Research Education Component (REC)

REC Project Summary The Research Education Component (REC) of the Pepper Center supports training and development of independent investigators to conduct mobility and balance research relevant to aging. Our rich interdisciplinary training environment is customized to provide comprehensive, individualized training for each trainee or scholar with an emphasis on cutting-edge basic, clinical, and implementation science methods. Training focuses on leveraging interdisciplinary team science mentors for learner collaboration and to foster leadership in multidisciplinary projects. Our overarching goal is to prepare highly qualified early career investigators from the doctoral to the Assistant Professor level for independence to become national and international leaders in the field of mobility and balance in aging who lead innovative, high quality, and high impact research. Over the past 20 years, our REC has formally supported 30 Pepper Scholars. Most remained in academics, pursuing mobility and balance research and generating >$60 million in independent funding. With the next renewal cycle, we will continue to train the next generation of independent research professionals in balance and mobility in aging through mentored, hands-on, interdisciplinary research experiences with well-funded leaders in the field, and formal training with updated opportunities and career development designed for success in current and future of aging research. Our specific aims are to: 1) Develop and support research careers at four levels: Novices (research trainees at the pre- and post-doctoral level), Early Career Scholars (early career faculty with initial expertise and an existing form of salary support), Pepper Scholars (early career faculty with initial expertise and strong potential for an independent career that receive OAIC salary support), Transition to Independence Investigators (Early career faculty with independent career awards); 2) Provide research training and career development for Scholars to successfully advance to an independent research career in the areas of mobility and balance in aging research; 3) Holistically manage the training program, with 360⁰ evaluation of scholars, mentors, and program. New innovations for this renewal cycle include: 1) Leadership Fellow positions to support core leadership and to develop future OAIC leaders; 2) Expanded training in intercultural issues and 3) Training opportunities in Implementation Science.