Post-Doctoral Fellow, Denver FIRST

Apply now Job no:496947
Work type:Staff Full-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Postdoc / Fellow
Division: Graduate School Of Prof. Psychology

Department Summary

The University of Denver (DU) is a top ranked university in a thriving city at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at DU was created in 1976 to house one of the first PsyD programs in the country, under the then-new Vail training model (practitioner-scholar). The PsyD program is the nation’s second-oldest and has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1979. GSPP provides four specialized master’s programs: sport coaching, sport and performance psychology, forensic psychology, and international disaster psychology. The School also has a partially affiliated, APA-accredited internship consortium and in-house service clinics. All programs provide comprehensive training for applied work within an academic environment of cooperation and collaboration that fosters critical thinking and self-determined functioning; we are committed to providing cultural competence for all our students. We use our knowledge of multiculturalism and individual differences to make our program as welcoming and inclusive as we can to all students, staff, and faculty.

As a professional college, GSPP is focused on high level integration of applied practice, theory, research, and scholarship. Denver FIRST adheres to the practitioner-scholar philosophy and emphasizes real-world learning and applied research endeavors. For more information about GSPP, please consult the website: psychology.du.edu.

Founded in 2014 to serve as a regional hub for forensic mental health education, practice, and consultation, Denver Forensic Institute of Research, Service and Training (Denver FIRST) fosters community and university partnerships through a host of service learning opportunities for graduate students working with underserved forensic populations in the local community. Denver FIRST is integrated with the Masters in Forensic Psychology (MAFP) Program and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program at GSPP, supported by core GSPP faculty under the leadership of Director Neil Gowensmith, PhD, and staffed by GSPP students. Primarily, Denver FIRST serves as a go-to setting for forensic evaluation, outpatient competency restoration, research, grants, and consultation in forensic mental health in the Denver metro area and beyond.

Recently named as the best place to live in the United States, Denver is home to a wide range of world-class museums, award-winning restaurants, trendy clubs and shopping areas, several decorated universities, and seven professional sports teams. The ethnic and cultural diversity of the Denver Metro area includes a Latino/Hispanic population that represents about a third of the population, a strong and visible African American community, a diverse array of Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants, and a similarly diverse population of refugees and immigrants from East Africa. Add to all of this one of the nation's largest city park systems, 650 miles of paved bike paths, and surprisingly moderate winters and you realize why Denver is the place to be.

Position Summary

We are pleased to announce Denver FIRST’s ninth annual postdoctoral fellowship position at the University of Denver. The fellowship provides opportunities for forensic practice, supervision, research, and teaching. Primarily, the fellowship offers a blend of forensic evaluation practice and academic duties.

The 12-month (4-quarter), full-time postdoctoral fellowship positions will be conducted under the auspices of Denver FIRST. Each fellow will complete a minimum of 2000 hours of training over the course of the year, with at least 500 hours (25%) of that time spent in the direct provision of professional forensic psychological services such as assessment (e.g., competency to proceed, legal sanity, violence risk, and other types of psycho-legal evaluations), treatment, and consultation. Training will be supervised by a licensed psychologist, with a minimum of 2 hours of onsite, in-person supervision per week. All reports submitted to the court will be cosigned by the primary supervisor. The fellows will be formally evaluated on a semi-annual basis pursuant to a written evaluation process that outlines progress over the course of the year, including identification of strengths and limitations of each fellow’s skills as an early career forensic psychologist. The GSPP follows a practitioner/scholar model, and the fellow will be presented with numerous opportunities for both didactic and applied training, clinical work, teaching, and research.

The fellows are considered trainees and may not be paid on a fee-for-service basis. There are two positions available. The fellowship is a 12- month, full-time position with an expected average work week of 40-45 hours. Because the fellowship program is demanding, outside employment is strongly discouraged. Postdoctoral fellows will be paid an estimated stipend of $56,484.00 for the 2024-2025 training year (salary will follow the NIH postdoctoral fellow salary requirement). Additional compensation and benefits in the form of health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and liability coverage for program-related on- and off-site activities will be provided. Given the requirement that the fellows attend the annual AP-LS Conference, leave will be provided accordingly. Limited funding may be available for professional development activities, and authorized leave time for these activities may be possible (but is not guaranteed).

The fellows will have an office and access to various resources from DU. Each fellow will have a computer with word processing software, access to printers, e-mail, and law and psychology databases through the university library.

Certification. Upon completion of the postdoctoral training, the fellows will receive documentation clearly delineating the year the fellow participated in the training program.

The University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology and Denver FIRST are committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment. We encourage knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to effectively engage with diverse individuals and communities.

We are offering two fellowship positions in 2024-2025.  Although the positions will have substantial overlap, the delineation of tasks between fellows vary based on experience and interest regarding brain injury screenings for competency-related services.  

Essential Functions

The goal of the fellowship is to produce psychologists with knowledge of the interaction between the law and psychology, and who are able to assume positions in a variety of settings. The fellowship emphasizes training in forensic evaluation and academia. The training program is therefore designed as an integrated experience in the practice of forensic psychology, incorporating treatment and assessment experiences, as well as research, teaching, supervision, and didactic trainings. Core didactics are provided through a structured, written curriculum with clearly defined training goals and objectives overseen by the training director. These may take the form of formal courses or a regular series of seminars. Content will include case law, ethics, and sociocultural/ethnic factors in the context of forensic assessment and treatment.

Didactics will be offered in collaboration with other local postdoctoral fellowships in forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry. The requirements of the fellowship are designed to fulfill the requirements for postdoctoral psychology licensure in the state of Colorado and to satisfy Colorado statutory requirements regarding qualifications to conduct sanity and competency to proceed evaluations.

Forensic psychology encompasses a range of practice areas far broader than any single training program could address. The fellowship program at Denver FIRST emphasizes certain core competencies, while also providing for elective experiences, which are described later. It is our philosophy that a forensic psychologist can expand upon the core competencies in order to maintain a high standard of work in whatever areas are chosen for future forensic practice. For example, the ability to search for and apply case law regarding a clinical issue is broadly applicable across jurisdictions and practice areas. The fellowship program at Denver FIRST has been formally determined to meet the criteria for the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP) five-year experience waiver.

Duties will include a combination of clinical experiences and academic responsibilities. Current clinical service opportunities include conducting forensic mental health evaluations through Denver FIRST. The fellows will work on competency-related cases through a collaboration with the State of Colorado’s Office of Behavioral Health, will also work with the Brain Injury neuropsychological screening and evaluation service. The fellows will also supervise GSPP students at the doctoral and/or masters level in their provision of forensic services; this supervision will, in turn, be supervised by a licensed psychologist. All activities will run concurrently throughout the training year.

Academic responsibilities will include teaching multiple graduate-level forensic psychology courses, participating in research, attending and participating in didactics, and providing trainings and workshops as opportunities arise. Toward the goal of achieving the core competencies listed above, the fellowship program provides a series of core experiences including supervised practice in forensic evaluation, didactic seminars, teaching and supervision, and research.

In a sample work week, fellows will likely spend three days on clinical services, one day on research and teaching, and one day on didactics and supervision. This will of course vary week to week, depending on pressing duties. We strive to meet fellows’ training interests and can carve out time for additional clinical work in various settings, research, or teaching. A typical month will likely see the fellows completing two evaluations under supervision, conducting supervision, working on research, and preparing or actively teaching a weekly course in the GSPP.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful fellow will be able to work autonomously. Although supervision is a consistent part of the fellow’s experience, the work of a postdoctoral fellow demands more independence and autonomy than what is found in a pre-doctoral internship program. The Denver FIRST fellowship offers a robust and complex set of training opportunities, with no set schedule or structure aside from the didactic seminar. Instead, it approximates an academic and clinical position. Therefore, time management, initiative, and organization are key.

The fellowship also demands a great deal of communication between the fellows and various professionals. Most often this comes in the form of communicating regularly with attorneys. Fellows (under supervision) will set the scope of the evaluation, gather and clarify information, present findings, and potentially testify on any of the cases on which they work.

Required Qualifications

• Prior to beginning the Denver FIRST Postdoctoral Training Program in Forensic Psychology, all doctoral degree requirements must be completed, and candidates should hold a doctorate (PsyD or PhD) in clinical psychology, forensic psychology, or a closely related discipline.
• Applicants must have completed or currently be in the process of completing an APA approved predoctoral internship. Due to the forensic nature of this fellowship, candidates must be able to pass a background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates should be able to document a strong history of interest, training, and experience in the forensic arena. Areas of particular interest include assessment, competency evaluation and restoration, correctional psychology, research, teaching, and supervision.  Prior teaching experience will be helpful but is not required.
• The University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology and Denver FIRST are committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment.   We encourage knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to effectively engage with diverse individuals and communities. 

Working Environment

• Professional Psychology Clinic (PPC)
• Standard office/classroom environments - unexpected interruptions could occur, and stress level is low to moderate. Noise level is quiet to moderate. 
• Possibility of local correctional facilities, local community corrections agencies, or local treatment agencies

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period. 
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
• Able to conduct treatment onsite or through secure telehealth services

Work Schedule
The work schedule for this position will vary depending on teaching, supervision, and fellowship needs.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 8, 2024.  If invited for an interview, applicants must supply a psychological evaluation or other assessment report (written by you and de-identified to protect client confidentiality) prior to the interview date.  Interviews will be conducted at the end of January/beginning of February.

We are participating in the uniform acceptance date of February 26, 2024, along with several other forensic postdoc programs.  This means that we will make an offer to the candidate by February 19, 2024, and require acceptance on February 26, 2024.   This uniform acceptance date is designed to allow candidates to consider multiple offers without pressure to accept one offer before another is given.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is GE.

Salary Range:
The salary range for the position is $56,000-$68,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Unofficial graduate transcript(s).
5. Three letters of reference, at least one of which should be from your direct clinical supervisor in a forensic setting and one which should be from your primary internship supervisor, to: Rachel Biedenbach ([email protected] )

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.