Careers at Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research (VTAC/CAR) (https://www.vtcar.science.vt.edu/), within the Clinical Science program in the Department of Psychology, in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) (https://www.ext.vt.edu) and Commonwealth Autism (https://www.commonwealthautism.org/), is seeking to employ two research specialists for half clinical/half research responsibilities. The successful candidates will be based at the VCE Dickenson County, Virginia location and work with students and schools in the surrounding areas to provide diagnostic autism assessments, offer trainings/consultations to area educators, and to conduct effectiveness research on rural capacity building through telehealth autism services. Mentorship will be provided by the director of the VT Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research in Blacksburg, VA.

This position will provide a unique experience by working on-site in far southwest Virginia with Cooperative Extension and school-based providers while also building confidence and gaining experience working with a long-established autism clinic and research facility, its graduate student clinicians, director and affiliated faculty.

VTAC/CAR’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families through intervention, education, and research directed towards effective treatments and supports. The clinic, situated in Central Appalachia, provides a rich environment for those interested in pursuing a career in clinical work and research and provides opportunities to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas. This opportunity may also be able to include supervisory experiences needed for psychology licensure, depending on state guidelines. Additional participation in research development, study design/implementation, and publication is also available, based on the applicant’s career goals and level of experience.

The ideal candidates will have a strong background in diagnostic assessments and evidence-based intervention approaches for individuals on the autism spectrum. They will ideally work from a VCE location in or near Dickenson County, VA, and attend meetings online/remotely, with paid travel to Blacksburg a few times each semester. This is open for discussion. They are expected to effectively collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary team, which will also include public school staff, children/adolescents and their families/caregivers.

The Virginia Tech Clinical Science program is dually accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) and received the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) Outstanding Training Program award in 2017.

The position is for one year, with possible renewal in year 2. We will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue until the position is filled. The job will be available as early as June 1, 2024.

- Completion of a master's degree in Clinical Psychology, School Psychology, Counseling, or a related discipline
- Experience in working with individuals on the autism spectrum, including those with a wide range of behavioral presentations
- Experience conducting autism assessments and writing assessment reports
- Experience providing verbal feedback of testing results to families or professionals
- Effective communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
- A commitment to supporting a welcoming, affirming and inclusive climate
- Some research experience (collecting, entering, and analyzing data)

- Experience with the ADI-R, ADOS-2, cognitive and academic testing (e.g., WAIS; WISC), and diagnostic interviews (e.g., ADIS-5, K-SADS)
- Be license-eligible in Virginia
- Experience working in a rural community, with a variety of service providers and/or in a primary or secondary school setting.
- Experience with Microsoft software, SPSS, REDCap, and other software
- Able to work independently as well as with a group
- Detail oriented
- Ability to manage multiple tasks
- Exceptional time-management skills
- Ability to resolve issues in a timely manner and ensure smooth data collection

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Restricted

Review Date

April 15, 2024 

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.