Rocky Mountain MIRECC Fellowships

General Overview

Funded by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), the Fellowship programs offered by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC (Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center) are located at MIRECC centers in Colorado (Denver/Aurora) and Utah (Salt Lake City). Our Fellowship offerings include an APA-accredited Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention (Colorado only), an APPIC-recognized Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention (Utah Only), and a non-clinical Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program (Colorado only). Each of our Rocky Mountain MIRECC Fellowship programs offer a unique, dynamic opportunity for professional and personal growth.

Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention (Colorado)

Denver/Aurora, Colorado (APA-Accredited)

The Denver/Aurora, Colorado site has been fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission of Accreditation (CoA) since 2013.

Our Colorado site is currently accepting applications for the APA-accredited Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention.

Application Deadline: Application materials are due by December 1, 2025.

The training faculty currently accepting Fellows are Dr. Daniel Reis, Ph.D., and Dr. Lauren Borges, Ph.D.

Dr. Daniel Reis is accepting postdoctoral Fellow applications for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s APA-Accredited Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention. Dr. Reis’s research focuses on temporal patterns of suicide risk, with a specific interest in sleep and circadian risk factors. The Fellow would have the opportunity to contribute to several ongoing projects, including: 1) a large-scale analysis of electronic medical record data to develop latent suicide risk profiles and evaluate longitudinal changes in profile states; 2) increasing implementation of bright light therapy for major depressive disorder in VA primary care settings; and 3) developing a novel digital intervention for sleep and circadian health guided by wearable sensor data and digital sleep health phenotypes. In addition, the Fellow will receive clinical training and accrue hours towards licensure in the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s local Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program service. Finally, the Fellow will have the opportunity to lead guided research projects and contribute to publications.

Dr. Lauren Borges is accepting postdoctoral Fellow applications for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s APA-Accredited Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention. Dr. Borges’ research program focuses on applications of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to disrupt moral injury and suicidal behavior. Dr. Borges co-leads a lab with Dr. Sean Barnes and the Fellow would have the opportunity to contribute to their currently funded projects including: 1. Examining the impacts of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI) and Present Centered Therapy for Moral Injury (PCT-MI) on Veteran psychosocial functioning through a national efficacy trial; 2. A project focused on determining the acceptability and feasibility of ACT for VA health care providers (ACT-HCP) who struggle with moral distress related to their work providing medical or mental health care; 3. A multi-site efficacy trial of an application of ACT for suicide prevention among Veterans hospitalized in VA inpatient mental health units. In addition, the Fellow will receive clinical training and accrue hours towards licensure in the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s local Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program service. Finally, the Fellow will have the opportunity to lead guided research projects and contribute to publications.

General inquiries regarding the Fellowship and application materials for the Colorado Fellowship position(s) may be e-mailed to Dr. Lauren Borges at Lauren.Borges2@va.gov.

The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Colorado Fellowship website, Brochure, and Training Manual describe the program admission criteria, requirements, and policy with regard to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and VA employment. We also provide descriptions of the training model and mission, requirements for Fellowship completion, resources, methods and expectations for supervision, and a brief overview of relevant pre-employment administrative policies and procedures.

View our 2025 Fellowship Brochure. [opens in new tab/window]

For additional information regarding program details and how to apply, visit our Colorado Fellowship page.

Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention (Utah)

Salt Lake City, Utah (APPIC-Member)

The Salt Lake City, Utah site has been a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Center (APPIC) since 2012.

Our Utah site is currently accepting applications for non-clinical postdoctoral advanced research Fellows in suicide prevention commencing in fall of 2026.

To learn more view our Utah Fellowship Brochure [PDF opens in new tab/window] or visit our APPIC membership page.

For additional information regarding program details and how to apply, visit our Utah Fellowship page.

Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program (Colorado)

Denver/Aurora, Colorado (Non-Accredited)

The mission of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program is to train data scientists and researchers in the high priority area of mental health care for Veterans, with an emphasis on prevention of risky behaviors among Veterans/military service members. Rocky Mountain MIRECC recognizes the rapid increase of data generated in the clinical setting and its potential to enhance our understanding of risk and its impact on patient care outcomes. This program seeks to leverage the VA data system to support clinically relevant, 2-year-long training and research opportunities in collaboration with VA researchers. The goal of the program is to train a new cadre of scientists that possess the skills to manage and analyze large-scale, multiple element patient data sets, and to develop new models that complement existing methodologies in patient-centered outcomes with a focus on Veteran suicide risk and prevention research.

The Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program is currently accepting applications. Candidates are encouraged to apply and applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

For additional information regarding program details and how to apply, visit our Big Data Science Program Fellowship page.

Last Updated 08 October 2025