JOB POSTING
Position summary |
Start and End Dates
September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2027 (possibility of renewal) Job Type Postdoctoral Fellowship Salary Competitive |
A postdoctoral fellowship position is available to work as part of a dynamic, multi-site team led by Dr. Skye Fitzpatrick (York University) in the Treating and Understanding Life-threatening behaviour and Posttraumatic stress (TULiP laboratory; tuliplab.ca).
ABOUT THE TULIP LAB
A postdoctoral fellowship position is available to work as part of a dynamic, multi-site team led by Dr. Skye Fitzpatrick (York University) in the Treating and Understanding Life-threatening behaviour and Posttraumatic stress (TULiP laboratory; tuliplab.ca). The TULiP lab is a research group dedicated to helping people build lives worth living. We optimize interventions and identify treatment targets for individuals who engage in life-threatening behaviour, have borderline personality disorder (BPD), and/or have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We approach these goals in three ways: First, we ask clinically-relevant questions about BPD and its treatment (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy; DBT) using experimental, ecological momentary assessment, and longitudinal methods. In this line of research, we seek to understand BPD and life-threatening behaviour, identify key treatment targets, and examine the efficacy of specific treatment strategies for BPD and life-threatening behaviour.
Second, we draw on clinical trial methods to optimize and simplify the treatment of BPD and PTSD. To this end, we have recently become particularly focused on harnessing the power of relationships to treat BPD and/or PTSD through conjoint and dyadic interventions, as well as identifying simple, streamlined, and efficient ways of treating BPD, life-threatening behaviour, and PTSD.
Third, we are building an emerging line of research that draws on implementation science and community research methods to broaden scalability to, and access of, BPD and PTSD treatments. This includes working with community organizations and people with lived experience to develop peer and community led interventions.
Our work is guided by science, compassion, and hope. It is also guided by a deep appreciation of the importance of lived experience in informing, designing, and interpreting research. We also believe that everyone can find freedom from suffering and build a life worth living. Our work is intended to help move people towards their vision of such a life, even if they cannot yet see it for themselves.
ABOUT THE POSITION
We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow with a start date of September 1st, 2025, although start time is somewhat negotiable. This postdoctoral fellowship is a full-time position, and the postdoctoral fellow will be supported in supplementing their income and training with a day per week of private practice under supervision should they choose to do so.
The postdoctoral fellow will support a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded randomized controlled trial testing Sage, a novel, dialectical behavior therapy-informed couple therapy for couples wherein one member has BPD. Sage is designed to treat BPD, enhance relationship functioning, and improve partner mental health, relative to a treatment as usual control. The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in the design and management of the study, including overseeing data collection and recruitment efforts, as well as having the opportunity to act as a trial assessor or therapist. Opportunities for supervision or mentorship of graduate students will also be offered.
The TULiP lab is also in the process of beginning and running additional studies, including a longitudinal study of communication processes in couples wherein one member has BPD, and an uncontrolled trial of a novel, peer-led PTSD intervention for family members of people with BPD and emotion dysregulation. We have also recently completed data collection on randomized controlled trials testing a novel, self-help, online couple intervention for Military Members, Veterans, First Responders, and Healthcare workers with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their partners: Couple HOPES (Helping Overcome PTSD and Enhance Satisfaction; www.couplehopes.com). The postdoctoral fellow may have the opportunity to assist or become involved with these projects as their interests and time allow. Clinical training in the treatment of PTSD, BPD, and suicidal and other crisis behaviours using evidence-based PTSD interventions, dialectical behaviour therapy, and conjoint therapies may thus be available.
US Citizens are eligible to apply.
Key responsibilities include working with members of the study team to:
Applicants must have completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology
ABOUT THE TULIP LAB
A postdoctoral fellowship position is available to work as part of a dynamic, multi-site team led by Dr. Skye Fitzpatrick (York University) in the Treating and Understanding Life-threatening behaviour and Posttraumatic stress (TULiP laboratory; tuliplab.ca). The TULiP lab is a research group dedicated to helping people build lives worth living. We optimize interventions and identify treatment targets for individuals who engage in life-threatening behaviour, have borderline personality disorder (BPD), and/or have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We approach these goals in three ways: First, we ask clinically-relevant questions about BPD and its treatment (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy; DBT) using experimental, ecological momentary assessment, and longitudinal methods. In this line of research, we seek to understand BPD and life-threatening behaviour, identify key treatment targets, and examine the efficacy of specific treatment strategies for BPD and life-threatening behaviour.
Second, we draw on clinical trial methods to optimize and simplify the treatment of BPD and PTSD. To this end, we have recently become particularly focused on harnessing the power of relationships to treat BPD and/or PTSD through conjoint and dyadic interventions, as well as identifying simple, streamlined, and efficient ways of treating BPD, life-threatening behaviour, and PTSD.
Third, we are building an emerging line of research that draws on implementation science and community research methods to broaden scalability to, and access of, BPD and PTSD treatments. This includes working with community organizations and people with lived experience to develop peer and community led interventions.
Our work is guided by science, compassion, and hope. It is also guided by a deep appreciation of the importance of lived experience in informing, designing, and interpreting research. We also believe that everyone can find freedom from suffering and build a life worth living. Our work is intended to help move people towards their vision of such a life, even if they cannot yet see it for themselves.
ABOUT THE POSITION
We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow with a start date of September 1st, 2025, although start time is somewhat negotiable. This postdoctoral fellowship is a full-time position, and the postdoctoral fellow will be supported in supplementing their income and training with a day per week of private practice under supervision should they choose to do so.
The postdoctoral fellow will support a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded randomized controlled trial testing Sage, a novel, dialectical behavior therapy-informed couple therapy for couples wherein one member has BPD. Sage is designed to treat BPD, enhance relationship functioning, and improve partner mental health, relative to a treatment as usual control. The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in the design and management of the study, including overseeing data collection and recruitment efforts, as well as having the opportunity to act as a trial assessor or therapist. Opportunities for supervision or mentorship of graduate students will also be offered.
The TULiP lab is also in the process of beginning and running additional studies, including a longitudinal study of communication processes in couples wherein one member has BPD, and an uncontrolled trial of a novel, peer-led PTSD intervention for family members of people with BPD and emotion dysregulation. We have also recently completed data collection on randomized controlled trials testing a novel, self-help, online couple intervention for Military Members, Veterans, First Responders, and Healthcare workers with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their partners: Couple HOPES (Helping Overcome PTSD and Enhance Satisfaction; www.couplehopes.com). The postdoctoral fellow may have the opportunity to assist or become involved with these projects as their interests and time allow. Clinical training in the treatment of PTSD, BPD, and suicidal and other crisis behaviours using evidence-based PTSD interventions, dialectical behaviour therapy, and conjoint therapies may thus be available.
US Citizens are eligible to apply.
Key responsibilities include working with members of the study team to:
- Facilitate recruitment for Sage randomized controlled trial
- Collaborate on manuscripts using clinical trial data and longitudinal study data focused on populations with BPD or PTSD
- Develop own independent research projects in relevant areas
- Receive mentorship from study team regarding clinical trial methods, longitudinal measurement, ecological momentary assessment, treatment development, the involvement of individuals with lived experience, conjoint interventions, peer led interventions, and research with populations who have PTSD, BPD, and suicidal or self- injuring behaviour
- Other opportunities exist to participate in ongoing TULiP lab research
Applicants must have completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Experience in data analyses such as multilevel modelling and structural equation modelling is preferred, but not required
- Experience with couple or conjoint interventions or research is preferred, but not required
HOW TO APPLY |
To apply for this position, please submit the following documents:
Please submit all documents by email to Skye Fitzpatrick at [email protected] as soon as possible. |