Applied Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow

American Psychological Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work option

Healthcare benefits

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The American Psychological Association (APA) invites applications for an Applied Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellow. This time-limited role supports the Psychology Team in program development, stakeholder engagement, and policy translation of psychological science for diverse audiences.

The position emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and cross-functional work with opportunities to gain experience in funding, policy, and research translation while contributing to administrative duties as needed.

Qualifications

• PhD required in an applied subdiscipline of psychology.
• Preference for non-clinical subdisciplines such as cognitive, social, IO, personality, development, human factors, occupational health, legal, sports, or military.
• Strong project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and ability to coordinate teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage programs across applied psychology topics, including future of work, teaching and learning, climate, conservation, sustainability, and human-technology interaction.
• Manage projects from planning through execution, tracking milestones and coordinating contributors.
• Support development and delivery of webinars, conference presentations, and events.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Academic writing

Data visualization

Oral communication

Presentation skills

Literature review

Research methods

Statistics

Education

PhD in applied psychology

Tools

Qualtrics

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Teams

PsycNet

Online Research

Microsoft Copilot

Google Gemini

Job description

Note: APA operates on a 37.5-hour work week with one-hour lunch breaks each day. APA sets salaries based on several considerations, including years of relevant experience, level of education, and previous staff and/or governance experience at APA.

The Applied Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellow (Postdoc) serves as a member of the Psychology Team at the American Psychological Association. The Postdoc participates in, supports, and helps lead applied psychology programs and initiatives as directed by the Executive Lead of Applied Psychology, the Director of Applied Psychology, and other director-level staff on the Psychology Team.

The Postdoc will be exposed to, learn about, and contribute to timely policy and scientific issues that are critical to the future of psychological science. The Postdoc may expect to gain direct experience in program development, stakeholder engagement, management, funding, policy, and scientific issues that would be difficult to acquire in most academic settings. The position is designed for an individual with broad intellectual curiosity across the diverse areas of applied psychology and a strong interest in working as an applied psychology generalist across diverse scientific, policy, and programmatic topics.

The fellowship emphasizes the translation of psychological science for nonacademic audiences, the development of trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and the practical application of psychological knowledge to real-world challenges.

All members of the Psychology Team, including the Postdoc, are expected to contribute to administrative and operational responsibilities as needed, as part of a collaborative team environment.

NOTE: This is a time-limited position with an initial term of one year and the potential for extension to a second year. The total duration will not exceed two years. The salary for this position will be $63,125 per year with healthcare benefits and paid time off (PTO).

Application Deadline: October 28, 2026

Start Date: January 2027

Education and Experience Required

Minimum Requirement: PhD in an applied subdiscipline of psychology. Preference will be given to candidates from non-clinical subdisciplines, including, but not limited to: cognitive, social, industrial-organizational, personality, developmental, human factors, occupational health, legal, sports, and military.

Preferred experience and skills:

Project Leadership & Coordination

• 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

Communication & Data Visualization

• 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

Research & Methodological Expertise

• 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

Computer Skills Required

• 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

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.

About APA:

The American Psychological Association (APA) represents 146,000 psychologists, students, and affiliates, primarily in the U.S. and Canada but also in other countries around the world. APA is a scientific and professional organization with about 500 employees and is categorized as a 501(c)(3) along with its 501(c)(6) companion organization, APA Services, Inc.

APA offers a generous employee benefits program, including Remote Work/Flexible Scheduling; a 401(k) option with employer match of up to 4%; medical, dental, and vision insurance options and an outpatient mental health benefit; paid personal/vacation time plus 12 paid holidays; Family/Medical Leave; tuition assistance; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); short- and long-term disability insurance; and more.

Job Location: Remote:

APA jobs may be considered for remote work eligibility as defined in APA's Flexible Work Policy and are subject to approval. Remote work employees may not work from the following states or U.S. territories: Alaska, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, Wyoming.

The American Psychological Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Final candidates will be required to successfully complete a background check as a condition of employment. Any required consent forms and additional information will be provided during the final stages of the hiring process.