Project Summary (2009-2011)

Interdisciplinary research is a major emphasis of modern biomedical and physical science efforts, and enabling interdisciplinary research is a major part of the NIH Roadmap. Biomedically-oriented, environmental interdisciplinary research is the theme of this Program, and as such, requires a cross-cutting training program in support of the Superfund Center's educational activities. The role of the Training Core is to provide an infrastructure and environment that promotes the development of post-doctoral and graduate students in the highly interdisciplinary field of health effects engineering science. Importantly, the Training Core has aims that focus on recruiting, multidisciplinary education, and career placement of graduate and postdoctoral students. In order to achieve these aims, the Training Core:

• Offers a support staff that handles daily operations of the Training Core;
• Fosters interactions between faculty and participants;
• Manages the Training Core via faculty leadership and involvement in the Core aims and objectives;
• Establishes an aggressive recruiting program for prospective post-doctoral fellows and graduate students through ongoing research programs and faculty/student seminars at feeder schools, which include a group of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs);
• Recruits new graduate students from our existing PhD programs that are successful with recruiting and retention of scientists from all groups;
• Increases postdoctoral and graduate student team-playing, self-motivation/reliance and breadth of research knowledge/skills by use of Superfund Teams, student-led monthly seminars, and an incentive-based education system;
• Provides a set of core graduate courses for students;
• Augments the cross-interdisciplinary training through the use of a research rotation program; and
• Enhances postdoctoral and graduate student communication skills through preK-12 outreach activities.

The Training Core supports the training of students pursuing a doctor of philosophy degree or those furthering their post-graduate education in the highly interdisciplinary area of combustion-generated air pollution and subsequent health effects of said pollution as studied by biomedical researchers. Students from diverse ethnic, gender, and scientific backgrounds will be cross-trained so that they will become valuable contributors to the environmental workforce.