Our two-year full-time (40 hours per week) Postdoctoral Fellowship provides advanced, intensive training for applicants who have received their Ph.D. in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or couple and family therapy. One fellow is accepted to the program every other year. The goal of the program is to develop the next generation of leaders and innovators in clinical and family research.
One fellow is accepted to the program every other year. The committee will begin reviewing applications December 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.
The fellowship is designed to enhance skills in implementation science, grant-writing, and publications specifically. Your work will include:
- Grant writing
- Data analyses
- Manuscript publication
- Conducting effectiveness and implementation hybrid studies
You will work closely with Dr. Erika Lawrence, Director of Translational Research at the Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies on two lines of research:
- Conducting a DOJ Office on Violence Against Women-funded RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of and elucidate the mechanisms of change in a group intervention targeting perpetrators of intimate partner violence
- NIH-funded study examining barriers and facilitators to implementation of interventions in community and corrections settings
We encourage Fellows to incorporate their own research interests and questions into existing and proposed research.
The Clinical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship is jointly sponsored by The Family Institute through a generous endowment from Holly and John Madigan.
Holly Madigan (1940-2020) served on The Family Institute’s Board of Directors from 1990 through 2015. The Family Institute is honored that Holly’s legacy lives on through her service as board chair and lifetime trustee, roles which were crucial in allowing the organization to fulfill its mission. She will be remembered by her generosity of spirit and insightful leadership.
As a Research Fellow, you will have access to The Family Institute's staff practice and its Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic, which provides more than 90,000 therapy sessions to more than 7,500 individuals, couples and families from all walks of life annually.
The fellowship position offers teaching opportunities, mentorship and career development as well as the following benefits:
- $58,660 annual salary
- Access to Northwestern University Libraries
- Northwestern University Wildcard benefits
- Access to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Northwestern University
- Paid holidays
- 20 days of paid time off
- Health insurance
- Paid professional liability insurance
Preferred applicants who have completed a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology, or marriage and family therapy are invited to apply. We look for applicants who have:
- a commitment and passion for couple and family therapy as well as the integration of science and practice
- the capacity to develop research questions, pursue empirical solutions to those questions and produce quality research publications
- the capacity to work well with diverse colleagues, supervisors and clients
Important Application & Interview Dates for 2024
Application review will begin on December 1, 2024.
Interviews for selected candidates will be held in December over Zoom.
Fellowship positions start on August 29, 2025.
An application is considered complete when all required documents have been received. Qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. All applicants will be notified by letter of the faculty's decision as quickly as possible.
Submit an application
The Family Institute at Northwestern University actively seeks applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups so that our body of students, fellows, faculty and staff will more closely reflect the diversity of American society. Furthermore, The Family Institute is committed to broad inclusiveness and affording equal opportunity to all without regard to age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation or physical ability.
If you have questions about the Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellowship program, please contact Lisa Gordon, Ph.D., Director of the Fellowship Program, at lgordon@family-institute.org. Questions specifically pertaining to the nature of the research experiences should be directed to Erika Lawrence, Ph.D., LCP, Director of Translational Science, at elawrence@family-institute.org.