NIA-funded Predoctoral Research Training in Aging
There is a single application.
- All new applicants for training should complete Part A.
- Applicants who also wish to be considered for funding should also
complete Part B*.
- Applicants who are already accepted but unfunded trainees, who now wish to be considered for funding, should complete Part B.
The Part A
application (admission for training) consists of
- An applicaton form
- A current curriculum vitae
- A letter of endorsement from your proposed Core Faculty mentor (see application form for details)
The Part B
application (application for funding) consists of
- Additional application form questions
- A current curriculum vitae (if not submitted with Part A)
- An expanded letter of endorsement from your proposed Core Faculty mentor (see application form for details)
- A letter of recommendation from an additional faculty member who can comment on your research career goals and research productivity.
With regard to deadlines,
- Applications for admission (Part A) are accepted on a rolling basis, and may be submitted an any time.
- Applications for funding (Part B) are accepted annually, and the next deadline is pending.
Eligibility for the program
- must be admitted into a UF Ph.D. program in good standing
- must have a record of
- high scholastic aptitude,
- research productivity and potential, and
- a demonstrated commitment to aging research and scholarship
- must identify a Core Faculty mentor (or a mentor who is willing to become Core Faculty).
- The proposed primary mentor will be asked to endorse your application, and will be asked to affirm their commitment to mentor you within the program's training philosophy.
- All students are eligible for the program, but only US
Citizens/Permanent Residents are eligible for funding
Typical timeline of progress through the program**:
Pre-qualifying Examination
Apply for admission to the training program (unfunded), typically in the first year of doctoral study
Post-qualifying Examination
Apply for funding from the T32 program. Students will typically expect to have 1-2 years left in residence in Gainesville.
** Note that while these are typical trajectories, exceptions are possible. Please contact the training director for help in dealing with specific situations.
For admitted students, some of the main features of our program are:
- Research apprenticeship in gerontology. Students conduct research under the supervision of a primary mentor, a faculty member of their choosing who is in the same discipline and who focuses on research in aging. Primary mentors are committed to meeting with trainees very frequently, and to providing intensive supervision.
- Multi-disciplinary research mentoring group. In addition to close collaboration with the primary mentor, students also assemble a multi-disciplinary group of three to five faculty mentors with whom they meet regularly. Mentors review the students’ academic progress and help them define academic and professional goals. The group of mentors will have been selected to represent the multi-disciplinary research area in which the student is active (e.g., pain and aging; family transitions in later life, brain and cognitive aging). The number and quality of scholars in the field of aging at the University of Florida creates a rich environment for learning and opportunities for professional guidance in a wide variety of specialties.
- Competitive access to stipend and tuition waivers. Some of our trainees, who meet additional selection criteria, may receive year-round support for research training activities. The available pool of resources to support trainees varies from year to year, but the training program faculty play an active role in trying to secure research funding for its trainees, including fellowships attached to our T32 award from NIA, partnerships with departments, external funding applications, and matching students with funded research projects already at UF.
- Regular research and professional development seminars. Students attend regular (usually bi-weekly during the Fall and Spring semesters) seminars, including invited talks by nationally recognized scholars in gerontology. The series of presentations will also include “works in progress” and sessions geared to professional development. In addition, students meet monthly with the training director, to further discuss professional development and human subjects issues.
- Students as collaborators. Students contribute to shaping the research agenda of the training faculty and are assisted in achieving high levels of productivity. An overarching goal is for each student to have a strong record of peer-reviewed research publication and grantsmanship before concluding their doctoral studies at the University of Florida.
- Outstanding gerontological curriculum offerings. Students can enroll in interdisciplinary courses and/or select specific courses outside their major department, tailored to their interests in the field of aging. All trainees are required to obtain a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology and/or a Graduate Minor, administered by the Center for Gerontological Studies . The University of Florida offers over 20 graduate-level courses in aging, plus independent study, field work, and research practica in many departments.
As a side note, quality of life considerations will also be attractive to many students. The city of Gainesville and the surrounding area offer many cultural and recreational activities, a climate conducive to year-around outdoor life, easy access to beaches, and relatively low cost of living.
For information not contained in these web pages, please contact
Michael Marsiske, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical and
Health Psychology, University of Florida, Box 100165, Gainesville, FL
32610-0165, E-mail: marsiske@ufl.edu,
Phone: (352) 273-5097; Fax: (801) 720-5897. Physical address: Room 3145, HPNP
Building. Warning:
Based on past experience, do not use campus mail unless you are well in
advance of the submission deadline.
