Skip to Content

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology

Overview

The Court Psychiatric Clinic’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology is a 12-month, 2,000-hour training program designed to prepare doctoral-level practitioners for independent practice in forensic psychology. Over the course of the training year, the fellow will engage in practical and educational activities to develop the foundational and functional competencies necessary for work in the field of forensic psychology. Such training activities have been thoughtfully structured around the Postdoctoral Training in Forensic Psychology Guidelines outlined by the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP).

Under the supervision of licensed, qualified psychologists, the fellow will conduct criminal forensic evaluations for a variety of psycholegal questions, including (but not limited to): competence to stand trial, mental condition at the time of the offense charged (sanity), mitigation/pre-sentencing, and risk assessment. While all fellows receive comprehensive training in the ethics, legal standards, research, and skills that provide the foundation for best practices in forensic mental health assessment, each individual fellow may also choose to engage in elective opportunities to gain deeper understanding of—or even simply exposure to—specialized areas of interest within the forensic specialty.

Upon completion of the program, fellows will have gained the competencies necessary to conduct ethical, evidence-based, objective forensic evaluations. The fellowship was granted the ABFP 5-year experience waiver through 2030, which means that fellowship graduates will also have developed the requisite conceptual and practical foundations to pursue board certification in forensic psychology after successful completion of the fellowship, should they aspire to do so. Yet, we are confident that the well-rounded knowledge, skills, and experience acquired will prepare our graduates to flourish in a variety of employment settings.

 

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology

The primary objective of the fellowship is to provide specialty training in the field of forensic psychology. The training program is structured to guide fellows in developing the core competencies necessary for independent practice as a forensic psychologist. It is our goal for fellows to demonstrate the following by the end of the training year:

 

  1. Foundational knowledge of best practices in forensic psychology
  2. Proficiency in forensic evaluation and report writing
  3. Refined Clinical and forensic interviewing skills
  4. Enhanced abilities in selection, administration, and interpretation of psychological testing and forensic instruments
  5. Fundamental understanding of relevant statutes, case law, and regulatory guidance
  6. Comprehensive knowledge of forensic ethical principles
  7. Advanced skills in cross-discipline communication and consultation

 

Core Experiences include:

  • Forensic Evaluation
  • Psychological Testing
  • Didactics and Case Law Seminar
  • Consultation
  • Dissemination of Knowledge
  • Supervision

Fellows can expect to spend the following amounts of time (approximately) in each primary training activity:

  • 75% in forensic evaluation activities, and a minimum of 25% (i.e., 500 hours) in direct provision of services (e.g., forensic clinical interviewing, psychological testing, consultation)
  • 15% in educational activities (e.g., didactics, relevant readings)
  • 10% in supervision and consultation activities

Compensation, Terms, and Benefits

This position is held at the pleasure of the Court and offers a competitive annual stipend of up to $80,017.60 plus benefits (e.g., annual leave, sick time, health insurance), depending on experience. Paid administrative leave for professional activities may also be granted on a case-by-case basis.

 

The fellowship requires a 12-month commitment, typically starting and ending in September. However, commencement and termination dates may be flexible to accommodate individual circumstances.

How to Apply

Applicant Qualifications

At minimum, all applicants must have:

  1. A Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA/CPA accredited program, or have completed all doctoral degree requirements prior to beginning the program
  2. Completed an APA/CPA accredited predoctoral internship
  3. Eligibility to work in the United States

Highly regarded (preferred) qualifications include the following:

  1. Strong psychological assessment skills
  2. Comfort administering, scoring, and interpreting common psychological tests
  3. Robust general clinical training
  4. Strong background in composing comprehensive reports that integrate data from multiple sources
  5. Experience with forensic/correctional populations
  6. Experience or training in forensic mental health assessment
  7. Familiarity with assessment and/or treatment of substance use disorders, personality disorders, severe mental illness, and neurodevelopmental disorders

Application Procedure

Application to the fellowship is a two-step process that requires submission of application materials to the Training Director, Dr. Matlasz and completion of the relevant Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court’s job posting. Details for both processes are outlined below.

 

Please email the following materials, in PDF format, to Dr. Tatiana Matlasz, Training Director, at tmatlasz@cuyahogacounty.gov by Wednesday, January 6, 2027:

 

  • Curriculum vitae;
  • Letter of interest addressing your interest in the program, relevant background and training, professional interests and fit with the program, and anything else you want us to consider when reviewing your application;
  • Three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your doctoral program and indicate which degree requirements have yet to be completed and when your degree is expected to be conferred);
  • A deidentified writing sample of a psychological assessment or a forensic evaluation (forensic reports are preferred);
  • A transcript from your doctoral program (an unofficial transcript is acceptable at the time of one’s application, though we may request an official transcript upon an employment offer);
  • Confirmation of your application to the job posting (described below) either in your cover letter or in the body your email.

 

Applicants must also apply to the Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Trainee job posting on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court website by Wednesday, January 6, 2027. This application requires copies of a subset of the above materials be submitted to Court Administrator, Mr. Gregory Popovich, at infosys@cuyahogacounty.gov:

 

  • Curriculum vitae;
  • Letter of interest;
  • Deidentified writing sample.

 

Interviews for the 2027-2028 cohort will be conducted via Zoom. Offers will be extended by mid-February 2027. The Program follows APPIC Selection Standards and Common Hold Date.

 

Should you have any questions prior to submitting your application, please feel free to contact Dr. Matlasz at tmatlasz@cuyahogacounty.gov. Additionally, if you are interested in applying to the fellowship but do not anticipate being able to submit a completed application by the deadline, please reach out to Dr. Matlasz via email.

Why the Forensic Evaluation Center?

  • As an employee of the Forensic Evaluation Center, you have the opportunity to work alongside an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and trainees (e.g., forensic psychiatry fellows, practicum students). Members from each discipline have unique approaches to forensic work and diverse expertise to offer trainees and early career practitioners. Fellows can plan to gain exposure to a breadth of interviewing and writing styles. 
  • Being situated in the Justice Center alongside judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and other legal personnel provides unparalleled opportunities for networking and interfacing with, learning from, and providing education to those whom our work directly impacts.
  • The fellowship offers a competitive stipend and benefits.
  • The Forensic Evaluation Center is constantly growing, advancing, and expanding! There may be opportunities for graduates of our fellowship to be hired by the FEC as a full, independent forensic evaluator upon successful completion of the program.
  • The FEC was granted the ABFP 5-year experience waiver (2026-2030), the Director of Training is a board-certified specialist in forensic psychology, and all fellowship supervisors were trained at ABFP-waiver fellowships. Out fellows receive the high-quality supervision and training to prepare them to pursue board certification following completion of the program, should they endeavor to do so.
  • As a government entity, the FEC is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible site.
  • Ohio is home to a robust forensic community, between the 10 Certified Forensic Centers, numerous other forensic practices, several educational institutions with nationally recognized training in the forensic specialty (e.g., CWRU), and a system of services supported by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. The State’s investment in forensic mental health invites fellows and early career professionals to contribute to the ever-changing forensic landscape in meaningful ways.

Brochure

Click here for more information about our Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology.

 

Contact Information

 

Tatiana Matlasz, Ph.D.

Training Director | Forensic Evaluation Center

1200 Ontario Street, 6th Floor, Justice Center Tower

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

tmatlasz@cuyahogacounty.gov