The Behavioral Science Division (BSD) at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce the availability of a yearlong full-time Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship position in Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics starting in August/September 2026.
Overview
The Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is designed to prepare individuals for a career in academic medicine, with a focus on clinical care for children and families with chronic medical conditions. The program provides the postdoctoral training experience needed to meet clinical hours and supervision requirements for licensure in Pennsylvania. This position is a 1-year subspecialized fellowship focusing on developing competencies in pediatrics working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families/caregivers with neurodevelopmental disorders.
The ideal candidate will have completed an APPIC-accredited internship in Pediatric Psychology with training in inpatient and/or outpatient medical settings. Preferred applicants have a background in autism and/or neurodevelopmental populations. Prior training in ADOS-2 is beneficial but not required. Applicants with experience in non-medical settings who demonstrate a strong interest in pediatric populations and a solid foundation in evidence-based practices and/or neurodevelopmental assessment (e.g., ADOS-2, Bayley-4 testing) are also encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration. We particularly encourage applicants who have a career interest in conducting neurodevelopmental evaluations, including ADOS-2 testing, and/or plan to pursue a career focused on working with neurodevelopmental populations post-fellowship. Candidates with a clear aspiration to build a long-term career in this area will be prioritized.
The fellow experience will support understanding of the emotional and behavioral needs of individuals and their families with suspected and/or diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders or other behavioral health disorders. Common diagnoses include (but are not limited to):
- Anxiety.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.
- Congenital Heart Disease including Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Ebstein Anomaly, and Tetralogy of Fallot.
- Disruptive behavior disorders.
- Global Developmental Delay.
- Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal syndrome.
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
- Neonatal brain injuries/seizures.
- Premature birth.
The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of presenting concerns and to develop ongoing therapeutic relationships through two major year-long rotations and one minor six-month rotation. Major rotations will be completed in Autism Evaluation and Cardiology. The minor rotation will focus on providing brief, evidence-based outpatient support to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Additionally, the fellow will gain more generalized pediatric and group therapy experience through participation in The Comfort Ability Program (CAP-V). CAP-V is an evidence-based group intervention designed for pre-teens, teens, and their families who are coping with chronic pain and/or functional symptoms. The program teaches cognitive behavioral and self-management strategies to help improve functioning and quality of life. CAP-V is offered through a partnership between UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Boston Children’s Hospital, where the program was originally developed.
Autism Diagnostic Clinic (major rotation)
The goal of this rotation is to develop the fellow’s competence in independently conducting comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for ASD in young children (ages 18 months to 7 years). This includes record review, clinical interviewing, behavioral observations, administration of the ADOS-2 and other behavior rating forms as needed, and providing same-day feedback and recommendations. This training rotation does not include administration of language assessments, intelligence assessments, or adaptive behavior assessments. If the fellow has never completed formal ADOS-2 training to date, at the start of the training year, the fellow will participate in an intensive multi-day training providing an overview of administration and scoring of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2) that will be sponsored by the BSD. The fellow will have opportunities to administer and score the ADOS-2 under close supervision. Using the information gathered during evaluations, fellows will collaborate with supervisors to inform diagnosis, develop case conceptualizations, and make individualized treatment recommendations. The fellow will also assist parents and caregivers in accessing appropriate levels of intervention for their child. They will be responsible for drafting comprehensive evaluation reports to document assessment findings and recommendations. Over the course of the year, the fellow will progress from an observational role to increased independence in administering assessments, writing reports, and delivering feedback to families. Initially, three Autism assessments will be scheduled weekly between the fellow and their supervisor. The amount of autism assessments may decrease to two per week during the second half of the rotation year.
Cardiology (major rotation)
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During this rotation, fellows will work with patients and families with both congenital and acquired cardiac diagnoses, offering longitudinal psychological services from the fetal period after parents receive a prenatal congenital heart disease diagnosis, through to adulthood with patients coping with complex heart disease across the lifespan. Fellows will be a part of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Care team, implementing developmental care interventions at the bedside in the CICU for our youngest patients, and addressing familial coping through neurodevelopmental guidance and psychological support during the neonatal and infant patient’s critical illness. Fellows will participate in outpatient neurodevelopmental surveillance and assessment post-discharge within our Single Ventricle Cardiology Clinic and Cardiac Multidisciplinary Neurodevelopmental Clinic. Beyond the early childhood period, fellows will also conduct psychological evaluations and provide evidence-based interventions in the inpatient setting with patients and families throughout childhood and adolescence experiencing acute illness or surgical intervention in our CICU or Acute Care Cardiac services. As part of the Cardiology rotation, fellows will also participate in the Neonatal Developmental Follow-Up , which provides specialized neurodevelopmental assessments for infants previously hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Working alongside an interdisciplinary team of developmental specialists and pediatric psychologists, fellows will conduct developmental evaluations using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development at scheduled intervals, beginning with a telemedicine visit one to two months post-discharge and an in-person assessment at 4–6 months corrected age. This experience offers training in early developmental assessment, risk monitoring, and collaborative care planning with families and multidisciplinary providers.
Autism Caregiver Support Program (minor rotation)
This minor rotation offers training in a structured, evidence-informed parent support model for families of young children recently diagnosed with ASD. Fellows will participate in a series of individual, virtual sessions focused on increasing caregiver understanding of ASD, promoting caregiver well-being, and enhancing parenting strategies to support child development and reduce challenging behaviors. Fellows will develop skills in parent coaching and behavioral consultation using a collaborative approach. Depending on experience, fellows may observe sessions, assist with session planning and implementation, or co-lead/lead under supervision. Fellows will also gain experience tailoring recommendations to individual family needs and preferences. This rotation is particularly well-suited for those interested in early intervention, autism diagnostic services, and family-centered care.
Fellow Project
In addition to their clinical rotations, the fellow will undertake a fellowship project. This project offers the fellow an opportunity to explore their personal interests while gaining valuable experience in program development. Historically, the fellowship project has focused on quality improvement studies within the clinics where the fellow is rotating. However, fellows are encouraged to select a project that is personally meaningful, subject to supervisor approval.
Supervision
Supervision is provided by attending psychologists integrated within the medical subspecialties through which the fellow rotates. The fellow will be provided with at least two hours of individual supervision per week and direct observation and consultation during regularly scheduled rotations. Additional consultation is available based on the needs of the fellow. Group supervision experiences also are provided to further enhance clinical skills and professional development. Individualized goals will be established and reviewed with the primary supervisor quarterly.
Didactic Experiences
Didactic experiences include weekly half-day virtual training sessions and presentations offered by our neuropsychology department. Fellows will also participate in a professional development seminar. Additionally, fellows are expected to regularly attend case conferences and grand rounds organized by collaborating departments.
Our department strongly encourages trainees to seek out relevant didactic training opportunities, such as conferences and seminars, that align with their interests. To support this pursuit, fellows are provided with a stipend of $1,000 to cover associated expenses.
Research
While our program is primarily focused on clinical training, many of our faculty are actively involved in ongoing research and program development within their respective clinics and have access to existing databases. Depending on the fellow’s interests and experience, research opportunities may be available. Fellows are also encouraged to pursue individual projects or develop case presentations as part of their professional growth.
Compensation
- Competitive Annual Stipend.
- Full benefits package including health, dental, and vision.
- 4 weeks of paid time off (PTO).
- 7 paid holidays.
- $1000 stipend to pursue additional training/educational opportunities.
To Apply
Candidates must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree prior to beginning the program and must be a graduate from an APA accredited doctoral program. APA accredited or APPIC member internship program training is preferred. Please note that the BSD will be offering two postdoctoral fellowship positions for the 2026–2027 training year. Qualified candidates are welcome to apply to one or both positions and should indicate their track(s) of interest in their letter of interest. Applicants applying to both tracks need only submit a single application.
Applications should include:
- A letter of interest describing training experiences, desired postdoctoral training objectives, professional goals, and which track(s) the fellow is applying to (Chronic illness and/or Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics).
- A current curriculum vitae.
- Three letters of reference, with at least two from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and clinical training.
- An official copy of graduate transcripts.
- A letter from the applicant's training director or dissertation chair confirming that the candidate is on track to complete their dissertation before the fellowship start date. Candidates who have already successfully defended their dissertation are not required to include this letter.
Applications are due by Friday, December 5th. Candidates selected to move forward will be contacted with interview offers by Friday, December 19th. All interviews will be conducted virtually in mid-January. We appreciate your interest and look forward to reviewing your application.
If the applicant is unable to send a transcript electronically, please send them to:
Attn: Kaycee Weir, PhD
UPMC CHP-Behavioral Science Division
Lawrenceville Medical Building, 3rd Floor
4117 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Any questions regarding the fellowship or application process can be directed to our training committee by email at BH_trainingcommittee@chp.edu.
