Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychosis Treatment and Recovery
The University of Washington’s SPIRIT Center is not accepting applications for the AY2026-27 Postdoctoral Fellowship Year. Please email skopelov@uw.edu if you are interested in our fellowship for AY2027-28. More information about the Fellowship in Psychosis Treatment and Recovery can be found below.
Why complete your capstone training at the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences?
- Federally-Funded Research Programs: Ranked among the top universities in the nation for NIH and SAMHSA funding, UW Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences provides fellows with unparalleled access to cutting-edge research and grantsmanship training.
- Leaders in Implementing Evidence-Based Care: UW’s Harborview Medical Center and affiliated clinics are global leaders in evidence-based approaches to mental health care. The department is renowned for its innovations in telepsychiatry, integrated care models, implementation science, and digital mental health. SPIRIT Center faculty lead the First Episode Psychosis Network in Washington, direct the Washington State Center of Excellence in Early Psychosis, and spearhead the dissemination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for psychosis. Faculty develop and deploy strategies from tech, global mental health, and implementation science fields, training fellows in methods that are transforming care delivery both locally and globally.
- Commitment to Health Equity: With its deep commitment to health equity and serving marginalized populations, the UW SPIRIT Center provides fellows with the chance to work on programs aimed at reducing disparities in mental health access and care, including initiatives in rural communities, diverse urban settings, and internationally.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Situated in the heart of one of the world’s leading public research universities, our department fosters strong interdisciplinary collaboration. Fellows will have the chance to work with and learn from experts across UW’s School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and School of Social Work.
- Seattle: A Hub for Innovation and Quality of Life: Located in Seattle, a city celebrated for its dynamic tech industry and stunning natural beauty, UW Medicine offers fellows an exceptional balance between academic rigor and a high quality of life. Enjoy access to outdoor activities year-round.
Questions can be directed to skopelov@uw.edu
Current Fellows
Kelsey Straub, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Kelsey Straub, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Sarah Kopelovich in the SPIRIT Center in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri and completed an APA-accredited internship at The Ohio State University’s Early Psychosis Intervention Center. Her clinical and research interests are improving early identification of psychosis risk, reducing duration of untreated psychosis, and improving clinical and functional outcomes for individuals experiencing or at risk for psychosis.
Her doctoral research examined neurobiological, cognitive, and psychosocial factors contributing to the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms. One major focus of her research has been using a dimensional framework to conceptualize schizotypal and psychotic symptoms as a maladaptive extension of normal personality. Additionally, she is interested in utilizing neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques to elucidate neural underpinnings of psychotic symptoms as well as to supplement existing assessments to improve early detection of psychosis risk.
John Fitzgerald, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
John Fitzgerald, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the SPIRIT lab in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He received his doctorate in Human Services Psychology at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and completed his clinical internship in the VA Maryland Health Care System/University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Track.
John’s research is dedicated to expanding treatment access for individuals with serious mental illness by enhancing our understanding of both A) how these experiences are communicated by consumers and B) how they are interpreted by service providers. His work therefore centers on evaluating the effectiveness of psychosis-risk screening and diagnostic tools, with a focus on determining their utility in detecting symptoms of psychosis and understanding their optimal use in various contexts. Additionally, John is interested in exploring how these measures can be effectively integrated into broader healthcare settings, such as primary care and university counseling centers, to improve early detection and intervention.
Past Fellows
Jessica Maura, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, AY 2019
Her research has focused primarily on the impact that culture and other psycho-social factors have on the diagnosis and treatment of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, as well as examining the efficacy of culturally adapted interventions for Schizophrenia.
Akansha Vaswani Bye, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, AY 2020
Her doctoral research focused on de-prescribing and the importance of identifying rational and evidence-based prescribing practices grounded in informed consent and patient-centered care.