Reimagine Pediatric Mental Health. Join Our Team

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The Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research (IMBHR) Is Essential to Our Success

The Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research (IMBHR) is designed to study and share expertise about mental and behavioral health in children to develop better diagnostics, treatment and preventative strategies.  

IMBHR researchers have access to a new, state-of-the-art home in the nine-story, 386,000-square-foot Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion — featuring 8,000 square feet of dedicated research space and direct integration with nationally recognized clinical programs.

IMBHR faculty and staff work with clinicians from across the Nationwide Children’s enterprise and in collaboration with The Ohio State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and the OSU Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research. 

IMBHR is rapidly expanding, backed by major philanthropic investment, and prioritizes innovation, workforce development, and leadership opportunities for new and experienced researchers.

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Join the IMBHR Faculty

IMBHR is currently seeking assistant, associate or full professors and researchers (open rank) with expertise in mental health, implementation science, school-based intervention, prevention, cost-effectiveness, data science, AI, genomic medicine, and/or evidence-based assessment. 

Qualifications:  

  • Doctoral degree in clinical, school or quantitative psychology, nursing, medicine, health services research or related field 
  • Two years of postdoctoral research training or equivalent experience 
  • Strong track record of publishing in high quality journals  
  • Current K-level or R-level federal funding  

The faculty and leadership at IMBHR are deeply committed to researcher success, offering robust mentorship, internal grant support, and an environment designed to accelerate research impact and professional growth.

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Mental and Behavioral Health Research Resources

Centralized, on-site resources support investigators at all stages of their work. Researchers also have access to core resources at The Ohio State University and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science.

The Behavioral Trials Office is a point-of-entry service for social and behavioral research at Nationwide Children’s. Certified Clinical Research Professionals in the BTO, including project managers and research coordinators, support the efficient coordination of social and behavioral research activities, according to Good Clinical Practice and federal, state and institutional regulations. 

Clinical Research Services is a portal through which clinical investigators access streamlined coordination of services necessary to initiate clinical research projects, regardless of funding source. The team supports all clinical research studies, providing staff and/or services to manage your study from beginning to end according to Good Clinical Practice and federal, state and institutional regulations and guidelines.

The Office of Data Sciences is a testament to our strategic vision of unlocking the full capabilities of health data sciences across our research endeavors. By integrating cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics, ODS aims to drive new discoveries and propel Nationwide Children’s research forward. 

The Steven and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine is an interdisciplinary institute that integrates the transforming power of genomics across research and clinical care. The institute provides a unique environment that combines state-of-the-art testing within its clinical laboratory, advanced computational data analytics and basic science labs exploring a wide range of genetic mutations.

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Nationwide Children's Research Staff, Eric Youngstrom

The Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health is led by Eric Youngstrom, PhD, a nationally renowned psychologist specializing in the relationship of mood and psychopathology, and the clinical assessment of children and families.

Dr. Youngstrom’s research focuses on improving clinical assessment instruments for differential diagnoses and on predicting a child’s treatment progress, especially for bipolar disorder. In addition to being the institute’s inaugural director, he is the first recipient of the DiMarco Family Endowed Chair in Mental and Behavioral Health Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.    

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Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children’s

Behavioral health care at Nationwide Children’s is administered across a continuum, from prevention to crisis. Care coordination and wide-ranging research programs help integrate these systems of care and expand their impact.

At A Glance:

  • Licensed Inpatient Psych Beds: 38
  • Staffed Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit Beds: 16
  • Psychiatric Crisis Department Visits: 7,695
  • Intermediate Level of Care Visits (IOP/PHP, Complex Behavior, not including IHBT/EIBI): 8,758
  • Ambulatory Visits (excluding Intermediate Level of Care): 277,469
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FAQ

Why should I move to Columbus, Ohio?

Columbus is a city with a growing economy and life sciences community. As the state capital of Ohio, Columbus is the second largest city in the Midwest and the fourteenth most populous city in the United States. It is a global city fueled by a highly educated workforce and a diverse mix of ethnicities and foreign-born residents.

A key differentiator that sets Columbus apart is the “Columbus Way” – the practice of community stewardship, anchored by a set of values and principles that power progress in the region. These values include ambition, collaboration, fellowship, inclusivity and common good. 

Columbus Accolades:

  • “A hidden gem in plain sight” (Forbes)
  • #4 City for Young Professionals (Forbes)
  • #2 City for Commerce (Site Selection Magazine)
  • #5 City for New College Graduates (New York Times)
  • #8 Most Climate-Resilient City (Architectural Digest)
  • Winner of US Department of Transportation’s First-Ever Smart City Challenge

Living in Columbus At-a-Glance:

  • 47% of jobs are in health, education, government and professional services sectors
  • $1,200 median monthly rent
  • $226,207 average home sale price
  • Average Commute = 26 minutes
  • Median Age = 35
  • Score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index
  • More than 50 colleges and universities

The Columbus Region has earned a national reputation for its energetic blend of arts and culture: the #1 science center; #1 public library; and even the #1 ice cream; Third best beer city and a top 10 public market (US News & World Report); Home to more fashion designers than any U.S. city, outside of New York and Los Angeles.

Sports teams for every season: Columbus Crew SC (MLS), Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), Columbus Clippers (MiLB), Columbus Fury (Pro Volleyball Federation) and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

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Why should I conduct my research at Nationwide Children’s?

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As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the United States, Nationwide Children’s has a large and diverse patient population – arriving from all 50 states and 40+ countries – and a mature primary care network, key factors for effective mental and behavioral health research. 

Nationwide Children’s has made behavioral and mental health a strategic priority for the organization by highlighting this area in its overall strategic plan; building a massive facility dedicated to behavioral health on its main campus; and providing state-of-the-art integrated resources such as the Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine and the Office of Data Sciences.

The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s encompasses more than 840,000 square feet of dedicated pediatric research and innovation space, including research buildings and offices across campus and the off-site Biopathology Center, and is ranked among the top 10 freestanding children’s hospitals, based on NIH funding.

The AWRI is composed of Centers of Emphasis structured to support team science and discovery. Centralized, on-site resources include CRISPR/Gene Editing, grant funding support and scientific writing resources. Researchers also benefit from in-house research regulatory affairs staff and a robust Office of Technology Commercialization to ensure that discoveries are translated into care settings.

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Get in Touch with Our Team

Are you interested in joining our team but not ready to apply yet? We're here to answer any questions you may have about the role, the application process, or what it's like to work at Nationwide Children's. Fill out the form below, and our team will get back to you within two business days.