PhD/PsyD PhD Program Research Lab in Conjunction to specialty?

[NeuroPsychosis]

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Hello,

I wanted to specialize in clinical Neuropsychology and become a Neuropsychology researcher for a career goal. However, the laboratory I am admitted to studies children mental health and brain development (aka impact of trauma and abuse on brain structure and function in developing children). My question is: How often does it happen where the graduate student's lab is not very related to their clinical aspirations? for example, this program I am talking about has rich opportunities for NP placement practicums and some of the research projects in the lab employs intellectual and NP evaluations in children. Is this something that NP post-doc programs/ advisor will frown upon, or your research lab doesn't really matter much to what I go for after I graduate? Especially since I may opt for an adult NP practicum and post-doc so unsure if I will stay in the pediatric world of deviate. The lab work is definitely something I am very interested in- it is the only lab that studies brain-behavior in the clinical track of that program. Have there been cases where you as a graduate student was in a pediatric research lab, but did practicum training with adults, vice versa?

Thank you!

 

[Ollie123]

There is a close enough relationship here that I think you'll be fine. Obviously the "ideal" is always a laboratory that perfectly aligns with your exact long-term goals but the reality is few people find that and among those who do, most have interests that continue to evolve.

Something the child clinical faculty in my program always told their students was that "Students focused on adult psychopathology can get away having little/no child experience, but those focused on child psychopathology need a reasonable understanding of adult psychopathology and experience working with adults because most of the time you'll be working with the parents too." We can argue the nuances of it, but globally I think there is a fair bit of truth to that statement. For a variety of reasons, I think its much easier to go that direction versus the other (train in an exclusively adult-focused lab and later transition to pediatric).

Basically - you'll be fine. I think being in a strong, productive laboratory with a good mentor matters far more than the rest.

 

[summerbabe]

There are lots of ways to end up in a desired career. For example, I know somebody with an R1 neurology dept prof gig who attended a counseling psych PhD and built up their NP CV 100% outside of their program prior to internship and postdoc. And some of those practicum experiences, which included opportunities to publish and attend relevant conferences to network, was 100% related to their current line of research. They also busted their ass and hustled much harder than the average PhD student, which I think feels true for many people I know who ended up in academic gigs.

This is obviously an N=1 but if you know what you’d like to do specifically (such as type of NP research and future work setting), are able to pursue relevant experiences, are flexible (such as future geographical moves for internship, postdoc, and career), and have some degree of luck, you’ll have a shot.

On the other hand, if I had a dollar for every peer who I heard was interested in an academic job (or split research/clinical job) but then ended up in a 100% clinical career and I invested that money in Bitcoin, I’d be rich. Good luck!

 

[neuroruen]

Speaking from experience, it my also be useful to seek out research experiences at your prac sites (assuming they're offered) and if it would supplement your lab's research given your possible shift to adults. I switched advisors halfway through my program due to a retirement and my latter advisor had limited to no neuro experience. I say this to note that I beefed up my research at outside pracs and landed adult neuro internship/postdoc at AMCs. And there are others that had a similar experience to me and also got APA/APPCN spots.

As I went through the process, some would mention that they like seeing folx that have to put in some effort for the experiences they obtained as it showed dedication to long-term goals. There are quite a few webinars out there (I know there was a good one at INS that really helped me out a few years ago) that may also be of use.