Applied Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow

APA • Washington, DC

7d • Remote

About The Position

The Applied Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow (Postdoc) serves as a member of the Psychology Team at the American Psychological Association (APA). The Postdoc will participate in, support, and help lead applied psychology programs and initiatives under the direction of senior staff. This role offers exposure to and contribution towards critical policy and scientific issues in psychological science, providing experience in program development, stakeholder engagement, management, funding, policy, and scientific issues that are often difficult to gain in academic settings. The fellowship is designed for an individual with broad intellectual curiosity in applied psychology and a strong interest in working as a generalist across diverse scientific, policy, and programmatic topics. A key emphasis is placed on translating psychological science for nonacademic audiences, developing trusted relationships with stakeholders, and applying psychological knowledge to real-world challenges. All team members, including the Postdoc, are expected to contribute to administrative and operational responsibilities as part of a collaborative team environment. This is a time-limited position with an initial term of one year, potentially extendable to a second year, not to exceed two years in total.

Requirements

• PhD in an applied subdiscipline of psychology.
• Strong project management skills, to lead complex analytical projects from conception through to timely completion.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated track record of cultivating trust with both internal cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
• Evidence of project ownership and the ability to help lead and coordinate teams.
• Excellent practical writing and editing skills for academic and nonacademic audiences.
• Strong skill set in the visual presentation of complex quantitative information.
• Excellent oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical findings to nonacademic audiences.
• Excellent literature research and review skills, with the ability to identify gaps and trends.
• Strong background in research methods and statistics, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Strong track record of research and writing.
• Microsoft Word Advanced User
• Microsoft PowerPoint Advanced User
• Microsoft Excel Advanced User
• Microsoft Outlook User
• Qualtrics User
• Microsoft Teams User
• PsycNet User
• Online Research User
• Microsoft Copilot User
• Google Gemini User

Nice To Haves

• Candidates from non-clinical subdisciplines, including, but not limited to: cognitive, social, industrial-organizational, personality, developmental, human factors, occupational health, legal, sports, and military.

Responsibilities

• Helping plan and manage programs across applied psychology topics, including the future of work, teaching and learning, climate, conservation, and sustainability psychology, and human-technology interaction.
• Managing projects from planning through execution, including organizing workstreams, tracking milestones, coordinating contributors, anticipating next steps, and taking increasing ownership over time.
• Supporting the development and delivery of webinars, conference presentations, and other events, including content development, speaker coordination, logistics, and follow-through.
• Drafting clear, accurate, and practical materials that translate applied psychological science for nonacademic audiences, including organizational leaders, policymakers, members, practitioners, and the public.
• Coordinating engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including planning and facilitating meetings, tracking action items, developing follow-up strategies, and building relationships.
• Presenting at internal APA meetings, external webinars, or conferences as needed.
• Representing and promoting applied psychology in interactions with internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating professionalism, sound judgment, and collaboration.
• Working with APA Advocacy on initiatives related to policy or legislation.
• Supporting research and analysis activities, including literature reviews, survey development, data analysis, and report writing for initiatives such as APA’s Work in America™.
• Working collaboratively to support other Psychology Team initiatives and contribute to administrative and operational tasks, including scheduling, document organization, webpage updates, budget stewardship, and deadline tracking.
• Pursuing professional development in science translation, program development, relationship-building, stakeholder engagement, and project leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Healthcare benefits
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Remote Work/Flexible Scheduling
• 401(k) option with employer match of up to 4%
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Outpatient mental health benefit
• 12 paid holidays
• Family/Medical Leave
• Tuition assistance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree