Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Addictions at the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, and Addictions (CASAA)
Alcohol Research Training Program
Funded by Grant T32 AA018108 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
The Center on Alcohol, Substance use, and Addictions (CASAA) announces two open postdoctoral positions on our NIAAA Institutional Research Training grant, which has been renewed through 2030. The goal of the grant is to prepare future NIH scientists to conduct rigorous alcohol research across a range of areas including evidence-based treatment, mechanisms of behavior change, precision medicine, comorbidity and the individual- and system-level factors related to alcohol use, polysubstance use, and other addictive behaviors, technology-based interventions, and implementation science; and draws on several new conceptual and methodological approaches with the goal of reducing the public health burden of alcohol use disorder.
During the fellowship, you will work with a primary mentor from our core training faculty, while also having a secondary mentor for additional guidance. Primary mentors include: Katie Witkiewitz (Training Director), Frank Schwebel (Associate Training Director), Tara Bautista, Cassandra Boness, Leslie Brick, Joshua Grubbs, Margo Hurlocker, Megan Kirouac, Matison McCool, Colin Mahoney, Matthew Pearson, Jane Ellen Smith, and Kamilla Venner.
The fellowship includes full-time research training, participation in a weekly Addictions seminar, and the development of a training plan with specific competencies to be achieved annually. Outside employment should be limited. The initial appointment is for one year, with the potential for up to three years of support available based on performance and funding availability. Continued support will require you to prepare and successfully submit an NIH grant application with support from CASAA and your mentorship team.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
(1) demonstrated interest in the field of addictions and/or chronic pain, with a preference for alcohol and opioid/opiate research, as evidenced by prior coursework, research, and/or clinical experience; (2) a record of research productivity as evidenced by research presentations and peer-reviewed publications; and (3) a commitment to a career in addictions research as an independent investigator. All fellows must be a United States citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment. Individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence must have a currently valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS Form I-551) or other legal verification of such status.
The fellowship offers funding in accordance with NIH-defined stipend rates (based on years since doctoral degree, see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-105.html.) Additional benefits include health insurance reimbursement, tuition remission, support for professional travel, and support for training- and research-related expenses.
Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a 1-2 page cover letter that addresses their qualifications for and interest in the training program to Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., katiew@unm.edu. Positions are available immediately although the latest start date of August 1 2026 will be considered. Applications received by November 15, 2025 will be given best consideration.
Postdoctoral Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Training goals are individualized based on each trainee. Trainees are expected to work 10 hours per week on the mentor(s)’ research, but there is flexibility in how that work aligns with training goals (e.g., ideally those 10 hours are also contributing to the postdoc’s training goals).
K and R award applications (all kinds) are permitted and encouraged. We have a 100% funding rate on K awards!
Predoctoral trainees receive a policy through the UNM Student Health Insurance. Postdoctoral trainees will purchase their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Act at bewellnm.com. Postdoctoral trainees will be reimbursed for health insurance to the maximum amount possible based on available funds.
Start dates for the postdoctoral fellowship are flexible under reasonable circumstances. We acknowledge that many clinical internships end in July or August and try to accommodate those contracts as needed.
This is a research fellowship, although many of our previous fellows are clinical psychologists and many of our training faculty are clinical psychologists conducting clinical research. There may be opportunities for postdoctoral fellows to participate in clinical work as part of research (e.g., being a therapist on a CASAA clinical trial, which many postdocs have done during their time). Outside clinical work is not allowed as part of the fellowship, although postdoc clinical hours are not required for licensure in NM, so there is often less of a need for postdoc clinical hours.
Outside work is allowed up to 10 hrs/week, but that work cannot be aligned or overlap with the T32 training goals – the work must be distinct.
