The Seaver Autism Center offers a robust Training Program. The training opportunities available span across all programs within the Seaver Center, including genetics, model systems, and clinical research. Seaver trainees work closely with mentors, and they are encouraged to take leadership roles in projects.

Seaver Foundation Fellowships

In addition to supporting the core programs of the Seaver Autism Center, the Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Foundation sponsors several fellowships and faculty scholar awards each year. These research-based fellowships are awarded to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty in such areas as genetic analysis, development of model systems for autism spectrum disorder, neuroimaging studies, and development and assessment of behavioral and pharmacological interventions. In 2015, a new category of fellowships was introduced for Seaver Clinical Fellows. These awards support clinical researchers who work closely with the Clinical Program to be trained in evaluation and treatment of ASD.

Clinical Research Coordinator Program

The clinical research coordinators play a critical role in supporting and carrying out the mission of the Seaver Autism Center. In addition to administrative and study recruitment responsibilities, clinical research coordinators have the opportunity to attend didactics and receive training on the administration and scoring of autism-specific diagnostic tools. Coordinators are encouraged to submit independent research projects to the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) and are often named as co-authors on papers published in academic journals.

Clinical Training Program

The Assessment Program at the Seaver Center provides training to the Center’s clinical staff (e.g., psychiatrists, psychology fellows, and graduate students) on evaluation strategies for individuals with ASD. This includes introductory training for medical students, child and adolescent psychiatry residents, formalized didactics for psychology trainees, and monthly meetings to maintain reliability on autism diagnostic instruments. Trainees participate in workshops on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2), and attend didactic sessions from local and nationally known clinicians working in the field.

• Medical Student Training
  Medical students rotating at the Seaver Center receive significant clinical exposure to individuals with ASD and participate actively in research projects.

• Residency Training
  Residents training in child and adolescent psychiatry rotate through the Seaver Autism Center and spend time each week observing and learning about comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and treatments. Trainees are encouraged to participate in various research protocols.

• Psychology Training
  The Seaver Center offers autism training opportunities for advanced psychology doctoral students interested in gaining research and clinical experience through externships, internships, and fellowships.