Clinical Psychology Training Program - UCSF Department of ...

UCSF Clinical Psychology Training Program
ADDITIONAL POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM APPLICANTS
In the last few years, we have noted that many CPTP Fellows proceed to additional postdoctoral work
after completing the two-year CPTP program. They often apply to other UCSF programs, but sometimes move to
other institutions (recent Fellows have gone on to postdoctoral programs at Stanford and Harvard, for example).
Therefore, the Clinical Psychology Training Program (CPTP) has begun to explicitly encourage Fellows to apply
to other UCSF research-oriented training programs to extend the postdoctoral period of training from one year to
two years. Acceptance to these prestigious NIH-funded programs allows Fellows to continue working with their
CPTP mentor for two years after their internship ends (versus only one postdoctoral year under the CPTP
program). We have found that the one-year postdoctoral year is often burdened with the time-intensive tasks of a
job search, including travel to present job talks. This means that the number of months devoted predominantly to
research turn out to be fewer than expected. Adding an additional year allows at least one year of uninterrupted
time for research activities, after which Fellows often have more publications and grant writing experience.
We therefore recommend that applicants examine the following training programs, which are currently in
operation. Due to federal funding cycles, not all NIH training programs will be available every year. Faculty will
present on these programs during the official interview days. Let us know if you are interested in being considered
for these programs by checking the appropriate boxes in the form found in UCSF Application Supplement.
Candidates for the postdoctoral fellowships below must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United
States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for Permanent Residence (i.e., possess a currently
valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status). Individuals on temporary or
student visas are not eligible. Individuals may apply to these training programs including the F32 in advance of
admission to the United States as a Permanent Resident recognizing that no award or appointment will be made
until legal verification of Permanent Resident status is provided.
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychology and Medicine
This postdoctoral program funded by NIMH focuses on the interface between Psychology and Medicine.
The program provides training in theory-building research on psychological and behavioral factors in the etiology
and management of health problems. Two areas of specialization are offered: stress and disease, and risk behavior.
The former specialization includes the social context in which stressful events occur, cognitive appraisal processes
in response to such events, physiological pathways that increase disease risk, methods for assessment of stress and
disease, and interventions. The health outcomes being examined include HIV/AIDS, depression, immunological
functioning, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, reproductive health, herpes recurrence and
autoimmune disease. The latter specialization covers theories of risk and decision-making regarding the initiation
and maintenance of health behaviors, and cognitive behavioral models and interventions. Research includes studies
of high-risk sexual behavior (especially those associated with exposure to HIV/AIDS), tobacco use and cessation,
substance abuse, obesity, violence, and sociocultural and developmental influences on risk behavior and health.
Fellows will be appointed for two years. In some instances, an optional third year may be possible. It is expected
that about one-third of the fellow's time will be spent in formal seminars. All fellows take a core Health
Psychology Seminar and a Research Process Seminar in both years of the fellowship and may take other courses
and seminars. The remaining two-thirds of the fellow's time will be spent in research. Fellows will participate in
their faculty mentor's research laboratory and will develop their own research study.
Nancy Adler, Ph.D. is the Director of Training. Mentors in the Clinical Psychology Training Program
who also teach in this program are: Patricia Areán, Ph.D., Sharon Hall, Ph.D., Alicia Lieberman, Ph.D. and
Ricardo F. Muñoz, Ph.D.
See the program’s web site at: http://healthpsych.ucsf.edu/postdochome.htm
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