Postdoctoral Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Research

The Johns Hopkins Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers a postdoctoral research fellowship program in multiple sclerosis (MS) rehabilitation. This is a mentor-based fellowship funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This program is not APA accredited.

This fellowship is recruiting for the 2024 - 2026 training cycle, contingent on funding.

On this page:
Program Information | Qualifications | How to Apply | Contact Us | Program Director

Program Information

This fellowship is designed to be a two-year to three-year training program, depending on trainees’ goals and progress. The mission is to mentor postdoctoral research fellows to become scientist-practitioners in MS rehabilitation, with a focus on understanding and reducing the cognitive, emotional, and social challenges that accompany MS and related conditions, and promoting psychosocial wellness in MS.

Trainees spend at least 80% of their time in rehabilitation-oriented research activities. The remaining time may be spent providing clinical services (e.g., cognitive assessment, health behavior intervention) to people and their families affected by MS. Clinical services occur within the PM&R Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Program (MSRP).

Fellows are encouraged to attend the weekly didactic and monthly seminars in the Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, and their respective departments (PM&R and Neurology).

For more information about the MSRP and program faculty, please visit our MSRP website.

Required Qualifications

  • A doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) from an APA-accredited program, and including an APA-accredited internship
    • Doctoral degrees from other rehabilitation fields, including neuroscience, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, or medicine (e.g., neurology, physiatry) will also be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • A record of peer-reviewed publications and/or professional presentations in the field of MS or other disability and rehabilitation populations (e.g., brain injury, stroke, neurologic infection, cancer)
  • All degree requirements, including dissertation and internship completion, must be met 30 days before starting the fellowship (those who anticipate being unable to meet this deadline should contact the program director as soon as possible)
  • Successful completion of a criminal background check if offered a position
  • If offered a position, proof of COVID-19 and flu vaccination in adherence with JHU/JHM vaccination policies

Preferred Qualifications

  • Supervised experience providing psychological assessment and intervention services in rehabilitation psychology and/or neuropsychology
  • Participation in relevant professional organizations

How to Apply

All application materials must be submitted through our portal. Materials include:

  • Letter of interest (no longer than two single-spaced pages) that includes:
    • A description of your career goals
    • How your interests/goals fit specifically in our program(s)
    • A statement describing the completion status of your dissertation and anticipated date of graduation
  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Three professional letters of reference (submitted by your referees through the online portal)
  • Unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts will be requested if an offer is extended)
  • APPCN doctoral training verification form (neuropsychology fellowship applicants only)

More instructions will be provided through the online portal.

Contact Us

For general inquiries, email [email protected]. For program-specific questions, contact the program director below.

Program Director

Abbey Hughes, Ph.D., M.A.

Director, PM&R Psychology Training
Program Director, Postdoctoral Fellowship in MS Psychosocial Rehabilitation Research
Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Email: [email protected]

portrait of Abbey Hughes