Research Experience & Training Core

ABSTRACT (Core 4) The Yale Superfund Research and Training Program (YSRTP) will foster problem-based, solution-oriented research related to the theme of water contaminant fate, exposure, remediation, and adverse health effects. To be most effective, this endeavor requires cross-trained scientists, engineers, and biomedical researchers with wide-ranging communication skills to successfully address emerging research and health questions. The proposed YSRTP unites the fields of public health, medicine, genetics, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, and chemical fate and transport. We will leverage this disciplinary diversity, departmental and University resources, and YSRTP’s diverse research areas and cores to produce trainees with depth in their specialized field, and a breadth of knowledge and professional experiences in environmental health, chemistry, and engineering; disciplines that are important for controlling exposure to hazardous environmental chemicals. The goal of the YSRTP Research Experience Training Coordination Core (RETCC) is to expand the breadth of educational, research, and professional development opportunities to pre- and post-doctoral trainees. Four specific aims are proposed. 1. Recruit a cohort of academically strong doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers; 2. Provide interdisciplinary training through required cross-disciplinary coursework and specialized instruction in community engagement, dissemination of findings, risk communication, and translational research; 3. Design and implement a program for interdisciplinary research exchanges within and external to Yale; and 4. Encourage trainee professional development through planned interactions with community partners, government agencies, and private industry. RETCC central activities will include specific symposia and workshops to broaden trainee education and research skillsets, mentorship programs to prepare students for candidacy exams and monitor dissertation progress; a graduate research seminar and other ancillary activities to encourage interaction among trainees and build a scholastic community, and an evaluation process to continually update and improve the RETCC. Training will leverage the broader Yale University teaching, research, and mentoring infrastructure and build synergies with the YSRTP cores in administration (research translation), community engagement and data management and analytics. This training core will focus on pre- and post-doctoral trainees working in the fields of chemistry, environmental engineering, public health, and biomedical research within the YSRTP and includes an interdisciplinary (environmental engineering and biomedical research) directorship. Specific research areas include: the effects of water contaminants on reproductive toxicology, evaluation of 1,4-Dioxane (1.4-DX) exposure and early biological effects in drinking water, identification of early vs. late 1,4-DX-induced liver damage and carcinogenesis and of potential biomarkers of exposure, biosensors and chemical sensors and online contaminant monitoring, development of next-generation, modular advanced oxidation process technology.