Family Contexts Interventions Research

Training Program

 

The goal of this NIH funded (T32-MH070329) program is to train scholars in interventions research that considers the broader social environmental context surrounding the individual (with ‘family’ in the title broadly defined).  Fellows work closely with one or more faculty mentors but do not serve as project coordinators on faculty projects.  Rather, their time is specifically reserved for their own professional development, with Fellows encouraged to develop their own program of research, with guidance from program faculty.  Trainees also participate in a weekly pro-seminar that involves visits from international scholars.  Trainees receive a 12-month stipend, and funds for travel and research for two years, with the second year contingent on the successful completion of the first year.  There are a number of reasons why highly qualified candidates might prefer participating in this program rather than immediately moving to a tenure-track position, the primary of which are that it allows the individual the opportunity to: (a) concentrate on their research, rather than immediately being burdened with teaching responsibilities, committee assignments, etc.; and (b) work with top scholars in the field.

 

Primary program faculty include: Psychology: (a) Bahr Weiss (Director), (b) Steve Hollon (Co-Director), (c) Bruce Compas, (d) Judy Garber; Psychiatry: (a) Richard Shelton; Special Education: (a) Joe Wehby, (b) Ann Kaiser.  Areas of particular specialty include: (a) mood disorders, (b) comorbid internalizing and externalizing problems in children; (c) cultural influences on interventions; (d) chronic illness and stress, and interventions to facilitate coping; (e) social language interventions’ effects on behavioral problems; and (f) school-based interventions for children with behavior disorders.

 

Please address all inquiries to Bahr.Weiss@Vanderbilt.edu.  I