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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease

Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical Center, in collaboration with the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (NUFSM), offers a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology. The outpatient clinical program is conducted in the multidisciplinary Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic of Northwestern Medicine. Research activities and academic offices are located in the Tarry Building of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Fellows receive residency training in clinical evaluation and treatment of adult patients with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain that cause cognitive impairment and dementia. The Mesulam Center is world-renowned for diagnostic services for individuals with cognitive changes, especially for atypical syndromes (e.g., primary progressive aphasia, behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia) and those in whom symptoms begin under age 65. Clinical duties include conducting at least 3 outpatient neuropsychology assessments per week, including interviewing, testing, and report-writing. The mix of clinical and research effort typically has been 50-50 but individual cases may require adjustments based on funding availability and career goals.

Academic activities depend on the funding source, but include developing and conducting individual research projects, from their conception through manuscript preparation and presentation at national and international conferences. The Mesulam Center collects longitudinal clinical, biomarker, cognitive, multimodal neuroimaging (MRI, PET), and autopsy data on individuals with multiple dementia syndromes. Additional activities include monthly Mesulam Center Research Seminars, Brain-Cutting Labs (schedule flexible), monthly Clinicopathologic Conferences, Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, and Department of Neurology Grand Rounds. There is a regular Round Table Seminar series in which trainees at all levels are paired with faculty members to present on topical issues to a multidisciplinary group of faculty and trainees. Fellows also have opportunities for teaching and supervision of doctoral-level practicum students. 

The larger Northwestern University Neuropsychology Consortium (NUNC) includes all neuropsychologists in the Chicago campus system. Inpatient and outpatient clinics at Northwestern Medicine and at Lurie Children’s serve adult and pediatric communities and train the next generation of neuropsychologists in clinical practice and research. 

 Activities

  1. Research:
    1. Training and Certification:
      1. Complete CITI training course to participate in research meetings and observations (including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and Best Clinical Practices modules).
      2. Complete CDR Training online for certification for participation in Northwestern Clinical Core Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) activities
    2. Primary Research Duties:
      1. Develop and conduct individual research projects from conception to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and submission.
      2. Present research findings at national and international conferences.
      3. Collaborate with faculty on ongoing research studies, opportunities to mentor staff/trainee research projects
      4. Assist with data collection, database management, and analysis for various projects within the center.
    3. Regular Meetings:
      1. Monthly:
        1. First Wednesday: All Cores- meeting of Clinical, Data, Neuroimaging and Outreach, Recruitment and Education Cores
        2. Second Friday: Clinico-pathologic conference
      2. Weekly:
        1. Monday 11:30-12:30: ADRC research diagnosis consensus meeting
        2. TBD: Special consensus meetings for PPA and SuperAging projects
      3. Meetings for fellow’s research lab, supervision (TBD)
  1. Didactics:
    1. Thursday (monthly): Mesulam Center AD Seminars (invited speakers)
    2. Wednesday 2-3 PM: Round Table Seminar/Neuropsychology Didactics/Staff & Student Journal Club
    3. Tuesdays (dates TBD): 9 AM brain cutting
    4. Optional monthly didactics available through the Research Education Component of the ADRC
    5. NUNC community seminars TBD
  1. Clinical Activities:
    1. Evaluate patients in the outpatient Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic under faculty supervision (number of cases is determined by clinical/research effort split; minimum 3 cases per week)
    2. Tiered supervision/mentoring of graduate practicum trainees
    3. Wednesday 3-5 PM: Clinical Neurobehavior Rounds
  1. Research Testing Observation/Participation (funding availability determines area of concentrated effort). Our position as an NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) affords us the opportunity to train individuals in nationally-supported, state-of-the-art research data collection and diagnostic methods.
    1. Clinical Core of the ADRC Uniform Data Set (including neuro exams)
    2. ALLFTD (including neuro exams)
    3. FTLD Module
    4. PPA Project
    5. SuperAging Project 

 Faculty

 Application Process

Send letter of interest, goals for training and CV to:

Sandra Weintraub, PhD (sweintraub@northwestern.edu)
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
300 E. Superior St., Tarry 8-715
Chicago, IL 60610 

Letters of recommendation will be requested later in the review process.

Completed applications are due on December 20, 2024. Interviews will be held during the month of January. We can accommodate a mixture of interview formats including virtual and on-site visits in Chicago. We may also be available at INS New Orleans, depending on the applicants' and faculty's preferences and availability.

Offers will be extended on a rolling basis in January and early February with final acceptance decisions to be made no later than February 1, 2025. Fellowship start dates can be flexible to accommodate internship graduation timelines and outgoing fellows' job start dates. 

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.

Contact Us

For more information about this program, email us at mesulam-center@northwestern.edu.

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