The purpose of the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program is to prepare a cadre of advanced-level researchers in the area of psychiatric vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with psychiatric disabilities. Among different disability groups, psychiatric disabilities tend to be the most prevalent with devastating effects on the individuals' capacity to work and be productive members of their communities. As a result, the engagement of this population in competitive employment has been set as a national priority resulting in the significant mandate for the provision of high-quality evidence-based psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation services.

The Advanced Rehabilitation and Research Training Program is implemented in two consecutive cycles of a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship. In order to maximize the training experience, two fellows will be in residence during each training cycle. The first training cycle began in March 2019 and two fellows have been selected for this training. The next round of recruitment for fellows is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2020.

The fellowship includes broad-based didactic training in psychiatric vocational rehabilitation and employment research and intensive research practicum. The research practicum involves mentored research experience as part of an existing larger research project and the design and implementation of an independent study relevant to promoting the employment outcomes and career development of people with psychiatric disabilities, including individuals experiencing early psychosis. Through a variety of training and research practicum activities the fellows are expected to acquire competencies in the following areas: research design/methodology; advanced statistics and instrument development; psychiatric vocational rehabilitation and employment research; participatory research methods and peer employment research; conduct of applied research; and grant and professional writing.

Over the last twenty-five years, the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation has been a leader in providing research training in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation. The current five-year Advanced Rehabilitation and Research Training Program is expected to contribute to the training of the next generation of highly qualified researchers who will expand current practices in the psychiatric vocational rehabilitation field to new levels and further improve the lives of persons with psychiatric disabilities.

This project is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) within the Health and Human Services Department. The tentative start date for the two-year post-doctoral fellowship is July 1, 2021. Individuals interested in this fellowship can contact Dr. Russinova at zlatka@bu.edu for more information. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2021.

DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE BU WEBSITE

Please contact Zlatka Russinova at zlatka@bu.edu for more information