The goal of our program is to train investigators for careers in geroscience. Each trainee will learn contemporary research techniques and apply them to research that addresses fundamental aspects of biological aging. At this time, we have annual support for 6 pre-doctoral students and 6 post-doctoral fellows.
Features of the curriculum include:
- Career Path Exploration & BMHA Research Report course
- Graduate-level Biology of Aging course
- Spring Seminar Series and Proseminar course
- Annual GMM Geroscience Symposium, Career Panel, and Poster Session
Career Path Exploration & BMHA Research Reports course
This course is formatted in two parts. The first half of the course features guest speakers from different career paths within the biology of aging field- research and teaching faculty (both tenure and non-tenure tracks), research scientists, start-up and industry professionals, and government level scientists (NIA/NIH). The guests discuss the pathways they took for their current positions and provide insight based on their experiences. The second half of the course consists of trainee presentations on their research topic, and providing and receiving peer feedback in addition to receiving director feedback on their presentations. Trainees are given the opportunity to present a general research update, practice a conference talk, or practice a portion of a general exam or defense.
Annual Course on the Biology of Aging
This survey of the field of aging is designed to present graduate and advanced undergraduate students with a broad comprehension of the diverse research “hallmarks” encompassed by the biology of aging. Some clinical aspects may be included, but it is basic biology oriented. Wherever possible the approach will be cellular, molecular, and include information on both invertebrate and vertebrate animal models of aging.
The initial session will be an introductory didactic lecture. All other sessions will consist of a lecture followed by class discussion of 2-3 key papers, previously made available, on the general subject for that session, which rotates among topics such as:
Theories on the role of evolution and examples of the biological manifestations of aging.
- DNA damage and repair
- Oxidative damage at cellular, nuclear and mitochondrial sites
- Mitochondrial metabolism and aging
- Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and aging
- Stress responses and aging
- Lifespan extension by caloric restriction, genetic and pharmacologic interventions
In addition to discussion each week, every student will be assigned one of the papers and provide a written ‘peer review’ of that paper.
Spring Seminar Series and Proseminar course
Each year the training program strives to invite a spectrum of speakers that represent many of the hottest topics in current aging research. Trainee input is an important part of the selection process. To maximize the trainee benefit from these visitors, a proseminar is held the week before the speaker’s arrival in which one or more of the speaker’s published papers is discussed. Trainees meet with the speaker for lunch on the day of the talk, and after the day’s talk, trainees meet again with the speaker for a detailed question and answer session.
Annual GMM Geroscience Symposium, Career Panel, and Poster Session
Each year, the Nathan Shock Center hosts the George M Martin Memorial Geroscience Symposium. Trainees on the BMHA grant are required to attend the symposium, participate in the career panel closed to trainees, students (undergraduate and graduate), and early career postdoctoral researchers, and present a poster during the Trainee Poster Session.
Pre-Doctoral Training Curriculum
The essence of the training program consists of original research under the tutelage of an experienced investigator. For the case of predoctoral trainees, this is supplemented by both required and elective course work. Such requirements vary among the several participating graduate programs.
We encourage and support the attendance of our predoctoral trainees at appropriate aging-related national meetings, conferences, or symposia in order that they have the opportunity to present the results of their thesis research and obtain exposure to such national forums, including opportunities to discover potential post-doctoral sponsors.
Finally, trainees have access to a large number of visiting scientists who are invited to give seminars by our participating departments or other sponsoring groups (e.g., the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center).
Trainee progress is monitored via regular meetings (typically weekly with research sponsors, individual lab meetings, presentations at seminars and journal clubs and, in the case of graduate students, via the formal mechanisms conducted by the individual department graduate programs).
Post-Doctoral Training Curriculum
Post-doctoral training is devoted primarily to research in an individual laboratory and is augmented by attendance at weekly laboratory meetings, program courses, and seminars.
A programmatic focus is provided by attendance and participation in the provided courses above.
We also encourage and support the attendance of our postdoctoral trainees at appropriate aging-related national meetings, conferences, or symposia
For post-doctoral trainees, the typical period of research training is 3 years. We anticipate that most of our postdoctoral trainees will obtain positions as independent investigators at universities or sometimes in private sector or government.
