychological assessments
- Increase relevant knowledgebase
- Brain-behavior relationships
- Neuropsychological theory
- Neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic test interpretation issues
- Psychiatric and neurologic disorders/syndromes
- Development of research skills as they apply to the study of Neuropsychology
- Ability to develop a relevant research question
- Ability to design and conduct an appropriate prospective or retrospective study
- Use of appropriate statistical analyses and/or analytical methods
- Ability to disseminate findings at a national/international research conference and/or via publication in a peer-review journal
Prerequisites
- Completion of an APA approved doctoral program and internship in clinical or counseling psychology
- Experience in intellectual, neuropsychological, and psychodiagnostic assessment
- Graduate coursework in neuropsychology or a closely related field
Determination of Satisfactory Progress
- Individual and group supervision of assessments
- Evaluation of supervised-supervision of externs
- Observations of contributions to meetings, rounds, and conferences
- Assessment of knowledgebase related to clinical neuropsychology
- Evaluation of the scientific merit of research projects
Application Procedures
- 2012-13 Application Deadline: December 15, 2011
- Application materials:
- Harbor-UCLA application for postdoctoral fellowship (http://psychology.labiomed.org/fellowship.htm)
- A brief letter of intent
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts listing courses, grades, and degrees from all graduate programs
- A list of formal and informal neuropsychology related coursework (course title, grade, location)
- Current CV
- One de-identified neuropsychological assessment report
- APPCN verification of completion of doctorate form (http://www.appcn.org/training.html)
- Email your application, CV, letter of intent, coursework list, and de-identified report to Catherine Bustamante (CBustamante@labiomed.org).
- Arrange for your letters of recommendation to be emailed to Catherine Bustamante (CBustamante@labiomed.org) with your name indicated in the subject heading.
- Have your official transcripts and APPCN verification of completion of doctorate form mailed to:
Catherine Bustamante
Psychology Division
Department of Psychiatry
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
1000 West Carson Street, Box 488
Torrance, CA 90509