MIRECC / CoE
VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Suicide Prevention - Utah
Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention (Utah)
Salt Lake City, Utah (APPIC Member)
Our Utah site is currently accepting applications for the APPIC Member Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention.
The Fellowship is for psychologists.
Application Deadline: Application materials are due by December 7, 2026.
The Utah postdoctoral Fellowship is team-focused such that Fellows are supervised by four VASLC MIRECC faculty members for six months each during the Fellowship. Faculty/Fellow match is determined by the interests of the Fellow, individual development goals, and faculty availability.
General Inquiries
General inquiries regarding the Fellowship and application materials for the Utah Fellowship position(s) may be e-mailed to Dr. Erin McGlade at Erin.McGlade@va.gov.
Program Aims and Objectives
Applications are currently being accepted for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Salt Lake City. The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program in Salt Lake City, Utah is a full-time, two-year program (equating to 2,080 hours per year) commencing in the fall of 2027. Programmatic emphasis is on the brain and behavior as they relate to suicide and serious psychiatric disorders. The Fellow’s distribution of effort will be 75% research and 25% clinical.
The mission of Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program in Salt Lake City is to train fellows to become outstanding clinical researchers in the high priority area of mental health care for Veterans, specifically in the areas of suicide and psychiatric illness.
Postdoctoral Fellows in this training program will gain expertise in research methods, study design, clinical and cognitive assessment, interdisciplinary consultation, and intervention, as they relate to suicide and chronic mental health problems among Veterans. Fellows also acquire a unique breadth and depth of knowledge regarding the biochemical, structural and functional brain changes associated with mental illness. Fellows receive clinical experience and supervision through development and administration of standardized research study procedures including structured diagnostic interviews, self-report symptom measures, neurocognitive assessments, and neuroimaging protocols; consultations with mental health clinicians who are working with highly suicidal patients; and structured case conceptualization collaborations and drafting of suicide prevention consults with interdisciplinary teams. Clinical consultations include thorough Veteran records review, case conceptualization with other MIRECC members, and preparation of a case summary/report submitted into the electronic health record. Fellows are taught to use science in the service of clinical practice, which is achieved in part through a consistent focus on evidence-based assessment and interventions.
Fellows who complete the program will have developed expertise in:
Research Design and Implementation: Review and consider prior literature to inform development of novel research studies; design and conduct research studies; share results; apply findings to contribute to improving the quality and effectiveness of clinical care.
Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making: Develop and apply advanced evaluation and assessment skills to make informed clinical decisions that are grounded in research, scholarly literature, and evidence-based therapeutic practices.
Leadership in Psychology and Suicidology: Cultivate leadership skills within the field of psychology, with specialized expertise in suicide prevention, neurobiology, assessment, intervention, and research.
Training Manual and Stipend
The brochure and training manual for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC Utah Fellowship provide detailed information regarding program admission criteria, training requirements, and policies governing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and VA employment. In addition, it describes the fellowship’s mission and training model, local and national didactics, requirements for successful program completion, available resources, supervisory expectations and practices, and practical tips for navigating VA logistics.
For more information about the Fellowship Training Manual and Brochure, email Erin.McGlade@va.gov.
The VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) 2027-2028 Stipend salary rates for Psychologist (Fellow) are anticipated to be $54,518 (Psychology Resident Year 1).
APPIC Membership Status
The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (VASLCHCS) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Illness Research Education and Treatment has been a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) since 2012. The Fellowship also participates in the APPIC Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory (https://membership.appic.org/directory/search).
Training Faculty
VASLCHCS MIRECC is home to nationally recognized, licensed, and credentialed investigators who mentor Fellows in clinical research and evidence-based care with Veterans. MIRECC investigators are experts in suicide risk and prevention and bring a broad range of clinical and research expertise to support Fellows throughout their training.
Expand Mentors below to learn more about their Area(s) of Expertise.
Dr. Kondo’s research focuses on using in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy neuroimaging to study human brain chemistry, in the context of psychiatric disorders and the risk for suicide. He also performs secondary analyses of U.S. population-level epidemiological datasets, to study the effects of altitude on DSM-5 related phenomena, such as depressive episodes, regional rates of substance use disorders, and completed suicide. The over-arching framework of these investigations is mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain bioenergetics. Recent projects include:
- Testing of the investigational new drug (IND) uridine, as a treatment for Veterans with suicidal ideation
- Use of a novel intra-MRI scan experimental paradigm, to assess brain chemistry changes in response to simulated altitude, in Veterans with bipolar disorder vs. Veteran healthy volunteers
- Assessment of brain mitochondrial dysfunction in patients suffering from Long Covid
- Examination of the impact of altitude-of-residence on cigarette smoking, as Veterans are disproportionately impacted by the lung and cardiovascular diseases that are associated with smoking
Dr. Kondo also serves on the VA Salt Lake City Research & Development Committee (RDC) which oversees human subjects research on station and contributes to the medical illness perspective and medication recommendations to the VASLC MIRECC Suicide Prevention Consults.
Dr. Erin McGlade is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Associate Director of Training, Clinical Director, Professor in the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry, and Principal Investigator. Her research interests include neurobiological and clinical correlates of suicide behavior, with particular focus on sex differences in suicide risk, neurocognition, brain changes across the lifespan. She integrates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) with clinical, behavioral, and neuropsychological assessments to study suicide risk and psychiatric disorders in Veterans, adults, adolescents, and children. Her work has examined brain structure and connectivity, neurochemical markers such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and myoinositol, and clinical factors including aggression, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and attention by sex. Dr. McGlade also is Co-Chair of the VASLC Suicide Prevention Oversight Committee (SPOC).
Areas of Expertise: Sex Differences, Neurocognition, Suicide Risk and Prevention, Psychiatric Neuroimaging
Dr. Perry Renshaw is Medical Director, a board-certified psychiatrist, Research Psychiatrist, Professor in the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry, and Principal Investigator. Trained as both a biophysicist and psychiatrist, he specializes in multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and the neurochemical and bioenergetic mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders. He has conducted more than 2,500 MRS brain scans and has extensive expertise in phosphorus-31 and proton MRS. His research examines brain metabolism and neurochemical correlates of suicide risk, stress recovery, aggression, and affective functioning, including the roles of creatine, myoinositol, glutamine-related metabolites, and glutathione.
Areas of Expertise: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Brain Bioenergetics and Neurochemistry, Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Suicide Prevention
Dr. Yancey is a clinical psychologist with the MIRECC. His research clarifies the neurobiological and cognitive factors contributing to Veteran mental health across various conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicide. Dr. Yancey is particularly interested in understanding neural systems related to threat processing and executive function. His methodological expertise includes EEG/event-related potentials, electromyography, and experimental cognitive science. More recently, Dr. Yancey has led MIRECC-funded studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure neurochemical concentrations relevant to Veteran brain and behavioral health. One of these studies (Yancey et al., 2025, Chronic Stress) found evidence of decreased glutamine concentrations in Veterans with a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Results also linked glutamine to psychosocial risk factors for suicide specified in the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). This work highlights the cross-domain biopsychosocial approach of Dr. Yancey’s research program.
Areas of Expertise: Anxiety, PTSD, Suicide, Personality, Psychodiagnostic Assessment, Cognitive/Affective Neuroscience, EEG/ERP, electrophysiology, MRS
Dr. Deborah Yurgelun-Todd is Associate Director of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, Director of the VASLC MIRECC, Director of Training, Professor in the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry, Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry, and Principal Investigator. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in cognitive neuroscience, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), neuropsychology, and diagnostic evaluation. Her research integrates structural, functional, and neurochemical imaging with cognitive and clinical assessments to investigate psychiatric illness, suicide risk, chronic pain, and affective dysregulation. Her work has examined cortico-limbic circuitry, oxidative stress, glutathione, and neurochemical markers of vulnerability, resilience, and treatment response in adolescents and Veterans.
Areas of Expertise: Cognitive Neuroscience, Magnetic Resonance Imaging including Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Functional MRI, Neuropsychology, Suicide Risk, Psychiatric Assessment
Eligibility
(Failure to meet these qualifications could nullify an offer to an applicant.)
- Completion of doctoral degree, including defense of dissertation, from an APA-accredited Clinical or Counseling Psychology program prior to the start date of the Fellowship.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires that the applicant’s doctoral degree and internship be completed at programs accredited by the American Psychological Association.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Fingerprinting and background checks.
- Negative drug screen prior to employment and at random intervals while employed (VA policy).
- Male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the draft by age 26.
- All VA personnel and trainees in VA facilities must be fully vaccinated and receive their annual Influenza shot or have an exemption filed (medical or religious) with the Designated Educational Officer.
Fellowship Residency Start Date
Anticipated start date is August 2027.
How To Apply
To apply, candidates should submit the following to Dr. Erin McGlade (Erin.McGlade@va.gov):
- A letter of interest that identifies career goals, expectations, and the goodness of fit with the mission of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a summary of prior research experience
- Letter of completion from academic and internship/residency programs
- Three letters of recommendation
- Sample de-identified neuro/psychological evaluation report and a summary regarding number and types of neuro/psychological tests administered and reports written. (Some background in neuropsychological assessment is preferred.)
Selection Procedures
Applicants are selected through a competitive review process that evaluates the alignment of applicants’ prior experiences, professional interests, and career goals with the fellowship’s training objectives. Selection criteria include demonstrated strengths in research, psychological assessment, clinical care. Consideration also is given to evidence of academic achievement and research productivity, including poster and oral presentations and publications. The fellowship seeks candidates whose skills, experiences, and professional goals align with available training and mentorship resources. Applicants who are Veterans and those with special interest in serving Veterans are especially encouraged to apply.
Applicants whose qualifications, experiences, interests, and professional goals align with the fellowship's training mission and opportunities will be invited for an interview with our selection committee. Interviews are generally scheduled for mid-December.
Contact
Dr. Erin McGlade
Clinical Research Psychologist
Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
Salt Lake City, UT
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Erin.McGlade@va.gov
Go to Fellowship Programs Home
Each of our Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Programs in Suicide Prevention offer a unique, dynamic opportunity for professional and personal growth. Learn more at the Fellowship Home page.
