Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity Adolescent Mental Health & AI (Duke University)
We are recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to join a new NIH-funded UF1 study aimed at improving early identification of psychiatric risk in adolescents. The project focuses on deploying and validating the Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health (Duke-PMA) in rural primary care settings to identify youth at elevated risk for developing mental illness. The model leverages behavioral, psychosocial, and sleep-related factors, and uses explainable AI to support clinically meaningful interpretation and intervention planning.
Role: This postdoc position is ideal for someone with training in clinical psychology, child/adolescent psychiatry, or developmental psychopathology who is motivated to: • Interpret model findings in clinically meaningful ways • Lead manuscripts on key scientific questions • Conceptualize mechanisms and targets for prevention • Collaborate closely with AI methodologists and rural clinical partners
Qualifications: • PhD in Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, or related field • Strong writing and publication record (or demonstrated trajectory) • Interest in adolescent mental health, risk prediction, and/or prevention science Clinical background (assessment, intervention, diagnostic interviewing) is a plus but not required.
Environment: The fellow will join a collaborative research group led by Dr. Jonathan Posner (Duke Psychiatry), working closely with investigators across psychology, biostatistics, and AI research. There are ample opportunities for independent research, grant-writing mentorship, and career development toward academic faculty roles.
Start Date: Flexible Duration: 2 years (with option to extend) Salary: NIH NRSA-aligned + full benefits Location: Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC (hybrid options available)
To Apply: Please send your CV and a brief statement of research interests to Jonathan E. Posner, MD at posnerlab@duke.edu
School of Medicine: Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.
The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, founded in 1943, is one of 26 departments in the Duke University School of Medicine. Over the past 80+ years, the department has focus...ed on understanding the brain and mind through research and clinical care and passing this knowledge on to the next generation of leaders in the field. Ultimately, our goal is to help people with mental health challenges live their best life. As a national leader in basic, clinical and translational research, Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is consistently among the top 15 U.S. institutions in NIH funding. We’re committed to discovering and understanding the causes of mental health conditions; finding new ways to identify, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions; investigating effective prevention strategies; and ultimately applying and disseminating our research to improve the mental health of individuals, families and communities.
