Funding Opportunities
Aging Epidemiology
Pre- and Post-doctoral Training in Aging Epidemiology
Dr. Jane Cauley - Program Director
In 1989, the National Institute on Aging funded the Aging Epidemiology Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Experts from a variety of disciplines related to aging recognized the need for trained professionals to design, implement and evaluate scientifically sound, epidemiologic research in aging. Since it's inception, the Aging Epidemiology Training Program has evolved into a comprehensive program of high quality education and research that is at the forefront of what is known and what is to be learned about aging, health and disease. The mission of the program is to:
- Train graduate students and health professionals in aging epidemiology, with a special emphasis on the methodological considerations of studying older adults
- Develop and strengthen collaborations with other departments, schools and institutions who conduct health research in older adults
- Emphasize the multidimensional nature of the health status and physical functioning of older adults
- Focus on a "successful aging" approach to understanding disease causality and determine potential areas for prevention across the lifespan
The epidemiology of aging program focuses on two primary areas: (1) etiological research related to important health problems of older adults; and (2) research on methods to prevent disability and premature death among older adults. Methodological issues especially pertinent to research on older adults are emphasized. Evaluation of potentially preventative methods and the interaction of genetic and environmental factors that may influence the progression of "aging" are included in the program. The program faculty are currently doing research in a number of problems pertinent to aging, including osteoporosis, sarcopenia, falls, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer. The program represents a collaboration between epidemiology and geriatric medicine, rheumatology, endocrinology, cardiology, human genetics, and psychiatry.
For more information, please contact Dr. Cauley at
jcauley@edc.pitt.edu.
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- The Pitt Fogarty AIDS Training and Research Program (AITRP)
Dr. Lee Harrison (Program Director)
The mission of the Pitt AITRP is to provide Brazilian and Indian health professionals with the multidisciplinary tools needed to conduct cutting-edge HIV prevention research in their countries. Since its initiation the end of 1998, we have had multiple doctoral students from the two countries. In addition, the Pitt AITRP had provided dozens of Brazilian and Indian students, laboratory technicians, and investigators with short-term training in a variety of technical areas, including the sensitive/less sensitive HIV ELISA assay to determine HIV seroincidence from single serum specimens, the measurement of HIV RNA in semen, and how to conduct an HIV vaccine trial.
For more information, please contact Dr. Harrison at
lharriso@edc.pitt.edu.
- The Pitt Fogarty Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (GIDRTP)
Dr. Lee Harrison (Program Director)
The mission of the Pitt GIDRTP is to provide Brazilian health professionals with the multidisciplinary tools needed to conduct cutting-edge research on the epidemiology and molecular epidemiology of drug-resistant, vaccine preventable, and foodborne illnesses in São Paulo State, Brazil, which has a population of over 37 million. Since its initiation the 2003, we have provided numerous short- and long-term training opportunities in this area, including projects on the molecular epidemiology of Brazilian serogroup B and serogroup W-135 meningococcal isolates, mechanisms of drug resistance of Brazilian nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a study using real-time PCR for diagnosis of culture negative pyogenic meningitis in 13 hospitals in São Paulo and Campinas.
For more information, please contact Dr. Harrison at
lharriso@edc.pitt.edu.
Psychiatric Epidemiology
Pre- and Post-doctoral training in Psychiatric Epidemiology
Two Predoctoral and two Postdoctoral fellowships. Must be U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident to be considered for funding. The availability of fellowships is dependent on grant funds and student progress. Training program information is available at http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/research/psychepidtraining. Contact Dr. Gale Richardson at gar@pitt.edu for further information.
Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology
Pre-doctoral training
Director: Dr. Roberta Ness
Office: A527 Crabtree Hall
Phone: (412) 624-3056
E-mail: repro@pitt.edu
Co-Director: Dr. Catherine Haggerty
Office: 516B Parran Hall
Phone: (412) 624-7377
E-mail: haggerty@pitt.edu
In 2007, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) funded the Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh. One of select handful in the country, the training program aims to provide outstanding training to pre-doctoral students who are interested in better understanding the pattern, risk factors, and interventions that might improve reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric health. The program integrates solid epidemiologic training with didactic coursework and experiences in obstetrics, gynecology, neonatology, pediatrics, psychiatry, adolescent medicine and the basic sciences of genetics, molecular biology, and developmental biology. Pre-doctoral trainees are mentored through individually-designed programs of studies, independent research, writing of data-based papers for national presentation and peer review publication, and preparation for fellowship or scientific careers.
The mission of the program is to:
- Foster outstanding skills in epidemiology and biostatistics, with particular emphasis on the application of methods needed to address important research questions in reproductive epidemiology.
- Cultivate an understanding of the pathophysiologic, genetic, behavioral, and environmental determinants of important diseases and disorders of pregnant women and children, emphasizing normative reproductive and developmental physiology, as well as sub-clinical aberrations on the way to clinical onset of disease.
- Emphasize the domains of exposure, such as infection/inflammation, environmental toxicants, nutrition, injury, mood, substance use/abuse, and genetic susceptibility.
- Emphasize the domains of and intersections between reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric outcomes such as fertility, preterm birth, growth restriction, fetal death, preeclampsia, and diseases of childhood and adolescence.
- Integrate science across disciplines so as to develop cutting-edge approaches to the etiology, prevention, and treatment of diseases relating to pregnancy and childhood.
The Reproductive Epidemiology Training Program, funded as a T32 Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) by the NIH, supports 5 pre-doctoral departmental students. This pre-doctoral fellowship provides full tuition and stipend. Trainees are expected to allocate their time between coursework, dissertation work, and additional training experiences. Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be considered for funding. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Catherine Haggerty at
haggerty@pitt.edu.
What will be funded?
Small grants up to $7500 – direct costs only. One year projects, specifically designed to collect data for purposes of either submitting a grant application or completing a thesis/dissertation. Total amount of Departmental funding available is $25,000.
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The Center for Minority Health submitted a proposal to the Office of the Provost focused on recruitment, retention and support of disadvantaged students in the Graduate School of Public Health. This funding mechanism will provide scholarships for some students. It is NOT a fund for GSR tuition remission and therefore will not provide full tuition coverage. These funds may be used for books, computers, travel to professional meetings (APHA, SOPHE, etc) or other education related costs. Because the funds are limited, the Center for Minority Health and the Office of Student Affairs will give partial scholarships to several students. While students with GSR positions may apply for funds, requests from students without a GSR will have priority.
Other financial assistance resources/student employment
Additional Information
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