PhD in Clinical Psychology

UB’s Clinical Psychology PhD follows a training model that keeps research, assessment and intervention tightly connected. We offer:

• Strong mentorship from faculty who are highly productive clinical scientists
• A research culture that emphasizes rigor, collaboration and impact
• Training that prepares you for competitive internships and postdoctoral positions

Faculty research strengths include alcohol and substance misuse, anxiety and mood disorders, developmental psychopathology, temperament, personality pathology, psychophysiology, assessment and advanced quantitative methods. You will learn to integrate science and practice in ways that improve mental health in real-world settings.

• Clinical-science model: Research-anchored training that embeds evidence in assessment and intervention
• Adult and child emphases: Opportunities across psychopathology and interventions for diverse populations
• Mentored research from day one: Join a lab, design studies, analyze data and share results
• Professional preparation: Build teaching, ethics and communication skills through seminars and supervised practice

Students complete sequenced coursework in psychopathology, assessment, intervention, statistics and research methods. Clinical practica begin in UB’s Psychological Services Center (PSC) and expand to approved community and hospital sites as students progress through the program.

The Clinical Psychology PhD program (referred to as the “Program”) is licensure-qualifying for New York State. The program makes every effort to provide training that is consistent with national standards and to prepare students for the practice of clinical psychology. The practice of psychology is regulated at the state level. State licensing authorities, commonly referred to as “State Boards,” determine the specific educational and training requirements for licensure in their State. Of note, many States (including New York State) require post-doctoral training as well as examinations beyond predoctoral requirements. As such, a PhD from our Clinical Psychology program is not sufficient, in and of itself, to meet licensure requirements in most states. 

Students graduate ready to plan, conduct, evaluate and disseminate clinical science. You will:

• Integrate theory, methods and statistics to produce rigorous research
• Use empirically supported assessment and intervention practices
• Communicate research and case work effectively in writing and presentations
• Apply ethical and professional standards across research and practice
• Demonstrate broad knowledge across psychology and connect it to clinical science

Clinical training begins in UB’s Psychological Services Center (PSC), where students receive supervision while providing assessment and psychotherapy for youth/adolescents and adult clients.

Advanced external practica have included:

• Erie County Medical Center: Inpatient adolescent groups and health psychology consultation
• Buffalo VA Medical Center: Integrated care interventions within funded research studies
• Oishei Children’s Hospital: Child and family assessment and treatment in an OMH-licensed clinic
  
  

Additional experiences may be available at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Psychological Services Center (PSC) child and group clinics, and community or forensic settings. Opportunities vary by year and supervisor availability.

Students are trained to meet the needs of a diverse society. The program supports students in developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to provide competent care to individuals from varied backgrounds while maintaining a commitment to client welfare, safety and evidence-based practice.

• Research in action: Continuous involvement in clinical research with expectations to present and publish
• Campus and community partnerships: Opportunities with the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo VA Medical Center, Buffalo General Hospital, Alberti Center for Bullying Prevention, Erie County Medical Center, Oishei Children’s Hospital and Roswell Park Cancer Institute
• In-house training clinic: Evidence-based assessment and treatment in UB's Psychological Services Center (PSC)
• Advanced practica: External placements at a variety of organizations and settings, as well as optional lab-based clinical experiences
• Professional development: Weekly Brown Bag meetings bring students and faculty together to share research and strengthen professional presentation skills. Students also attend regional and national conferences to expand their networks and academic presence.

Graduates pursue roles such as:

• Faculty member in psychology or psychiatry departments
• Clinical or research scientist in academic medical centers or hospitals
• Postdoctoral fellow in clinical science
• Research roles in government, nonprofit or industry settings
• Leadership in program evaluation, implementation science or policy

UB’s clinical-science focus builds versatility, critical thinking and analytic skill valued across research and practice settings.

Ready to train as a clinical scientist and help shape the future of mental health care?

For more information, please reach out to us!