Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Research

Fellows spend approximately 65% of their time providing clinical services to patients in the Department’s Rehabilitation Neuropsychology Faculty Practice under the supervision of clinical training faculty. Outpatient clinical services provided by fellows includes:

• Neuropsychological evaluations
• Clinical interventions and treatment (short-or long-term) including cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy
• Consultation

Through clinical training, our fellows develop a variety of skills, including those related to:

• Brain-behavior relationships
• Neuropsychological evaluations
• Neuro-rehabilitation interventions that improve our patients’ functional ability, emotional adjustment, and overall wellbeing

Clinical Supervision

Supervision is the primary training modality for development of professional expertise in assessment, treatment, and consultation.

Clinical supervision occurs both on a scheduled and case-focused basis. During the two-year program, post-doctoral fellows receive a minimum of two hours per week of regularly scheduled, face-to-face individual supervision for neuropsychological and psychological services.

In addition, fellows receive group supervision through the rehabilitation treatment case and clinical neuropsychological case seminars, which follow a case conference format where fellows receive input and feedback on treatment and assessment cases from clinical faculty and fellow trainees.

Fellows spend approximately 15% of their time in research activities and engage in research activities from project conception to dissemination, although research time can be increased for those with strong research skills to support a clinical research career trajectory. Fellows work closely with a multidisciplinary team in the BIRC and are involved in nearly every stage of the research process, from project conceptualization, execution, analysis, and dissemination. Fellows are expected to demonstrate competence in basic research skills prior to training.

Fellows contribute to the implementation of existing research studies and complete one or more independent research projects under the mentorship of faculty based upon their interests and career goals. Participation in research training includes, but is not limited to:

• Participating in existing studies
• Using archival data sets to examine variables of interest
• Writing a review paper or book chapter
• Submitting a grant proposal to support a new pilot project depending on the fellow’s interests and available mentorship in their area of interest

Postdoctoral research training is designed to help fellows refine existing research skills, apply these skills to rehabilitation populations, and develop additional skills essential for conducting clinical rehabilitation research. Research training includes active participation in weekly multidisciplinary research meetings as well as seminars in research methodology and in statistical methods.

Research training activities include individual and group supervision as well as participation in weekly research planning/progress meetings that include all BIRC staff. In addition, a wide variety of didactic seminars on topics such as effective scientific writing, preparing a competitive grant application, and scientific presentation skills are offered within the larger Mount Sinai community. In addition, fellows have the opportunity to assist faculty in the preparation of manuscripts and center-wide grant applications.

Research by fellows often result in presentation(s) at national or international conferences. Our fellows may lead authorship of at least one first-author publication and/or grant application (to support further research either during or beyond fellowship training). More information about current and recently completed studies (for which extensive data is available for secondary analysis) can be found at www.tbicentral.org.

Stipend amounts are set by National Institutes of Health guidelines and the current annual stipend is $58,661, paid every two weeks. Fellows also receive 29 paid days off (includes vacation, sick and personal days) and 9 holidays observed by the health system per year. Health, vision, and dental insurances are provided.

Paid attendance at one professional conference each year and participation in an extensive offering of free or low-cost seminars, workshops, and courses offered by the Icahn School of Medicine on topics such as research methodology and professional development, computer program skills training, leadership skills, and public speaking.

Each post-doctoral fellow is provided with a dedicated work space consisting of computer and telephone access, software, and any other necessary materials required to fulfill their clinical and research responsibilities.

Our faculty consists of a variety of specialists in rehab medicine, neurology, neuropsychology, and anesthesiology.

Training Faculty

• Kristen Dams-O’Connor, PhD, Professor, Rehabilitation and Human Performance and Neurology
• Maria Kajankova, PhD, (Director of Training) Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance
• Eric Watson, PhD, (Co-Director of Training) Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance
• Belinda Yew, PhD, Instructor, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance
• Lisa Spielman, PhD, Biostatistician, Brain Injury Research Center
• Raj Kumar, PhD, MPH, Instructor
• Sarah Bannon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance

Adjunct Faculty

• Wayne A. Gordon, PhD, ABPP-CN, FACRM, Jack Nash Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance
• David Layman, PhD, ABPP-CN, Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist
• Janine A. Tiago, PhD ABPP-CN, Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist
• Suzan Uysal, PhD, ABPP-CN, Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
• Theodore Tsaousides, PhD, Clinical Assistant, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance
• Casey LaDuke, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance

Individuals with a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology who have training and experience in clinical neuropsychology and/or rehabilitation psychology are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals with previous research experience and aspirations for a clinical research career are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates should have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree before beginning their postdoctoral training, must have received the doctoral degree from an APA/CPA-accredited program, and be eligible for a limited permit to practice psychology in New York State by the time training begins. Applicants must have completed all doctoral requirements from an APA/CPA-accredited program and an APA- or CPA-approved internship. Those from minority and/or disability backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Preference will be given to individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, but others may apply if they anticipate being able to obtain the credentials needed to complete the program.

All successful applicants must provide the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs with a copy of their doctoral degree or a letter from their doctoral program’s Registrar documenting completion of all degree requirements, before training begins. All interviews will be conducted virtually.

Completed applications must be received by December 15th.

Applications must include the following in order to be considered:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae that includes citizenship and languages spoken fluently
3. Two to four letters of recommendation
1. One or two letters from clinical supervisor(s), e.g. internship training director, AND
2. One or two letters from research supervisor(s), e.g. dissertation chair/mentor
4. Scanned copy of your official graduate transcript; if selected, must submit final official transcripts before starting postdoc
5. One sample neuropsychological report and/or one treatment case summary 
6. Representative copies of abstracts, publications, and/or research presentations

Applications should be sent via e-mail to:    

Maria Kajankova, PhD, Director of Clinical Training             
Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance                          
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai                              
One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1163, New York, New York 10029
Tel: (212) 241-3379
Fax: (212) 241-0137                 
maria.kajankova@mountsinai.org