Infancy and Early Childhood

Award Description

We are seeking a post-doctoral fellow in clinical psychology to participate in multidisciplinary clinical assessments of children from birth to five years with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities. The fellow will work under the supervision of expert clinicians and researchers specializing in studying early diagnosis, stability and change in syndrome expression, as well as development of social cognition and communication in infants and toddlers. The Yale Child Study Center is a leading institution for clinical diagnostic services and research on autism spectrum disorders, with a multidisciplinary approach to autism research spanning projects in behavioral neuroscience, neuroimaging, molecular and population genetics, and treatment. Successful applicants will be involved in a 2-year program of training involving psychological assessment of young children. They will undergo training in autism-specific diagnostic instruments including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-R, as well as training in developmental assessment of infants and toddlers The training curriculum also includes participation in an intensive summer training period in the field of autism, a weekly seminar on issues related to diagnosis and treatment of ASD, weekly science meetings, as well as post-doctoral seminars on evidence-based treatments, neuropsychological assessment, and other didactic experiences available at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, and Yale University. Fellows will be expected to complete their licensing requirements and prepare for a board exam during the fellowship period.

Sponsor Institution: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine

Program Directors: Kasia Chawarska, Celine Saulnier, & Ami Klin

Additional Faculty: Fred Volkmar and Rhea Paul

Award Amount: $37,000 per year (plus full healthcare coverage)

Term of Award: 2 years

Appointment Start Date: July 1, 2008

Submission Deadline: February 7, 2008

U.S. Citizenship: Not Required

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a postdoctoral appointment, candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent from an APA Accredited program in clinical psychology. When a candidate has completed all of the requirements for a degree, but the degree has not yet been formally conferred, the candidate may present evidence of completion of the degree, together with a statement of the date on which the degree is to be conferred. If the degree is not conferred by the projected date, the postdoctoral appointment shall be terminated. Candidates with previous experience with school-age children with autism will be favorably reviewed.

Application Information

For more specific questions, interested applicants should contact Evelyn Pomichter.

A complete application includes 1 copy of each of the following items:

1. A completed application form
2. An updated curriculum vitae that includes clinical experience in the field of autism
3. Transcripts, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable)
4. A 2 page personal statement containing biographic material, relevant experience, and career goals
5. Two letters of recommendation which speak directly to the candidate's potential

Mailing Your Application

Applications should be mailed to:

Evelyn Pomichter
Yale Child Study Center
40 Temple Street
Suite 7-I
New Haven, CT 06510

Links to Recent Publications

Klin, A., Jones, W., Schultz, R.T., Volkmar, F.R., & Cohen, D.J. (2002). Defining and Quantifying the Social Phenotype in Autism. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159 (6): 895-908.

Klin, A. Jones, W., Schultz, R.T., Volkmar, F.R., & Cohen, D.J. (2002). Visual Fixation Patterns During Viewing of Naturalistic Social Situations as Predictors of Social Competence in Individuals with Autism. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59: 809-816.

Klin, A., Jones, W., & Schultz, R.T. (2003). The Enactive Mind, or From Actions to Cognitions: Lessons from Autism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences, 358: 345-360.

Klin, A., Chawarska, K., Paul, R., Rubin, E. Morgan, T., Wiesner, L., & Volkmar, F.R. (2004). Autism in a 15-month-old child. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(11), 1981-1988.