UNM fellows get to see the impact they can have as forensic psychologists, with people and with policy. The gorgeous landscape, cultural diversity, & affordable cost of living of New Mexico also sets up our fellows to enjoy life in and out of work. It’s a great training opportunity with a great set of people!
As a UNM fellow, I was encouraged to think about the intersection of law and psychology in a holistic way. It was so gratifying to be able to reflect on the issues I encountered, while assessing defendants in real time, to affect relevant change on the policy side. I also gained deeper understanding of the unique and diverse needs of the populations we serve. Thanks to the training and my excellent supervisors, by the end of the fellowship I felt fully prepared to step into my professional role as a forensic psychologist.
UNM forensic fellows train in different settings with a diverse set of people, developing an expansive set of forensic skills along the way. Fellows will conduct court-ordered competency evaluations for the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court (SJDC) Competency Clinic, which involve clinical and forensic interviews; administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological measures; authoring forensic evaluation reports; providing testimony and/or recommendations in court cases and hearings; and providing peer consultation/supervision. Because of unique forensic statutes and infrastructure of New Mexico, fellows can expect advanced training in malingering assessment, forensic assessment measures, and complex forensic conceptualization skills that will prepare them for board certification.
Fellows also have the unique opportunity to directly contribute to forensic policy advocacy and change with the New Mexico’s Behavioral Health Services Division of Health and Human Services. Through writing situation reports; conducting policy analysis; participating on state policy commissions (e.g., the Sentencing Commission Legislative Committee); and collaborating with state legislators, judges, attorneys, community program directors, and others, fellows gain unique experience working in and improving our forensic mental health system.
Additional clinical training in evaluations addressing police academy suitability, police fitness for duty, civil disability, and other adult- and youth-related psycholegal questions may be available. Collaboration with our forensic research faculty and additional contribution to ongoing forensic policy initiatives with the Behavioral Health Services Division may also be arranged.
Click here for more information about the fellowship in our 2024-2025 brochure!
Get more details about the program, living and working in Albuquerque, and the expert, multidisciplinary faculty you’ll be working with.
Salary for the fellowship year is determined according to NIH guidelines. For FY 2023 the base salary is $56,484.00 plus benefits (PTO, sick time, medical insurance, etc.), depending on experience. We will update with the FY 2024 figures as soon as we receive them. Fellows also receive a professional development that covers expenses related to the EPPP exam, attaining licensure in New Mexico (e.g., licensure application fees), and attending the American Psychology-Law Society Conference.
The Fellowship represents a 12-month commitment with a start date in September 2024 (typically as early in September as possible). Commencement and termination date are somewhat flexible based on individual circumstances. We will hire up to two forensic postdoctoral fellows for the 2024-2025 training year.
Post Doctoral Fellowship Policy—Read First
Additional Information about Postdoctoral Fellowships at UNM
Fellows attend University of New Mexico’s widely acclaimed Law & Mental Health Didactic Series. The series is taught by internationally recognized experts in mental health and law and covers a breadth of topics in forensic assessment, forensic ethics, diversity-related issues in forensic practice, forensic rehabilitation, and more. The series is attended by hundreds of professionals and trainees in behavioral health, medicine, social work, and law each week and serves as didactic training for many residencies and internships outside of UNM. Fellows will also present in this series and be introduced to our international audience during the fellowship year!
Additional Educational Training
Fellows also receive direct didactic training weekly with UNM forensic faculty. The curriculum is developed with the ABFP board certification examination in mind to prepare fellows as experts in forensic case law, practice, ethical, and cultural issues. Fellows also serve as an expert witness in a simulated trial using an evaluation completed during fellowship. The supervisor for the case works with you and the retaining attorney to prepare you for direct examination, and another forensic psychologist works with the opposing attorney to develop cross examination questions. This experience helps fellows prepare to be an effective expert witness and discuss their clinical work in an adversarial courtroom.
UNM Forensic Division Faculty
Anthony Perillo, PhD
Forensic Training Director
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Caroline Bonham, MD
Vice Chair, Community Behavioral Health Policy
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Kaisa Marshall, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Tatiana Matlasz, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Jennifer Perillo, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Jeffrey N. Younggren, PhD, ABPP (Clinical)
Fellowship Co-Director
Fellow, American, Psychological Association; Distinguished Member, National Academy of Practice
Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Affiliate Faculty
Julie M. Brovko, PhD
Co-Director, Second Judicial District Court Competency Clinic Clinical
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Kimberly McManus, BS
Forensic Program Manager, Behavioral Health Sciences Division, State of New Mexico
Bronwyn Neeser, PsyD
Forensic Policy Program Manager, Behavioral Health Sciences Division, State of New Mexico
Noah Painter-Davis, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Simone Viljoen, PhD
Co-Director, Second Judicial District Court Competency Clinic
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Our previous Fellows have gone on to do incredible work in the field of forensic psychology.
Here's where they are now:
2019 - 2021 Alexander Kuhl, PsyD, Kuhl Clinical & Forensic Psychological Services, LLC, Las Vegas, NV
2020 - 2021 Bronwyn Neeser, PsyD, Forensic Policy Program Manager, Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD), State of New Mexico
2021 - 2022 Emma Hamilton, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Services, University of Southern California
2021 - 2022 Tatiana Matlasz, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, University of New Mexico
2022 - 2023 Anna Feinman, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina
2022 - 2023 Unnati Patel, PhD, Forensic Psychologist, Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services, Vancouver BC
Application Qualifications
Demonstrate the following minimum qualifications:
Preferred qualifications:
Our fellowship team is committed to increasing diversity among healthcare professionals and leaders in New Mexico.
How to Apply
Email the following materials to Anthony Perillo, Ph.D., Fellowship Training Director (APerillo@salud.unm.edu) by December 31, 2023:
Interviews for the 2024-2025 fellowship positions will all be conducted remotely (Zoom). Interview offers will be made in mid-January and scheduled for late January 2024.
Check out our educational offerings for trainees, providers, and the public including Grand Rounds, Law and Mental Health, webinars with CEUs/CMEs, and more
Visit the state’s wonderful tourism website for stories and videos about living in the Land of Enchantment
Training Director
Anthony Perillo, PhD
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
2400 Tucker Avenue N.E
1 University of New Mexico
MSC09-5030
Albuquerque, NM 87131