In certain fields of psychology, it is a common career step for recent PhD graduates to undertake a postdoctoral training program. These programs are designed to help young scientists advance their research agendas and expand their research capabilities under the guidance of experienced professionals. Typically, an individual will complete one or two such programs as a prerequisite to applying for a full-time faculty position.

Psychology Postdoctoral Training Program

For PhD holders in psychology who are passionate about research but not interested in teaching, there are faculty positions available that are exclusively dedicated to research. These roles are most commonly found at large, research-intensive universities.

Research-Focused Faculty Positions in Psychology

People can pursue other careers in academic settings including: 
- Adjunct faculty 
- Academic researchers
- Postdoctoral training program

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Those pursuing an academic career in psychology have a masters or a doctoral degree. Those with doctorates can get further training in research through a postdoctoral training program. Within academics, psychology faculty may be full-time or adjunct. Adjunct faculty often have another career outside of academia. Faculty engage in research, teaching, mentoring, and service to their institution and professional organizations.

Academic Careers in Psychology

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Educational institutions often hire adjunct faculty in psychology when the number of courses exceeds what full-time faculty can teach. These instructors typically hold an advanced degree in the field. Adjunct positions are often filled by individuals who have a primary career outside of academia and teach as a secondary job. Alternatively, some may not possess the doctoral degree required by many four-year institutions and take on these roles to accumulate teaching experience.

Adjunct Faculty in Psychology

A career path in academic psychology involves teaching at 2-year colleges and schools. These institutions frequently require faculty to teach their psychology courses. The educational requirement for these positions is often a master's degree in psychology, though it is also a career path for some individuals who hold a PhD.

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