Job Postings & Training Opportunities

The Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine invites applications for a 2-year T32-supported postdoctoral position.  The fellow will be involved in research focused on testing medications to reduce alcohol drinking behaviors. We have one available position with a start date ranging from now until the position is filled.

The postdoctoral fellow will primarily be involved in a project focused on testing novel medications for reducing alcohol drinking behaviors using experimental human alcohol drinking paradigms. The project, led by Dr. Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, is funded  through the NIAAA funded Center for Translational Neuroscience on Alcoholism (CTNA). The postdoctoral fellow will have also access to training on tobacco regulatory science through the Yale Tobacco Center on Regulatory sciences (TCORS).

Competitive candidates should have: 1) a PhD in clinical or experimental psychology or neuroscience, 2) a strong research background; 3) interest in pursuing an academic career; 4) interest/experience in alcohol research. Strong data analytical skills would be appreciated but not required.

Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to participate in core seminars on research and data analytic methods, grant development, and professional development as well as in seminars and colloquia that cover related topics, such as the ethical conduct of research and current topics in addiction and tobacco regulatory science. Fellows are eligible to apply for pilot funds through affiliated Center grants and will have an opportunity to conduct independent research under the mentorship of Dr. Krishnan-Sarin, and work with other CTNA researchers at Yale including Dr.’s Stephanie O’Malley and John Krystal.

To apply: Applicants should email a CV, a statement of interests that outlines their qualifications, research interests, and future goals, and three letters of recommendation to Dr. Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin at suchitra.krishnan-sarin@yale.edu. Reviews of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants must be US citizens or hold a permanent U.S. Resident Visa (“Green Card”). Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from women, members of minority groups, persons with disabilities and protected veterans.

Physical Location of Fellowship: Yale University, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519 USA

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California is seeking a full-time Research Coordinator to support grant-funded research on substance use and other health-related domains with veterans and young adults under the supervision of Eric Pedersen, Ph.D. The Research Coordinator will contribute to research efforts on projects aiming to decrease hazardous substance use behavior (e.g., heavy alcohol and cannabis use) and alleviate mental health symptoms (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder, disordered eating behaviors) through innovative brief online and mobile phone-based interventions with young adults and veterans. Current projects include a randomized controlled trial of a brief intervention targeting disordered eating behavior and heavy drinking among college students, a randomized controlled trial of an app that combines cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and brief alcohol intervention content to help veterans improve their sleep and reduce their drinking, a randomized controlled trial of a brief online intervention to reduce prenatal cannabis use, and a longitudinal survey study examining substance use and mental health outcomes among women and racial/ethnic minority veterans. There will be multiple opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the University of Southern California and at partnering institutions. The start date is flexible, but priority will be given to candidates who can start on or before June 1, 2026.

To apply, please click on the link below and submit a cover letter, statement of research interests, a writing sample that best exemplifies the candidate’s writing skills, and a resume/curriculum vitae to Dr. Eric Pedersen at Eric.Pedersen@med.usc.edu. Candidates can read more about the research studies conducted in Dr. Pedersen’s lab at https://thepearl.usc.edu/

UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry

The fellows will conduct research in one or more of the following areas: (1) substance use, (2) externalizing problems, (3) parenting and family processes.

This is an ideal position for someone seeking an academic research career at UCSD or elsewhere.

Applicants will join a productive and growing lab and can expect >80% of time spent on developing their own manuscripts. The previous 2 postdocs in this position both secured tenure-track faculty positions in departments of psychology.

Licensure in California can be obtained during the postdoc.

More information is available here.

To express interest, email your CV to wpelham@ucsd.edu and list contact info for three professional references. No cover letter/further materials necessary.

The Vetreno Lab in the Department of Psychiatry and Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a collaborative neuroscience research program focused on models of adolescent alcohol exposure. Our studies find persistent dysfunction of the basal forebrain cholinergic system through neuroimmune and epigenetic mechanisms, contributing to long-term cognitive and alcohol-related outcomes that are reversible. Research in the lab integrates behavioral neuroscience, rodent surgical approaches, neuroanatomy, histological and molecular methods, and circuit-level analyses to define mechanisms of persistent brain dysfunction following adolescent alcohol exposure. Related projects in the lab examine HMGB1-linked neuroimmune signaling, hippocampal-basal forebrain interactions, and the serotonergic system.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in neuroscience, pharmacology, psychology, biology, or a related field and have strong interest in addiction neuroscience, developmental neurobiology, neuroimmune signaling, epigenetics, or neuropsychiatric disease. Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable:

· Rodent behavioral models

· Survival surgery and stereotaxic surgical techniques

· Immunohistochemistry / immunofluorescence

· Molecular biology

· Microscopy and image analysis

· Neuroanatomy

· Transcriptomic or epigenetic methods

This position offers excellent opportunities for scientific mentorship, publication, grant writing, and career development in a strong interdisciplinary research environment at UNC-Chapel Hill. Candidates eligible for NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellowship support (F32) or appointment on our NIAAA T32 training grant are especially encouraged to apply.

To apply, please send:

· CV

· Brief statement of research interests and career goals

· Contact information for 3 references

Start date: TBD

Please direct inquiries/applications to:

Ryan P. Vetreno, Ph.D.

rvetreno@email.unc.edu

The Center on Alcohol, Substance use, and Addictions (CASAA) announces two open postdoctoral fellowship positions on our NIAAA Institutional Research Training T32 grant. The goal of the grant is to prepare future NIH scientists to conduct rigorous alcohol research across a range of areas including evidence-based treatment, mechanisms of behavior change, precision medicine, comorbidity and the individual- and system-level factors related to alcohol use, polysubstance use, and other addictive behaviors, technology-based interventions, and implementation science; and draws on several new conceptual and methodological approaches with the goal of reducing the public health burden of alcohol use disorder. We have at least two openings to support a postdoctoral fellow for 2025-2026.

Applicants must meet the following criteria: (1) demonstrated interest in the alcohol field as evidenced by prior coursework, research, and/or clinical experience; (2) a record of research productivity as evidenced by research presentations and peer-reviewed publications; and (3) a commitment to a career in alcohol research as an independent investigator. We are particularly interested in fellows who have experience or interest in intensive longitudinal data methods such as ecological momentary assessment and/or ambulatory assessment as well as fellows with an interest in biological mechanisms and/or correlates. All fellows must be a United States citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a 1-2 page cover letter that addresses their qualifications for and interest in the training program to Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., katiew@unm.edu.

Positions are available immediately although the latest start date of August 1, 2026 will be considered. Applications received by November 15, 2025 will be given best consideration.

Click below to learn more.

The NIAAA-funded T32 training program in the School of Medicine at LSU Health in New Orleans is currently accepting applications from advanced candidates for an outstanding postdoctoral fellowship opportunity. Our rich scientific and mentoring environment provides excellent training and career development opportunities alongside leading investigators and dedicated mentors. We seek highly motivated and career-focused candidates with research interests in preclinical and/or translational aspects of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and related co-morbidities implementing approaches ranging from advanced preclinical models (rodent, non-human primate), innovative ex vivo technologies, and translational human studies in association with our longitudinal New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV (NOAH) cohort. The successful candidate will work with a highly integrated team of investigators and receive personalized training in multi-disciplinary fields including the following areas of collaborative strength:

• Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolic Dysregulation in AUD & HIV
• Neurobiology of Pain, Negative Affect, and Cognitive Deficits in AUD
• Immune Activation and Senescence in the Context of AUD & HIV
• Polysubstance Abuse (Alcohol, Cannabis, Cocaine, & Fentanyl)

Opportunities for professional development, grant writing, and mentoring are available to facilitate a steady progression to independence.  The ideal candidate will exhibit a productive research history and be highly motivated to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team. Individuals holding or near completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent degree are eligible. US Citizenship or Permanent Residency is required. The applicant will receive an NIH-level stipend and enjoy working in a progressive environment located in downtown New Orleans. LSU Health-New Orleans is an Equal Opportunity Employer for females, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

Applications can be directed to Dr. Scott Edwards (sedwa5@lsuhsc.edu) or submitted here:

Applications are invited for a full-time lab manager position in the lab of Dr. Samantha Margherio, in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech. Our lab uses community-engaged methods to study the link between ADHD and risk-taking behaviors and develop school-based interventions for behavior and substance use concerns. We are also engaged in community outreach to promote neuroscience and mental health knowledge.

The individual who fills this position will be involved in all aspects of the research process and community-engaged work within this emergent lab. Duties include:

• facilitating Community Advisory Boards, including coordinating meetings and maintaining communication with members
• coordinating community outreach events, such as school-based neuroscience education presentations and tabling at community events
• helping maintain school-based partnerships via attending research meetings with schools and facilitating relationships with educators within partnered schools
• maintaining and improving lab infrastructure and coordinating daily lab operations
• recruiting, screening and scheduling participants through study protocols involving adolescents with ADHD and risk behaviors
• supervising undergraduate research assistants
• assisting with IRB management, grant applications, data processing and analysis, and manuscript preparation.

Training for all aspects of the position will be provided. Flexible scheduling is required (e.g., some evenings and weekends will be required).

Required application materials: Cover letter describing interest in and fit with the position, CV/Resume, and contact information for two references (no need to submit letters).
The position is expected to start in summer 2026. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Pre-submission inquiries with CV may be emailed to: Samantha Margherio (smargherio@vt.edu)

Required qualifications: 

1) BA/BS in psychology, neuroscience, social work, education, or related field.

2) One year of human subjects research experience.

3) Demonstrated proficiency with MS applications.

4) Demonstrated organizational, time-management, interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication skills; and attention to detail.

5) a significant interest in community-engaged work.

LSU Health in Shreveport invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center (LARC), established by the LSU Board of Regents in 2022. The Center’s primary goal is to improve understanding, models of care, interventions, and treatments for those with substance use disorders.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as the new Executive Director. This is a prestigious and exciting position offering the unique opportunity to lead this thriving Center into its next phase of growth and impact.

Position Details & Support

● Faculty Appointment and Evaluation: The successful candidate will receive a faculty appointment at the Associate Professor or Full Professor level on the tenure track in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience at LSU Health Shreveport. The LARC Director will report to the Senior Associate Dean for Basic & Translational Research at LSUHS, while his/her job performance as a faculty member will be evaluated by the Department Chair.

Qualifications

● PhD, MD, or MD/PhD with a distinguished record of research and leadership in addiction science, pharmacology, neuroscience, or a related field in an academic setting.

● A strong track record of extramural funding with at least one active R01 grant and peer-reviewed publications.

● A vision for integrating basic science, clinical research, and education to address the complex challenges of substance use disorders.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest detailing their research and leadership philosophy, and a list of at least three professional references.

LSU Health Shreveport is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. Please email NICHOLAS.GOEDERS@LSUHS.EDU

For more information about the Louisiana Addiction Research Center, please visit: https://www.lsuhs.edu/centers/louisiana-addiction-research-center

Position Start Date: August 15, 2026
Posting Expiration Date: July 31, 2026

The SDSU/UCSD T32 alcohol research training grant funded by NIAAA is accepting applications for 2026-2027 Postdoctoral Fellowships in San Diego, CA. These fellowships are aimed at training entry level postdoctoral scientists interested in conducting research contributing to the understanding of the treatment, biological underpinnings and consequences of alcohol use disorders including prenatal alcohol exposure. Fellows will conduct research with their mentor, including comprehensive literature reviews and participation in data collection and analysis. Trainees are expected to become involved in manuscript and grant writing, to participate in alcohol research training program seminars, and to present at the annual RSA meeting. Postdoctoral appointees are supported for twelve-month, full-time appointments with the ability to receive up to two years of support based upon acceptable progress during their initial year and contingent upon federal funding. Qualified candidates must be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States (or permanent resident) and have completed their doctoral degree requirements in the clinical and behavioral sciences prior to their date of appointment (likely August 15, 2026).

Faculty mentors include Drs. Edward Riley (Director), Andrea Spadoni (Co-Director), Sarah Mattson (Assoc. Director), Susan Tapert (Assoc. Director), Sandra A. Brown, Mariana Cherner, Kelly Courtney, Jay Giedd, Igor Grant, Joanna Jacobus, Susan Kiene, Thomas Marcotte, Ksenija Marinkovic, David Moore, Sonya Norman, Abraham Palmer, Will Pelham, Sandra Sanchez-Roige, Marc Schuckit, Jennifer Thomas, Natasha Wade, and Tamara Wall.

To apply, please complete the online form (http://niaaa-t32.sdsu.edu/apply/) and submit your CV, personal statement, and three reference letters per the website instructions. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed until all spots are filled. Complete applications received by Dec. 31, 2025 will be provided with decisions by February 2026. Qs contact Jill (vanderv@sdsu.edu).

At the research laboratory of Prof. Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, we are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our multidisciplinary team investigating the mechanisms linking neuroinflammation and the alcohol-related effects on the liver–gut axis. The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing projects that explore the molecular pathways and specific cell populations mediating multi-organ communication, in the context of alcohol exposure and related pathologies in relevant neuroinflammation models (Aging, Alzheimer’s disease). This position offers a unique opportunity to work in a collaborative, cutting-edge research environment with access to advanced technologies and cross-disciplinary expertise in neuroscience and immunology. At the Szabo lab (https://research.bidmc.org/gyongyiszabo), our translational research projects include in vitro experiments and cell culture systems, in vivo mouse models, patient samples, and Omics data set analyses.

Compensation and Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits will be provided commensurate with NIH guidelines and institutional policies.

Application Instructions: Interested candidates should submit the following materials as a single PDF to szabolab@bidmc.harvard.edu:

• Cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three professional references

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Statement: BIDMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Position Start Date: Immediate
Posting Expiration Date: Until filled

Research Scientist, Postdoctoral: Project Evaluation Specialist, Project ACCESS

The Research Foundation for SUNY at the University at Albany invites applications for a Project Evaluation Specialist to support Project ACCESS (Achieving College Completion Through Engaged Support Services). This position is based in the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, School of Education.

The Evaluation Specialist will coordinate evaluation activities for campus-based prevention, intervention, and training efforts, including Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), within a comprehensive public health framework. Duties include supervising staff and students, managing data collection and reporting (including GPRA), implementing quality assurance, and contributing to grant development. The successful candidate will also produce reports and publications, and present findings to diverse audiences.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, Education, or a related field. Required qualifications include experience conducting quantitative and/or qualitative research, knowledge of digital interventions for behavioral health, a track record of scientific publications and presentations, and proficiency with software such as R, SPSS, Mplus, or Stata. Preferred qualifications include experience with SBIRT, prevention programs for college populations, grant-funded research, and student training or supervision.

This full-time, exempt position offers a salary range of $73,000–$75,000 and full benefits. Employment is through The Research Foundation for SUNY, a private, nonprofit organization supporting research and innovation across the SUNY system.

Organization/Affiliation: The Research Foundation for SUNY at the University at Albany
Location: Albany, NY
Contact Person: Dr. Laura M. Longo
Contact Email: llongo@albany.edu
Interested applicants should apply at:
Project Evaluation Specialist, Project ACCESS (R25-44)

Dr. Rajani Maiya’s laboratory at LSUHSC in New Orleans is currently recruiting a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate the molecular mechanisms of stress and alcohol interactions. Our NIH-funded research program in the Department of Physiology at LSUHSC aims to dissect the relationship between stress and alcohol misuse at circuit, cellular, and molecular levels. Using an animal model of social stress-induced escalation of alcohol consumption, we are particularly focused on understanding neural circuits in which the Kappa/Dynorphin system acts to mediate these stress-induced increases in alcohol consumption. A complementary project applies single-nucleus transcriptomics to define molecular signatures of stress-escalated alcohol intake in the paraventricular thalamus. We are seeking individuals with experience in the fields of behavioral pharmacology, systems/circuit neuroscience, molecular neuroscience, and/or Omics-based approaches. Successful candidates will have substantial expertise in rodent behaviors and/or proficient in bioinformatics pipelines for high resolution transcriptomics. Individuals that are interested in combining behavioral and molecular approaches in their research are preferred and will receive training in new techniques to build upon existing skill sets. The successful candidate will also receive intensive and individually tailored mentoring toward the establishment of an independent research career in the integrative neurosciences. Selected applicants are also eligible for appointment to our long-standing NIAAA T32 training program. Applicant will work on multidisciplinary projects in a highly collaborative environment located within the heart of New Orleans and receive an NIH-level stipend. Interested candidates are also encouraged to contact Rajani Maiya directly at rmaiya@lsuhsc.edu

Position Start Date: June 1, 2026

Dr. Alex P. Miller, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine, is currently seeking applications from highly motivated candidates for a research postdoctoral fellowship. The full-time research position will primarily focus on the study of genetic and neurobiological influences on the progression of substance use, substance use disorders, and related traits and disorders across the lifespan with a particular focus on the developmental span extending from childhood through young adulthood.

Ongoing projects in Dr. Miller’s lab include (1) utilizing integrative data analysis to harmonize phenotypic data across a number of large, genetically-informed longitudinal study samples with the goal of characterizing the longitudinal interplay between impulsive personality traits and alcohol involvement from childhood to middle adulthood and their relation to genetic and neurobiological sources of vulnerability; (2) evaluating genetic influences on substance use and related traits and disorders in a pediatric and young adult sample of participants from the Indiana Biobank; and (3) continued collaborations in large-scale genomic analyses as part of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Substance Use Disorders Working Group and related research with other faculty in the Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Biostatistics and Health Data Science, and Medical and Molecular Genetics. Candidates with interests spanning statistical genetics, neuroimaging data analysis and developmental neuroscience, and the study of etiological heterogeneity in the developmental progression of substance use and substance use disorders are encouraged to apply.

To apply, please complete the online form (https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/31664) and submit your CV, cover letter/personal statement, and contact information for up to three references. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed until the spot is filled. 

For additional questions please contact Dr. Miller (alexmill@iu.edu).