Research Training Opportunities
Sponsors:
Center for Aging, UAB Sponsoring Schools, John A. Hartford Foundation, and NIH
Summary:
The Center for Aging supports research training activities for undergraduate, graduate
and post-doctoral students, as well as junior faculty members at UAB through both
informal and formal mechanisms. Senior faculty affiliated with the center serve
as mentors for more trainees at all of these levels. (Place link to the list of
Center for Aging faculty and their research interests here). Interactions with senior
UAB faculty and visiting experts are facilitated through the weekly scientific seminars,
an annual meeting, interdisciplinary scientific retreats, and through visits by
external review groups such as the Center for Aging external advisory committee.
The Gerontology Education Program annually offers scholarships for two undergraduate
students and two graduate students to pursue research mentored by senior UAB faculty
members. Working with senior faculty members, medical students, and other health
professionals, students can apply for summer research fellowships funded by NIH,
the American Federation for Aging Research, the Hartford Foundation, and other foundations.
The Center for Aging also sponsors short-term research experiences for medical students.
The VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) offers an Exercise
Science Internship program for undergraduate and graduate students interested in
basic, clinical, and translational research in exercise physiology, metabolism,
or muscle physiology/biology.
Graduate and post-doctoral students can also pursue mentored research training through
the Clinical and Behavioral Gerontology Research Training Program or other NIH-funded
research training grants held by faculty affiliated with the Center for Aging. Post-doctoral
trainees with medical and other clinical degrees (e.g. dentistry, nursing, occupational
therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, psychology, or social work) can
also support for research training through a VA Geriatric Special Fellowship Program
offered by the Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center
(GRECC).
Geriatric Medicine fellows and physician junior faculty can obtain support for research
training through the Hartford Foundation-funded Southeast Center of Excellence in
Geriatric Medicine (SCEGM). Non-physician faculty members who are collaborating
with physician faculty members who are committed to an academic career in geriatrics
can also apply for an intramural grant through the SCEGM. The Center for Aging Intramural
Grant Program also supports research training opportunities for junior faculty and
post-doctoral trainees involved in research funded by the pilot grants.
Services:
Training in basic, clinical, patient-oriented, outcomes, social & behavioral,
translational, public policy, and neuroscience research in aging is available through
the research programs of affiliated senior faculty members.
Opportunities for faculty involvement:
Senior faculty members are encouraged to participate as mentors in both informal
and formal programs and to assist in applying for extramural funding for such research
training opportunities.
Key contact person:
Richard M. Allman, M.D.
Director, Center for Aging
CH-19 201, zip 2041
(tel) (205) 934-9261
(fax) (205) 934-7354
Leaders and key staff:
- Richard M. Allman, M.D., Director
- Karlene Ball, Ph.D., Associate Director, Social & Behavioral Science
- Marcas Bamman, Ph.D., Associate Director, Translational Research
- John Mountz, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Director, Basic Science
- David Sweatt, Ph.D., Associate Director, Neuroscience