October 23, 2014

Post Doctoral Fellowship

University of Southern California Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity College Student Learning and Academic Support Services Post-Doctoral Fellowship

As an APPIC member postdoctoral training program, our primary goal is to provide opportunities and support that will help develop ethical, culturally sensitive, and clinically competent postdoctoral fellows as they prepare for licensure and an entry-level psychologist position.  To fulfill this goal, we strive to provide a safe learning environment that encourages interaction, risk-taking, honest self-appraisal, collaboration, and teamwork. Our program offers a variety of clinical, supervisory, consultative, and administration experiences that are further intended to provide a clear picture of what it is like to work as a psychologist in a university learning center.

The training of a postdoctoral fellow is an endeavor that is fully supported by our mission and our staff. Our staff engages in the process of training with a purpose, a plan, and an overarching respect for the postdoctoral fellow (colleague-to-be) who transitions through the USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity.

This program meets California state licensure requirements. Formal evaluations are done twice: once in December and once in July. There are informal evaluations done on a weekly basis. USC KCLC has an active Due Process and Grievance procedure.

Our central training goal is for the postdoctoral fellow to complete the internship with advanced knowledge and confidence in the following areas of clinical practice:

  • Evidence Based-Practices/Research and Empirically Supported treatments with a focus on college students diagnosed with ADHD, Specific Learning Disabilities, ASD, Anxiety, and Depression
  • Conducting Brief Individual and Group Therapy
  • Psychoeducational Assessment includes screening, administration, and writing of fully comprehensive reports (averaging 6 screeners, 3 abbreviated batteries, and 4 full batteries per semester)
  • Supervision of graduate student employees in the office (academic coaches) including co-leading group supervision and weekly individual supervision meetings
  • Outreach and consultation with Campus Partners
  • Clinical Documentation
  • Administration and program development

The competencies and objectives of the program are met through:

  1. Direct Service: individual and group counseling, case management, intake interview, supervised supervision
  2. Supervision: individual supervision (2 hours/week), group supervision (2 hours/week)
  3. Training seminars: assessment seminar, professional development, licensing exam preparation
  4. Psychoeducational assessment: learning disabilities and ADHD, differential diagnosis
  5. Outreach and consultation: collaboration with campus departments including faculty, staff, and student groups
  6. Administration: consultation with academic coaches (weekly); psychology representative in multi-disciplinary staff; active member of the postdoctoral selection committee

The supervisors are:

  • Juliana Calhoun, Ed.D. (2017, University of Southern California, Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Psychology) CA License #33390
  • Cassanra Pentzien, Psy.D. (2019, Bowling Green State University, Clinical Psychology) CA License #32059

To be eligible for this position, applicants must satisfy two requirements:

  1. Complete an APA or CPA-accredited doctoral program
  2. Complete an APPIC and/or APA or CPA-accredited predoctoral internship

Preferred qualifications for the position are previous experience:

  • Working with college students
  • Working with clients with a diagnosed learning disability/ADHD
  • Conducting psychoeducational assessments including administering, scoring, diagnosing, and writing reports
  • Supervising others
  • Presenting workshops and outreach presentations
  • Leading group psychotherapy/psychoeducational groups

To apply for this position, the following materials must be included (uploaded) in the APPA CAS application system:
1. 3 letters of references
2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
3. Cover Letter/Letter of Intent
4. Official Graduate Transcripts

Additional information about our program can be found on the APPIC website: APPIC Membership

This fellowship is a 12-month position. For the 2024 start year, the position begins on August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025. We will have 2 postdoctoral fellowship positions for this year. The salary, including University benefits, is $68,640. Additional postdoctoral fellow information is available here.

To work at USC, there are immunization requirements- Here is the list of required immunizations.

For more information about USC please visit our website at http://www.usc.edu/about/

Please note: The Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity is unable to offer employment or fieldwork placement to any students who have been involved in academic support, such as academic coaching, groups, or psychoeducational testing at our center.

USC KCLC College Student Learning and Academic Support Service PostDoc