Program Overview
The UTMB Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology provides advanced training in trauma-informed care, telepsychology, and evidence-based interventions for youth and families. Funded by the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC), the fellowship is structured to support the development of advanced competencies in clinical service, integration of research into practice, and meaningful scientific contribution.
Fellows deliver brief, evidence-based assessment and treatment to school-referred youth and families through the TCMHCC-supported Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program. They also engage in regular professional development and complete a scholarly project aligned with their career goals. Scholarly work is frequently supported by participation in two additional TCMHCC-funded, multi-site research initiatives: the Texas Child Trauma Research Network (TX-CTRN), which focuses on youth exposed to trauma, and the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN), which studies youth with histories of depression and suicidal behavior.
Core Training Components
All fellows engage in a structured training experience that fosters ethical and professional competence, encourages research-informed decision-making, and supports active participation in scholarly and scientific work. The training experience includes:
- At least 1,750 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Weekly individual supervision with licensed psychologists
- Biweekly case consultation and didactic seminars
- Monthly professional development seminars through the Texas Psychological Association
- Clinical training in cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, exposure, and parent management training
- Opportunities for certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Prolonged Exposure for Adolescents (PE-A)
- Engagement in scholarly activities, including teaching and research
Fellowships Tracks
Fellows may pursue one of two tracks aligned with their career goals:
Clinical Track (1 Year)
Designed for fellows pursuing careers in clinical practice or academic medical settings, this track emphasizes intensive service delivery. Fellows primarily engage in telehealth-based clinical care for school-referred youth through TCHATT, while also completing a mentored scholarly product (e.g., case presentation, teaching module, or program evaluation). The remainder of their time is devoted to supervision, didactics, and professional development.
Research Track (2 Years)
This track is intended for fellows pursuing research-focused academic careers. Time is divided between providing clinical care through TCHATT and contributing to research using TX-CTRN and TX-YDSRN datasets. Fellows are expected to engage directly in data analysis and manuscript writing. They receive mentorship in study design, grant development, and other aspects of an academic career. Dedicated time is also reserved for supervision and didactic training.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary is based on the NIH postdoctoral fellowship pay scale
- Full UTMB benefits package, including medical, dental, and retirement plans
- Ten paid holidays and 22 days of paid time off annually
- Professional development fund to support continuing education and training
- Technology and administrative support, including a laptop, tablet, and scheduling assistance
- Access to UTMB library resources and academic databases
- Ability to work remotely following in-person onboarding (Texas residency required)
Application Information
Eligibility Criteria
- PhD or PsyD from an APA-accredited clinical, counseling, or school psychology program
- Completion of an APA-accredited predoctoral internship (for clinical roles)
- Experience in evidence-based assessment and intervention with youth
- For research track applicants: experience in scientific writing and statistical methods suitable for analyzing longitudinal, multi-site datasets
Application Instructions
- Submit the following materials by November 30 to Ashley Colangelo (alcolang@utmb.edu), CC Cody G. Dodd (cododd@utmb.edu):
- Cover letter (specify preferred track)
- Curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation
- Research track applicants: Writing sample with a description of the applicants role in the project (e.g., data analysis, writing)
- Virtual interviews are conducted December–January
- Offers are extended by the end of February
- Start date is flexible, typically July–September
Questions? Contact Cody G. Dodd, PhD, Training Director at cododd@utmb.edu.
Program Leadership & Supervisors
Fellows receive supervision and mentorship from a collaborative team of experienced clinicians and researchers:
- Cody G. Dodd, PhD – Training Director, Clinical Supervisor, & Research Mentor
- Claire Kirk, PhD – Clinical Supervisor
- Kim Gushanas, PhD – Clinical Supervisor
- E’leyna Garcia, PhD – Clinical Supervisor