“Developmental Psychopathology, Psychobiology, and Behavior”
Program Director: Randy Ross, MD, Scientific Director: Mark Laudenslager, PhD
Clinical, Basic, and Translational Neuroscience
A combined effort of the Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus along with Departments of Psychology at Denver University, University of Colorado Boulder, and Colorado State University offers postdoctoral research training for MDs and PhDs for research careers in developmental psychobiology, with special emphasis on the development of maladaptive behavior. This multidisciplinary, multi-institutional translational program has a long history of involvement in developmental research. The Developmental Psychobiology Research Group (DPRG) includes 19 researchers with a productive career involvement as independent investigators of developmental research techniques, some of which are technologically unique. Subject populations have ranged from humans through murine and zebrafish models to neuronal and glial cell cultures. Members of this group serve as the faculty for this research training program (funded by NIMH T32 MH015442). Because of its setting, problems with clinical relevance are continually in the forefront.
Program:
A two-year training program is offered which includes a Core Curriculum to be completed by all trainees, seminar participation and individual research in one or more faculty laboratories. Research Training organizes around the identification, causes, natural progression, and treatment of developmental psychopathology. A particular emphasis of training is the development of multispecialty collaborations allowing for synergistic basic and clinical approaches to research. Training options are available in basic and molecular, biomarkers, genetics, neuroimaging, epidemiology, phenomenology, treatment, and prevention sciences for a variety of developmental psychiatric disorders including ADHD, aggression, conduct disorder, anxiety, autism, bipolar, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. A variety of vulnerable and minority populations—including pregnant women, children in foster care, children with co-morbid medical illnesses, America Indians, and Hispanic subjects—of varying ages, including pregnant women, infants, preschoolers, children, adolescents, and young adults—participate in our research programs. Training for transition to research independence, including manuscript preparation and grant submission, are incorporated into the program.
Program Topics & Faculty: Vulnerable infants and/or children:
Cognitive neuroscience and human neuropsychology (Marie Banich, PhD); Prenatal/early originsof health and development (Elysia Poggi Davis, PhD); Brain imaging in eating disorders and in impulsive aggression in youth (Guido Frank, MD); Psychoneuroendocrinology/immunology of behavioral development (Mark Laudenslager, PhD); Accelerating the translation of pharmaceutical innovation (with an emphasis on drug safety and FDA warnings) into practice (Elaine Morrato, DrPh); Special problems of American Indian adolescents (Douglas Novins, MD); Psychotherapeutic interventions for anxiety in children with autism (Judy Reaven, PhD); Integrated treatment of adolescent substance abuse disorders and comorbidity (Paula Riggs, MD); Imaging modalities to explore brain development in developmental disorders (Don Rojas, PhD); Perinatal and early infant interventions to decrease lifelong risk for psychiatric disorders (Randy Ross, MD); Better understanding the biological basis of childhood callous and unemotional traits (Joseph Sakai, MD); Randomized controlled efficacy trial of a preventive intervention for maltreated youth in out-of-home care (Heather Taussig, PhD); The development of neuropathology in schizophrenia, using fMRI (Jason Tregellas, PhD); Stress, sleep, and behavior in preschool children (Sarah Watamura, PhD); Early child development and substance abuse in American Indian children and Adolesencts (Nancy Whitesell, PhD). Molecular and cellular influences on behavior: The role of glial cells in establishing and maintaining functional neural circuits (Bruce Appel, PhD); Cellular mechanisms by which early life seizures (ELS)subvert the processes of normal neuronal development (Tim Benke, MD, PhD); Clinical epidemiology, imaging, and behavior geneticsof conduct disorder (Christian Hopfer, MD); Molecular and cellular mechanisms of genetic susceptibility to severe psychiatric disorders (Amanda Law, PhD); Animal models of Downs syndrome and Autism (Ken Maclean, PhD). Senior Advisory Group: Robert Emde, MD, Marshall Haith, PhD; Bruce Pennington, PhD; Martin Reite, MD; Karen Stevens, PhD;and Marianne Wamboldt, MD
APPLICATION: Please visit www.dprgpostdoc.org for summaries of the training faculty’s research and application requirements. Potential applicants should first contact the proposed mentor to ensure availability for sponsorship. Contact information is included in the faculty descriptions. For general information, email Linda.Greco-Sanders@ucdenver.edu
Levels of Support: Levels of support will be consistent with stipends supplied by and subject to change by NIH. (projected salaries fo 2017-2018 are based on years of relevant postdoctoral experience, level 0 when degree granted):
| Level 0 $47,484 | Level 3 $50,316 | Level 5 $54,228 |
| Level 1 $47,844 | Level 4 $52,140 | Level 6 $56,400 |
| Level 2 $48,216 | Level 7 (7 or more years) $58,560 |
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Individuals with a doctoral degree are eligible to apply. Physicians, including Child Psychiatrists, and individuals from groups underrepresented among scientific researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.
