Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology & Clinical Psychologist

The Department of Psychology at the University of Maine and the VA Maine Healthcare System are recruiting a clinical psychologist to fill a joint position with a 50%, nine-month UMaine appointment and a 5/8th twelve-month VA appointment. 

This position provides unique opportunities for a clinical psychologist interested in a career that combines teaching, research, and clinical service. It is one of two positions shared by UMaine and VA Maine. Dr. Cara Struble currently serves in the other position. The successful candidate will join two outstanding institutions and have the opportunity to help shape the growing collaborations between the university and the VA. This is an ideal position for an early career psychologist who is passionate about all aspects of clinical psychology including clinical practice, teaching, research, and consultation.  The position offers unique opportunities to pursue research funding through both external (NIH/NSF/HRSA) and internal (DoD, VHA) federal funding mechanisms. Mentorship will be provided at both institutions to foster strong career development. There is significant support for the development of the psychologist’s research program at the university and through the VA.

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 an academic year appointment. Starting date is flexible but no later than September 1, 2025. The faculty member will ordinarily teach one course per academic semester; maintain an active and productive research program (position is 50% research), 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 a collaborating appointment 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. Faculty clinical and research interests include cognitive aging, behavioral medicine, suicide risk assessment, forensic psychology, stress-illness models, and social determinants in health. The clinical program offers well-regarded Neuropsychology and Child Psychology training emphasis for doctoral students as well.

VA Maine Healthcare System:

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 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 the new joint hires.

The successful candidate will 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 he