Postdoctoral Fellowship - VA system, Palo Alto California
/National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California
The National Center for PTSD Dissemination & Training Division (NCPTSD D&T) Postdoctoral Fellowship is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 training year. The NCPTSD D&T Fellowship is a two-year program sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliation.
Overview: Fellows devote the majority of their time to clinically relevant research and education projects and 25% to direct patient clinical care. The program is a mentorship-based experience where fellows work with a primary and secondary mentor on ongoing and/or independent research projects, publish and present findings, and prepare applications to funding agencies for research support. Potential research areas include PTSD treatment effectiveness trials, innovations in treatment applications, health services research on access and quality of PTSD care, trials testing video, internet, or smart phonebased interventions, and implementation science studies on mechanisms for expanding adoption of best care practices. Content areas of special focus include anger, sleep, digital mental health interventions (including use of digital mental health approaches to increase access to care), healthcare engagement, and military sexual trauma (MST).
Clinical training includes intensive experience working with veterans in individual and group modality. Training options include residential, substance abuse, and outpatient environments. Fellows are exposed to a variety of evidence-based therapies including Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
The overarching aim of our Postdoctoral training program is to prepare Fellows for employment as psychologists in a high priority area of health care for veterans (i.e., PTSD) who can function effectively across a broad range of multidisciplinary settings. We accomplish this by providing comprehensive research training, extensive and individually tailored supervision, and an excellent array of clinical and professional development didactics. Our program is committed to making systemic and sustained efforts to prioritize and promote social responsiveness in training.
Fellows are expected to demonstrate, by the end of their tenure, advanced competence in the following areas: Integration of Science and Practice; Individual and Cultural Diversity; Ethical and Legal Standards; Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Intervention; Professional Development; Research.
Application Deadline: Application due date is November 24, 2025. All application materials must be received by us on or before this date. Incomplete applications will not be read by the Selection Committee. Virtual interviews will be offered on 12/5/25 and 12/8/25.
*The NCPTSD D&T Fellowship Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The next site visit is 2025. The APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation can be reached at the APA, 750 First St. NE, Washington DC 20002-4242; phone number 202-336-5979; Email apaaccred@apa.org
Requirements:
1. A personal statement of professional goals and interests that strictly follows the instructions. Please review the NCPTSD Fellowship Training Brochure, which describes our programs training goals and opportunities with Training Faculty. In your letter please describe:
• Your previous educational, clinical and research experiences
• Your areas of clinical and research interest and its alignment with the NCPTSD emphasis area and mission
• Specific clinical and research goals and objectives for your Fellowship year
• You career “next steps”
• The Faculty Mentor(s) you are interested in working with. Please refer to our Training Brochure (Appendix A) for a list of Faculty Mentors accepting applications for the 2026-2027 training year.
Statement of interest should be no more than 2 pages and include the names of the three individuals expected to provide references.
2. Current Curriculum Vitae
3. Work Sample, such as a published manuscript on which you are first author or other written product that highlights your work relevant to PTSD emphasis area
4. Three letters of reference from faculty members or clinical supervisors who know your research work well. One of these letters must be from your primary research mentor. Letter writers should email an electronic copy from his/her/their university or agency email address, and this will be considered an official “signed” copy.
Psychologist applicants must have obtained a doctorate from an APA accredited program in clinical or counseling psychology and completed an APA accredited internship in clinical or counseling psychology. Social Work or Nursing applicants must have a doctorate from an accredited program and have appropriate clinical training. Associated Health Fellows must be U.S. citizens. Candidates from historically excluded groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Anticipated Start Date & Stipend: Fellows will start in the Fall of 2026. The current annual stipend for first year postdoc fellowship at VA Palo Alto is $66,387. Vacation, sick leave, professional development leave, and health insurance are available.
More information: For more information and to download full brochure, visit our website at https://www.va.gov/palo-alto-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/ or scan the QR Code.
Contacts: If you have any questions about the application process and/or program content, please contact Sarra Nazem, PhD (Training Director) at Sarra.Nazem@va.gov