Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

The School of Education (SOE) at the University of California Riverside (UCR) is committed to its mission to advance educational systems and practices which are driven by core values of equity, evidence, excellence, community, critical thinking, and compassion. Located in the Inland Empire, a racially and economically diverse region on Tribal lands, UCR is a land-grant public institution designated as a Hispanic-Serving, Minority-Serving, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Within this context, we seek to hire a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. This is a two-year post-doctoral experience split between research and clinical responsibilities.

As a Research Fellow, the post-doc will join the UCR team of an Institute of Education Sciences-funded, Initial Efficacy study, which is located primarily at UMass Boston and the University of California Riverside.

The IES study goals include implementing an autism-focused professional development (PD) program for early elementary, general education teachers and evaluating the program's efficacy in a randomized controlled trial design. This PD program, called Smooth Sailing, was designed with close consultation from teachers and autistic consultants, and equips teachers with strategies for fostering strong student-teacher relationships with their young autistic students. There will be opportunities for data analysis, writing and presentations, and mentorship from the PIs.

Examples of Research Duties:

Under the supervision of the PI and in collaboration with the other identified key personnel, the post-doctoral fellow will oversee current phases of the study, including, but not limited to:

• Collaborate with staff across multiple study sites and assist the site Principal Investigator (PI) in supervising undergraduate and doctoral students
• Participate in weekly research team meetings
• Assist in providing coaching of teachers
  
  
• Be responsible for contact with consulting teachers, autistic adolescents and adults, and caregivers, as needed
• Actively engage in analysis and writing of findings, as author or co-author when substantively involved
• Share results with stakeholder audiences

The Post-Doctoral Fellow will also join the UCR SEARCH Center team. SEARCH is the first free autism clinic within the University of California system. We focus on providing information, support, screening, and diagnosis for families of children in the Inland Empire of California. We are particularly focused on serving historically minoritized populations (e.g. Latinx and Spanish-speaking families, and those from under-resourced areas). Assessments are provided in Spanish and English.

The Post-Doctoral Research Fellow should have training in autism diagnosis, including experience administering the ADOS-2. The Fellow will be responsible for training graduate students in the ADOS-2, supervising assessments as needed, and overseeing clinical contact with parents and caregivers. The Post-Doctoral Fellow will be supervised in clinical activities by a licensed Clinical Psychologist, and in research activities by a Distinguished Research Professor.

Examples of Clinical Duties:

Under supervision of the SEARCH Director or co-Director, the Fellow will conduct the following:

• Conduct in-person diagnostic appointments, write psychological reports, and conduct feedback calls with parents (twice a week)
• Collaborate with staff and assist SEARCH Director in supervising undergraduate and doctoral students
• Participate in weekly research team meetings
• Share results with stakeholder audiences
• Write and publish on existing datasets as desired
  
  

Required:

PhD in Special Education, School Psychology, or Clinical Psychology, or related discipline. Training in autism and assessment experience with the ADOS-2.

Preferred:

Experience working closely with caregivers or teachers or direct classroom experience with young autistic children. Experience with intervention implementation, coaching/consultation with teachers. Experience working with historically underserved families is preferred. Bilingual in Spanish and English is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.

Familiarity with statistical packages (e.g., SPSS, R)

Ability to work as a member of a team.

Ability to provide leadership to others through example and sharing of knowledge and skills.

Ability to establish effective relationships with internal team members, teacher and parent research participants, as well as school/community members.

Strong oral and written communication skills.

Strong attention to detail.

Strong organizational skills.

Ability to protect confidentiality of participant information.

Strong commitment to research ethics.

Strong commitment to writing, presentation and professional development

UCR is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact: Victoria Anaya (vanaya@ucr.edu).

Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02214 with your resume, cover letter and list of three references by February 28, 2026. Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date and will continue until the position is filled.

Address questions to Dr. Jan Blacher (jan.blacher@ucr.edu)

Salary Range: See Table 23 [https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf] for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$77,030.

School: https://education.ucr.edu/

Please see additional qualifications for a full list.

Experience working closely with caregivers or teachers or direct classroom experience with young autistic children. Experience with intervention implementation, coaching/consultation with teachers. Experience working with historically underserved families is preferred. Bilingual in Spanish and English is strongly preferred.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

List of three references. References will only be contacted if an applicant is being considered to move forward in the interview stage.

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement) is a preferred qualification.

We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC's criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.

For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:

https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.