Recommendations for a Postdoctoral Fellowship

Abstract

Notes that the field of psychology, those employing psychologists, and state regulatory agencies maintain that graduate school alone cannot provide the broad range of knowledge and skills required for the modern practice of psychology. Complicating matters is the current state of postdoctoral training, which exists in a variety of institutions offering a range of difference experiences, varying in their duration, amount of supervision, and compensation. So, even if you are ready to pursue postdoctoral training, the lack of uniform training standards and variability in positions raise many questions about what kind of position to pursue. The goal of this chapter is to clarify these issues and assist you with two basic tasks: determining whether postdoctoral training is right for you and understanding how to obtain a fellowship that meets your personal and professional needs. With regard to the first task, we explore advantages and disadvantages of postdoctoral training as well as other considerations in the decision to pursue a postdoctoral position. For those who might wish to seek such training, we explicate the steps for locating, applying, evaluating, and securing a suitable fellowship. Finally, some thoughts and recommendations about the postdoctoral experience are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)