The Department of Psychology at the University of Maine and the VA Maine Healthcare System invite applications for a jointly appointed position. This tenure-track assistant professor position entails a nine-month, one/one teaching load with dedicated time for research at the UMaine Psychology Department and twelve months at 5/8th time (20 hours clinical service with 1/8 for research) at the VA Maine as a Clinical Psychologist. This position is ideal for candidates interested in a career that integrates clinical practice, supervision, research, and teaching. Current VA psychologists who are interested in expanding their involvement in research and teaching are also strongly encouraged to apply.
Position Title: Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology & Clinical Psychologist with joint appointments in the University of Maine’s Department of Psychology and the VA Maine Healthcare System
University of Maine: At the University of Maine, the successful candidate will be a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and a member of the faculty in the APA accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology. This is a nine-month appointment with an September 3, 2024 start date. The faculty member will ordinarily teach one course per academic semester; maintain an active and productive research program, including pursuit of external funding for research: mentor undergraduate and graduate students: and participate in departmental and university service at a level commensurate with a 50%-time appointment. Area of research expertise is open. The program values colleagues who bring diverse perspectives to their teaching, research, and service The position will have collaborating appointments in the university’s Institute of Medicine.
The Department of Psychology includes an MA program in Psychological Science (Social, Cognitive, Biological), and Doctoral programs in Psychological Science and Clinical Psychology. The doctoral program in clinical psychology has enjoyed continuous APA accreditation since 1975 and is the only accredited clinical psychology program in the state. Further information about the department can be found here.
The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus and throughout the state. UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university and plays a leadership role as the System’s flagship university. UMaine is dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research, and service at the university, state, and national levels. Further information about UMaine can be found here .
The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.
UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer https://guide.visitbangormaine.com/
VA Maine Healthcare: The Mental Health Service (MHS) at VA Maine Healthcare System is comprised of more than 20 departments and programs and boasts a full range of services existing within an integrated healthcare system that encourages a collaborative, interdisciplinary, whole health approach to wellness and recovery. The service line is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of approximately 150 licensed independent clinical providers (Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Physician Assistants, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Social Workers, etc.), and also includes approximately 50 matrixed clinical and support staff (Nursing, Medical Support Assistants). More than 10,000 Veterans receive their mental health care at VA Maine each year – approximately 25% of the 42,000 Veterans from across Maine and northern New England that are enrolled in the VA Maine system.
In addition to providing world-class healthcare services, VA is also committed to advancing applied clinical research and healthcare education. Clinical researchers may have access to VA’s expansive opportunities for funding as well as vast databases of clinical data. VA Maine also sponsors numerous training programs for health professions trainees, including three APA-accredited training programs: a doctoral psychology internship program, a postdoctoral residency in clinical psychology, and a two-year postdoctoral residency in neuropsychology. Pre-doctoral practicum students are also accepted from UMaine, with the hope to expand these opportunities with new joint collaborations.
The successful candidate would work from the VA outpatient clinic in Bangor Maine – a full-service clinic providing primary care, mental health service, and basic specialty care (dental, vision, lab, radiology, etc.). The Bangor mental health team is comprised of 15-20 clinical staff who work as interdisciplinary teams for Veterans’ ongoing general mental health needs. The psychologist will function independently as a generalist performing assessments and providing psychological interventions (e.g., individual, group, systems therapies) consistent with the provider’s scope of practice. VA encourages the use of evidence-based practices, time-limited episodes of care, and measurement-based care in practice, though many of our Veterans’ chronic health problems necessitate longer episodes of treatment than in some other sectors of healthcare. In addition to clinical responsibilities, the incumbent will have protected time to engage in ongoing research and will be encouraged to actively engage with psychology training.
VA clinicians gain access to many resources associated with being part of the nation’s largest integrated healthcare network, while simultaneously being part of a local community of dedicated providers giving back to those who have served in the country’s armed forces. Early career and unlicensed psychologists will have access to clinical supervision, mentoring, and other professional development opportunities and supports to facilitate successful transition into the profession.
MHS at VA Maine values and supports work-life balance. We also believe that a diverse workforce benefits the quality of our collaboration as well as the services we provide. We appreciate that diversity presents in many forms (both visible and invisible) and encourage interested candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
Applying: Materials must be submitted online at: https://umaine.hiretouch.com
Applications should include:
- Cover Letter: Describe your qualifications with specific reference to the required and preferred qualifications and explain your interest in this joint position.
- Research Statement: A statement summarizing your experience and proposed program of research including future directions.
- Teaching Statement: A statement describing your teaching experience and philosophy.
- Statement of Contributions to Diversity: A statement describing experience and leadership in fostering equity and diversity and/or potential to make such contributions.
- Resume/curriculum vitae.
References are not required at the initial stage of review. Three letters of reference will be solicited for candidates who proceed beyond initial review.
Applicants will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status forms. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered.
Because this position includes a half-time appointment with the VA, eligible candidates will need to meet basic requirements for federal employment by the time of their appointment in addition to any other qualification/eligibility requirements listed in job announcements. Common requirements include US citizenship, selective service registration for individuals categorized male sex at birth, English language proficiency, pre-employment drug screening, and basic background/suitability determination. Candidates with questions or concerns regarding federal employment requirements are encouraged to reach out early in the application process for assistance.
Review of applications to begin: February 26, 2024
Screening interviews to begin no earlier than: March 18, 2023
On-site/finalist interviews to begin no earlier than: April 1, 2023
Tentative start date:
University of Maine: September 3, 2024.
VA Maine Healthcare System: July 1, 2024, or September 3, 2024
Questions may be directed to the chair of the search committee:
Jeffrey Hecker, Ph.D., Chair, Clinical Search Committee, Department of Psychology, University of Maine
301 Beryl Warner Williams Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5742
(207-581-2035; hecker@maine.edu).