Advertising Summary: The CREATE Lab at VCU is looking for a postdoctoral fellow to collaborate with our interdisciplinary team (Clinical Psychology, Special Education) conducting research focused on improving child and youth behavioral and mental health outcomes through the implementation and measurement of evidence-based practices.

Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences 

Department: Psychology

Department Summary: The CREATE Lab at VCU is engaged in research designed to promote the accessibility and effectiveness of interventions delivered in community settings for youth with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Major themes in our research include distilling practice elements from the research literature, using practice elements to develop efficient and flexible interventions for community settings, and developing tools and training strategies to support the implementation of evidence-informed interventions.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The CREATE Lab at VCU is looking for a postdoctoral fellow to collaborate with our interdisciplinary team (Clinical Psychology, Special Education) conducting research focused on improving child and youth behavioral and mental health outcomes through the implementation and measurement of evidence-based practices. Our reach spans school-based and mental health service settings and emphasizes rigorous methodology, practical relevance, and real-world impact on reach and quality of service delivery. Current and forthcoming projects examine how professional practices are implemented in community settings and how variation in practice use and fidelity relates to student and youth outcomes.

The postdoctoral fellow will collaborate with experienced researchers within the Clinical Psychology program and School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development at VCU. The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in the methodological and analytic components of one or more funded projects.

Primary responsibilities include analysis of complex datasets, and collaborating (with opportunities to lead) research papers and grant proposals to support the research program. This position suits an individual interested in implementation science and practice, prevention and intervention research, social-emotional learning, and research in community-based settings.

This full-time, 12-month Postdoctoral Fellow position will begin in Summer 2026. The opening is for a one-year fellowship with the possibility of renewal. The individual hired will work directly with a team of principal investigators at VCU to manage data, train and supervise staff, and support community-based research partners. This individual will also have dedicated time to support collaborations with project investigators, members of the Clark-Hill Institute, and graduate students on research papers, conference presentations, and grant applications.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in psychology, special education, or other related discipline
• Strong quantitative research skills
• A demonstrated ability to disseminate research findings
• A demonstrated commitment to equity and service to underserved populations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with measure development
• Experience collaborating with and conducting research in schools or mental health clinics
• Experience working on federally funded projects
• Experience in supervising and managing staff
• Experience managing research data sets, knowledge of a range of research methodologies (group experimental, correlational, single-subject experimental, qualitative), advanced data analysis skills, and competencies with advanced statistical software
• Strong communication skills and ability to work well with others

Salary Range: $62,232

Benefits: All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide array of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU. Consult the benefits website for information on benefits eligibility according to employee type.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt