Feb 19, 2024
For part two, host Catherine Cerulli, JD, PhD is joined again by Liz Handley, PhD, the Director of Research at Mt. Hope Family Center and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Rochester to discuss the tips and tricks of excelling as a postdoctoral associate or recently completed post-doc in the field of psychology. Dr. Handley underscores that the first step for early-career professionals in the field is to define where you want to be – weather that be research, clinical work, or a combination of both. Take inventory of who has a job that you are interested in and seek mentorship and guidance from those who have experience where you hope grow. She notes, there is no one right way to get to where you want to go. The TRANSFORM Research Center has a rich data archive that Dr. Handley helps to maintain and support, she explains how using secondary analysis of data can lead to big impacts on the field. Collaborating with mentors and peers on secondary analysis is important, and having a foundational understanding of the literature surrounding the data is of utmost importance. She shares that understanding the theoretical underpinnings of the data will help with successful secondary analysis. Recognizing what we already know, where the gaps in the findings are, and understanding the study design and sample will lead to better analysis. Dr. Handley suggests early-career scholars seek pilot funding as a steppingstone to applying for federal grants. Kate offers various book recommendations that aim to grow ones writing skills. The episode concludes with Dr. Handley’s insight into finding the right mentor.