Behavior and Physiology in Aging

The Duke Aging Center Postdoctoral Research Training Program (RTP) has a proud history of training highly skilled aging research scientists with outstanding leadership potential. Building on the program’s rich legacy of success, in this application we propose to foster a new generation of aging research scientists. We will maintain our focus on multidisciplinary aging research while adding an emphasis on three high priority, cross-cutting areas—population health research; community engagement; and team science. Attention to these areas is essential for several reasons. First, varied perspectives foster innovation, creativity, and advance scientific excellence. Yet, much of the U.S. population’s scientific talent remains untapped. Second, we need to train investigators ready to conduct research that meet the needs of an increasingly complex population of older adults.. Third, we need to equip aging research scientists with the skills to work successfully in multidisciplinary teams. Team science is an effective way to tackle complex problems through collaborative research practice that increases rigor and impact. The program will continue to be housed at the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. It will be directed by two faculty with complementary expertise and backgrounds, who are both leading research on aging within the Center, and have a track record of mentorship and training program leadership. Program faculty will be located throughout the University and Medical Center. We will implement systematic processes for outreach and engagement across the Aging research community with a focus on ensuring a multidisciplinary applicant pool. The program will continue to support 12 months of 100% protected time for research and training related activities for up to 6 post-doctoral research fellows/year, with trainees typically completing two years in the program. Applicants to the Duke RTP will be paired with a primary mentor and will have access to a larger network of junior and senior scientists to serve as secondary mentors. Together the trainee and primary mentor will develop an Individual Development Plan with input from others in the mentoring team and the program’s Executive Committee. Trainees will complete mentored research, and didactic training in aging, population health research principles, community engagement, team science, publication strategies, grantsmanship, research ethics, community engagement, academic integrity, and mentoring. To foster collaboration and team science skills, fellows will also design and execute group projects. There will be rigorous short and long-term evaluation of the trainees’ career progress. The program aims to develop a multidisciplinary highly trained workforce of aging research scientists poised to make lasting contributions to the field of aging research and advance science among all segments of the U.S. population.