Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

Developmental Psychopathology Research Training

This program trains research scientists studying the development, life course, and prevention of abnormal behavior. Its goals are to prepare trainees to become leading research scientists in the interdisciplinary fields of developmental psychopathology and prevention science; provide a national forum for the maturation and evolution of these fields; and enhance the quality of research being conducted in these fields.

During the15 years of funding to date, this program has been successful in achieving all three goals. Faculty and trainee research has focused on internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders; disorders of cognition and learning; basic emotional, cognitive, and biological processes; and prevention and treatment.

Pre- and Postdoctoral Training

This program's funds support four advanced predoctoral trainee positions per year and three postdoctoral trainee positions per year.

Program Emphasis

The program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the field in that trainees come from diverse backgrounds and faculty are represented from clinical, developmental, social, and quantitative psychology; psychiatry; pediatrics; pharmacology, sociology; and education. The foundation of the program is apprenticeship-based research mentoring.

  • All trainees participate in an ongoing weekly proseminar attended by program faculty and renowned Visiting Scholars.
  • Individualized programs are developed for trainees through course work, workshops, and other experiences.
  • The program is a joint venture of the Departments of Psychology and Human Development (Peabody College), Psychology (College of Arts & Science), and Psychiatry (School of Medicine), administered through the Kennedy Center.
  • The program has 34 faculty preceptors.
  • It is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.

The program is designed to build the research skills needed for an academic research career.

How to Apply

This fellowship program is intended for predoctoral psychologists (entering year three or four of their doctoral programs) and postdoctoral psychologists (zero or one year since degree). U.S. citizenship is required. Fellows are selected on the basis of overall academic excellence and evidence of interest and facility in working with colleagues in other disciplines. Application is initiated by submitting the following information:

  1. A one- to two-page letter describing applicant's career interest in developmental psychopathology or prevention science
  2. A curriculum vitae
  3. Three letters of reference sent directly to the program director.

Judy Garber, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University
Dept. of Psychology & Human Development
Peabody Box 512
230 Appleton Place
Nashville, TN 37240

Guidance and Experience Through Weekly Proseminars..

In the weekly proseminar, trainees learn the work of highly regarded scholars in-depth and receive consultation on their own research.

Top Ranked...

Peabody College has been consistently ranked among the top 10 schools of education in the nation by U. S. News and World Report for the past six years, and Special Education within the top 3 nationwide.

Contact

Judy Garber, Ph.D., Program Director, Developmental Psychopathology Research Training, (615) 343-8714

See Also...

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Links

  • Vanderbilt Vision Research Center
    The Vanderbilt Vision Research Center promotes research and training on a wide range of problems in vision science.
  • Pharmacological Sciences Training Program
    An interdisciplinary doctoral training program in pharmacological sciences at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
  • Peabody College Department of Special Education
    Ranked as a top-tier special education program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for more than a decade, the department has long been a leader both in research and practice. The department ranks first in scholarly production among other departments at research universities in the United States, according to a new report by Academic Analytics.
  • Neuroscience Graduate Program
    Vanderbilt Brain Institute's Neuroscience Graduate Program fosters development from trainee to independent research scientist and educator.
  • Neurogenomics Research Training
    The program provides for formal research training and didactic instruction, as well as seminars and technical workshops at the interface of neuroscience and genomic research. The program is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Funds support six postdoctoral trainees.
  • Behavioral Research Training in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
    Program trains sophisticated, broadly based, skillful behavioral research scientists in the behavioral aspects of intellectual disability and other developmental disabilities.
  • Biobehavioral Interventions Training Program
    Postdoctoral fellowships are available through the Biobehavioral Interventions Training Program, supported by an NIH Roadmap initiative, at Vanderbilt University.