Program faculty represent diverse fields, and their research programs span a wide range of orientations and involve a broad range of methods. Trainees participate in ongoing interdisciplinary research. All trainees receive individualized program planning, participate in a monthly proseminar, attend interdisciplinary research colloquia by distinguished scientists, visit in small groups with national and international leaders in the field, and travel annually to a national research conference related to developmental disabilities. Predoctoral Training Predoctoral fellows pursue programs in psychology or special education. Through courses, a continuing lecture series, and participation in ongoing research, fellows receive a comprehensive introduction to contemporary behavioral research, as well as research in the neurological and biomedical sciences.
Funding is continuous throughout the summer to facilitate immersion in research.
Postdoctoral Training Postdoctoral fellows are behavioral scientists who want to develop specific competence in research on developmental disabilities. Programs are planned individually. Training components include collaborative research with program faculty, participation in the proseminar on developmental disabilities research, and advanced research training. Since most fellows will ultimately pursue their own research programs in an academic context, college teaching opportunities at Vanderbilt are available as appropriate. Fellows are encouraged to initiate an independent research program on a significant aspect of developmental disabilities.