Training Grant on Black Child Development

Pre and Post Doctoral Training Program in Research on Black Child Development

Supported by a training grant from the

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM

The postdoctoral training program is geared for fellows who received strong disciplinary training during graduate school but need a broader set of experiences relevant to research on the development of African American children. The program is mentor-based and offers opportunities to work with training faculty in developmental and clinical psychology programs and allied disciplines on a rich array of multi-method projects focusing on academic achievement, socioemotional and cognitive competence, physical health, and health behaviors. Opportunities also exist for fellows to develop independent projects consistent with the program’s research priorities.

Each fellow’s training normally extends over a two-year period and consists of five core components: (a) mentoring from faculty representing different but complementary disciplines, (b) coursework, (c) research seminars, (d) supervised/collaborative research in the laboratories of at least two of the training faculty, (e) conferences, national meetings, and special workshops and other professional development activities. We believe that the best training accommodates differences in individuals’ research-relevant background within the context of uniformly high standards of excellence. Hence, the nature of some of these program components will be individually tailored by each fellow’s mentoring committee.

Application Process

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Research on Black Child Development at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill

The Training Program in Research on Black Child Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking applications for a one year postdoctoral fellowships for 2009-2010. A second year of post doctoral funding may be available, but is contingent upon availability of renewed NIH funding. We encourage applications from ethnic minority and non-minority scholars committed to pursuing careers in behavioral research focusing on African American children and families. The program, funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, is mentor-based and offers opportunities to pursue independent projects and to work on a rich array of projects on social and cognitive development and physical health. Training faculty include Oscar Barbarin, Martha Cox, Patrick Curran, Jean-Louis Gariepy, Karen Gil, Andrea Hussong, Deborah Jones, Beth Kurtz-Costes, Vonnie C. McLoyd, Peter Ornstein, Steve Reznick, Lorraine Taylor, and Lynne Vernon-Feagans. The fellowship provides a stipend, travel and research funds, and health insurance for the trainee.
 
All candidates must have a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., DSW) from an accredited university, show promise of research excellence, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in accordance with NIH regulation.  Those with degrees in developmental, child clinical, human development, family psychology, and social work are especially encouraged invited to apply. Send application materials (description of research interest, statement of proposed research training and career development plan, representative reprints/preprints, curriculum vita, 3 letters of recommendation) to: bcpostdoc@unc.edu .

For questions, contact Vonnie C. McLoyd,  Stephen Baxter Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Director of Training Program in Research on Black Child Development, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 215 Davie Hall, CB# 3270, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; email address: vcmcloyd@unc.edu. If possible, send materials electronically and a back-up copy via regular mail. For additional information about the training program, go to http://www.unc.edu/depts/devpsych/program/BCD.html

Financial Support

The training program provides postdoctoral fellows a stipend (stipend levels are set by NICHD and depend on the trainee’s years of research experience) and an allotment of $500 per year for travel to conferences and professional meetings.  Funds are also available to help defray the costs of research supplies and materials directly related to the trainee's research.  In addition, the program covers health insurance for the trainee.

Core Faculty and Research Areas
Predoctoral Program
Postdoctoral Program
Current Trainees