Postdoctoral Fellowship

Postdoctoral Fellowships in Traumatic Stress Research

The National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is seeking applications for its NIMH-funded T-32 post-doctoral research training program, Basic & Translational Research Training in Traumatic Stress Across the Lifespan (T32MH018869). This program is in its 36th year of funding. We anticipate that 2-3 fellows will be selected for the 2024-2025 year. The NCVC offers fellowship training for entry level and/or experienced clinical scientists to develop clinical research skills necessary to pursue an independent research career in the field of traumatic stress, with a particular emphasis on civilian trauma and its impact on mental health.  Stipends follow NIH levels based on number of years post degree and will be supplemented with an additional $10,000. Successful applicants must have a strong commitment to a career in clinical research and a doctoral degree in psychology, medicine, social work, public health, or similar field.

The NCVC fellowship training program produces clinical scientists skilled in strategies to investigate the impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) upon the mental health of adults and children. Our research training program provides trainees with mentorship, coursework, seminars, mental health treatment experiences, and research training necessary to conduct competent, interdisciplinary, and translational traumatic stress research.  All fellows have a primary faculty mentor and a co-mentor in a complementary area of specialization. Co-mentors are jointly identified by the fellow and the training faculty, based on training needs, and include PhDs and MDs with a broad range of scientific expertise including (but not limited to) developmental psychopathology/RDoC research, neuroscience, mental health equity, substance use disorders, digital health, HIV prevention, treatment efficacy, and dissemination and implementation research. The NCVC has a number of major extramurally-funded projects that include studies of exposure to PTEs (e.g., child maltreatment, sexual violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence, racism-related trauma, mass violence incidents, environmental crimes, traumatic grief) and risk of PTSD and related mental disorders, studies of resilience following exposure to PTEs, treatment and prevention intervention development and randomized clinical trials, and projects addressing translation and dissemination of effective treatments to practice (including mobile and web-based platforms). The NCVC also hosts the Office for Victims of Crime-funded National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center that is engaged in large scale epidemiological studies of the mental health impact of mass violence incidents, resilience given exposure to such incidents, and evaluation of self-help apps to facilitate resilience and recovery.

The MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is a strong academic department that consistently ranks in the top 11 departments of psychiatry in the country for NIH funding. This complements the outstanding post-doctoral training available through the NCVC fellowship. NCVC faculty includes 14 diverse professionals who are energetic and enthusiastic participants in the fellowship training program.  Core faculty from other Colleges (e.g., Nursing), Departments (e.g., Neuroscience) and Divisions in Psychiatry at MUSC (e.g., Addiction Sciences, Brain Stimulation Lab, Global and Community Health) who specialize in traumatic stress research also serve as  mentors for post docs. Applicants can visit https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/psychiatry/divisions-and-programs/divisions/ncvc/faculty for overviews of the NCVC faculty’s research.

Charleston is a beautiful, historic, diverse, ocean-side city with fun and interesting things to do and see.  Beaches, boating, fishing, golf, and other outdoor amenities combine with a strong value of historic and environmental preservation to produce a wonderful place to live and work. Charleston has been named the No. 1 City in the U.S. and Canada by Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.

Applications must include:

a) a ONE PAGE letter outlining the basis of your interest in the fellowship and goals for advanced research training in traumatic stress research (inclusive of long term career goals);
b) an updated CV;
c) any p/reprints (minimum of one) you feel would help to demonstrate your research proficiency; and
d) a list of 3 names (and contact information) for individuals who may serve as references for your research and work.

We are not requesting letters of recommendation at this time but may do so at a later date. In considering research interests and goals for the fellowship training, interested applicants are encouraged to review current NIMH research priorities: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml. We encourage applications from women and underrepresented ethnic, racial, cultural, and sexual minority groups, and people with disabilities. T32 applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (per NIH policy).

Please electronically email application materials BY 8:00pm EST ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6 to: Carla Kmett Danielson, Ph.D., Program Co-Director/Training Director; danielso@musc.edu