Program Overview

The NIH-funded T-32 program from the National Institute on Aging has provided support to trainees in the Epidemiology of Aging program for over 30 years, and was refunded to continue through 2026. The program provides support for 3 pre- and 2 post-doctoral trainees, with openings when slots become available. Training cycles typically begin in the fall term, to maintain alignment with course scheduling. Trainees are provided with 2-3 years of academic support and a stipend.

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Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH, Director of the T-32 Epidemiology of Aging Training Grant Program, has expertise that focuses on metabolic-related conditions associated with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal declines in the etiology of fall injuries and mobility. The CAPH is an established Center of Excellence under the direction of internationally renowned Training Program Co-Directors Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH, with expertise in the epidemiology of aging, longevity and disability, and Jane A. Cauley, DrPH, with expertise in women’s health and in establishing novel risk factors for several major diseases of aging including osteoporosis. The CAPH generates new solutions to optimize health in older adults through population-based epidemiologic and public health research, professional training in population research methods, and community outreach which emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention. The Epidemiology of Aging Training Program includes the following responsibilities and expectations:

 

    • Independent Research
    • Hands-on training of study operations in our state-of-the art Health Studies Research Center, and access to biorepositories for studies of biomarkers of heath/disease, proteomics, metabolomics, and  molecular epidemiology
    • Mentorship by experienced faculty in the field of Aging Epidemiology
    • Career Development activities, including the Epidemiology of Aging Workshop
    • Coursework including the Biology and Physiology of Aging, Epidemiology of Aging Methods, and Advanced Epidemiology of Aging
    • Participation in Research Conferences and Seminars
    • Responsible Research Conduct Training
    • CAPH biostatistical support including form development, data management and data analysis
Requirements

Candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be considered for the T32 Epidemiology of Aging Training Grant:

Pre-doctoral Trainee applicants must possess:

  • Have US citizenship or have a permanent residency status
  • Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Science (MS) degree from a CEPH accredited institution or program in public health
  • Applicants who do not already have an MPH/MS are recommended to have successfully passed the preliminary exams for the Epidemiology doctoral program in order to be considered

Post-doctoral Fellow applicants must:

  • Possess an MD, PhD in Epidemiology, or relevant doctorate
  • Have US citizenship or have a permanent residency status
  • Any post-doctoral candidates without an MS/MPH or doctoral degree in epidemiology must complete the application process to the GSPH Department of Epidemiology and be accepted to the MS or MPH program
View Requirements Documentation

Program Requirements:

Epidemiology of Aging Training Program Guide (PDF)

All trainees will undergo annual evaluations using the following Epidemiology of Aging Training Annual Evaluation Forms and Guidelines:

  1. T32 Progress Report and Annual Evaluation
    1. Pre-doctoral (PDF
    2. Post-doctoral (PDF)
  2. Checklist on Program Requirements
    1. Pre-doctoral
    2. Post-doctoral
  3. GSPH CV Format (DOC)
  4. Center for Postdoctoral Affairs in the Health Sciences Required Forms:
    1. Postdoctoral-Career-Development-Plan (DOCX)
    2. Postdoctoral-Self-Assessment-Form (DOCX)
    3. Postdoctoral-Outcome-Summary (DOCX)
How to Apply

Applications are being accepted for pre-doctoral positions and post-doctoral positions on a rolling basis depending on available openings for the Epidemiology of Aging T32 NIH Training Grant.

Pre-doctoral Position
Applications will be accepted in Summer 2023 for pre-doctoral positions

Open Date: Available Summer 2023
Close Date: Until Positions are filled

To apply, eligible candidates should send the following items to Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH, Training Program Director, strotmeyere@edc.pitt.edu and Michelle Utz-Kiley, Project Coordinator, kileym@edc.pitt.edu.

  • Cover Letter addressed to Dr. Elsa S. Strotmeyer describing in clear, concise language areas of interest, projects and/or specific faculty you would like to work with, what you as a trainee and the trainee program itself would gain from your appointment, and relevant experience in the epidemiology of aging
  • Curriculum Vitae

Pitt Public Health considers the diversity of its students, faculty, and staff to be a strength and critical to its educational mission with a commitment to creating and fostering inclusive learning environments that value human dignity and equity and promote social justice.

Current Trainees
T32 Post-doctoral Trainees

Name:  Aarohee Fulay, PhD, MPH
Advisor: Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Undergraduate: BA in Biology (concentration in Human Nutrition) and Psychology, Cornell University

Graduate:  MPH in Nutritional Sciences, PhD in Nutritional Sciences (Track: Nutritional Epidemiology), University of Michigan
Research and professional interests: The impact of food insecurity, food access, and nutrition on health outcomes in aging (e.g. muscle/bone mass, fall risk) and high-risk populations
email: apf31@pitt.edu

 

Name:  Benjamin T. Schumacher, PhD, MPH
Advisor: Nancy Glynn, PhD, MPH
Undergraduate: B.S. Public Health, University of California, San Diego

Graduate:  MPH Epidemiology, San Diego State University; PhD Epidemiology, Joint Doctoral Program San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego
Research and professional interests: measurement and analysis of physical activity in aging adults (e.g. accelerometry), with specific focus on intensity of activity and fatigability
email: bts70@pitt.edu

T32 Pre-doctoral Trainees

Name: Nina Heilmann, MPH
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Undergraduate: BS, Public Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Graduate: MPH, Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Research and professional interests: Mobility, fall injury, life course interrelations of muscle and bone, healthy aging
Email: nheilmann@pitt.edu

Name: Jimmie Roberts, MPH
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Undergraduate: BA, Linguistics, Comparative Literature, Emory University
Graduate: MPH, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh
Research and professional interests: Pharmacoepidemiology, fall injury and fracture, healthy aging
Email:  jer183@pitt.edu

Name: Lauren S. Roe, MS
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Jane A. Cauley, DrPH
Undergraduate:BS, Exercise Science, Elon University
Graduate: MS, Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University
Research and professional interests: Relationships between daily activity patterns with falls, fractures and muscle function, changes in activity patterns over time
Email:  Lauren.S.Roe@pitt.edu

CAPH Pre-doctoral Trainees

Name: Theresa Gmelin, MSW MPH
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor:  Nancy W. Glynn, PhD
Undergraduate: Monroe Community College, AA; BA English, Ithaca College
Graduate: MSW, Social Work University at Buffalo, the State University of New York; MPH, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Research and professional interests: Physical and mental fatigability in the aging disability pathway, including impaired physical and cognitive function
email: thg15@pitt.edu

Name: Chen Hu, MS
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Undergraduate: BS, Statistics, East China Normal University
Graduate: MS, Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research and professional interests: Fall injury and fracture, neuroscience in aging, physical and cognitive function
email:chh257@pitt.edu

Name: Ziling Mao, MPH
Degree program:PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor:Samaneh Farsijani, PhD
Undergraduate:
Bachelor’s, Administration of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Graduate:MPH, Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Research and professional interests:Nutritional epidemiology, Gut microbiome, Nutritional strategies (e.g., meal timing and patterns of food intake) and cardiometabolic health, Dietary approaches to promote healthy aging
email: zim12@pitt.edu

Name: Reagan Moffit, MPH
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Nancy W. Glynn, PhD
Undergraduate: BS in Exercise Science, Saginaw Valley State University, MI
Graduate: MPH in Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA
Research and professional interests: Physical activity, physical activity maintenance, and fatigability
email: rem168@pitt.edu

Name: Yujia (Susanna) Qiao, ScM
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Nancy W. Glynn, PhD
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS), Peking University, Preventive medicine
Graduate: Master of Science (ScM), Johns Hopkins University, Epidemiology
Research and professional interests: Fatigability, accelerometry, aging
email: susannaqiao@pitt.edu

Name:Shanshan Yao, MS
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Anne B Newman, MD, MPH
Undergraduate: MBBS in Preventive medicine, Peking University; BS in Applied Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Peking University
Graduate:MS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University
Research and professional interests: Healthy aging and its related metabolites
email: shanshanyao@pitt.edu

Name: Tong Yu, ScM
Degree program: PhD in Epidemiology
Advisor: Adam J. Santanasto, PhD, MPH
Undergraduate: MBBS in Preventive medicine, China Medical University
Graduate: MS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Research and professional interests: Genetic factors in aging; bone microarchitecture and fracture risk
email: toy24@pitt.edu

CAPH Master’s Degree Trainees

Name: Emma Gay, BS
Degree program: MPH in Epidemiology
Advisor: Nancy W. Glynn, PhD
Undergraduate: BS, Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Research and professional interests: Molecular epidemiology, fatigability, aging, cancer
Email: el74@pitt.edu

Participating Faculty

The Epidemiology of Aging Training Program represents collaboration between several major administrative units within the University of Pittsburgh. Training program faculty members were selected because of their expertise in aging, mentorship track record, active engagement in the training program through a collaborating role on the research projects and/or service on doctoral committees. Our core Primary and Collaborating faculty listed below focus their research activities in a number of programmatic areas, defined as two or more grants and investigators, led by a senior faculty member. Please refer to the descriptions on the faculty webpages for details.

Director

Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Director, NIH/NIA T-32 Epidemiology of Aging Training Grant
https://www.sph.pitt.edu/directory/elsa-strotmeyer

Co-Directors

Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH
Chair, Department of Epidemiology
Katherine M. Detre Endowed Chair, Population Health Sciences
Director, Center for Aging and Population Health
Co-Director, NIH/NIA T-32 Epidemiology of Aging Training Grant
Professor, Epidemiology, Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/anne-b-newman

Jane A. Cauley, DrPH
Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology
Executive Vice Chair, Department of Epidemiology
Co-Director, Center for Aging and Population Health
Co-Director, NIH/NIA T-32 Epidemiology of Aging Training Grant
https://www.sph.pitt.edu/directory/jane-cauley

Graduate School of Public Health

Department of Epidemiology

Emma Barinas-Mitchell, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
Assistant Professor, Clinical Translation and Science
Director, Ultrasound Research Laboratory
Co-Director, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Training Program
Director, Health Equity Certificate Program
https://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/emma-j-barinas-mitchell 

Maria Mori Brooks, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology
Co-Director, Epidemiology Data Center
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/maria-m-brooks

Janet Catov, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
https://obgyn.medicine.pitt.edu/people/janet-catov-phd

Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, BPharm, FAHA
Vice Chair for Education, Epidemiology
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/samar-r-el-khoudary

Tiffany L Gary-Webb, PhD, MHS
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
Associate Director, Center for Health Equity
Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Office of the Dean
Special Assistant to the Provost for Race and the Social Determinants of Equity, Health and Well-being
Leader, Diversity, Health Equity and Social Determinants specialty area of the Epidemiology of Aging Training Program
https://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/tiffany-l-gary-webb

Nancy W. Glynn, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Director, Master’s Degree Programs
Director, Recruitment and Measurement Core of the Epidemiology of Aging Training Program
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/nancy-w-glynn

Allison L Kuipers, PhD
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
https://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/allison-kuipers

Iva Miljkovic, MD, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/iva-miljkovic-gacic

Caterina Rosano, MD, MPH
Professor of Epidemiology
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Epidemiology
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/caterina-rosano

Andrea L. Rosso, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Clinical and Translational Science
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/andrea-l-rosso

Akira Sekikawa, MD, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/akira-sekikawa

Joe Zmuda, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Human Genetics
Leader, Biology of Aging & Longevity specialty area of the Epidemiology of Aging Training Program
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/joseph-m-zmuda

Other Faculty

Tina Costacou, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/tina-costacou

Samaneh Farsijani, PhD
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/samaneh-farsijani

Rachel G Miller, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/rachel-g-miller

Adam J Santanasto, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/adam-santanasto

Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences

Steven M. Albert, PhD, MS
Professor, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences
Co-Director, Center for Aging and Population Health
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/steven-m-albert

Department of Biostatistics

George C Tseng, ScD
Professor and Vice Chair for Research
Department of Biostatistics (primary appointment)
Department of Human Genetics
Department of Computational & Systems Biology
http://www.pitt.edu/~ctseng/

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Dr. Patricia Lynn Opresko, PhD
Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health
Professor, Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine
Co-leader, Genome Stability Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
http://www.opreskolab.com/

Department of Human Genetics

John R Shaffer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Human Genetics
Vice-chair for Education, Human Genetics
Director, MS and PhD Programs, Human Genetics
Director of Graduate Studies, Human Genetics
Assistant Professor, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
https://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/john-r-shaffer

Department of Health Policy and Management

Julie M. Donohue, PhD
Professor and Chair, Health Policy and Management
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/julie-m-donohue

School of Arts and Sciences

Kirk I. Erickson, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychology
http://psychology.pitt.edu/people/kirk-erickson-phd

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition

Bradley Nindl, PhD, FACSM
Vice Chair of Research, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition and Professor and Director, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory (NMRL)
https://www.shrs.pitt.edu/people/bradley-nindl

Department of Physical Therapy

Jennifer Brach, PhD, PT
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development, SHRS, and Professor
Professor of Epidemiology
https://www.shrs.pitt.edu/jbrach/

Sara R. Piva, PhD, PT
Vice Chair for Research and Professor, Dept. of Physical Therapy
Director, Physical Therapy Clinical and Translational Research Center
http://www.shrs.pitt.edu/spiva/

School of Medicine

Department of Medicine

Toren Finkel, MD, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
G. Nicholas Beckwith III and Dorothy B. Beckwith Chair in Translational Medicine
Director, Aging Institute of UPMC and Pitt
https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/card/faculty_info.aspx/Finkel6898

Daniel Forman, MD
Chair, Section of Geriatric Cardiology
http://www.dom.pitt.edu/geri/faculty_info.aspx/Forman6491

Linda F. Fried, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Chief, Peritoneal Dialysis, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/renal/faculty_info.aspx/Fried5099

Walid F. Gellad, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management
Associate Division Chief for Research, Division of General Medicine
Director, Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing
https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/dgim/faculty_info.aspx/Gellad5731

Susan L. Greenspan, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center
http://www.dept-med.pitt.edu/geri/faculty_info.aspx/Greenspan5174

Erin E. Kershaw, MD
Chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Endowed Chair for Obesity and Diabetes Research
Associate Professor of Medicine
https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/faculty_info.aspx/Kershaw5797

Kathleen M. McTigue, MD, MPH, MS
Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology
Director, Clinical Scientist Track, Internal Medicine Residency
Associate Director for Research, International Scholars Track, Internal Medicine Residency
https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/dgim/faculty_info.aspx/McTigue4846

Neelesh K. Nadkarni, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology
https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/geri/faculty_info.aspx/Nadkarni6032

Frederico G. S. Toledo, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director of Clinical Research, Center for Metabolic and Mitochondrial Medicine
http://www.dept-med.pitt.edu/endo/faculty_info.aspx/Toledo5170

Department of Psychiatry

Daniel J Buysse, MD
UPMC Endowed Chair in Sleep Medicine and Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science
https://psychiatry.pitt.edu/about-us/our-people/faculty/daniel-j-buysse-md

Mary Ganguli, MD, MPH
Professor of Psychiatry
Professor of Epidemiology
Professor of Neurology
https://www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/about-us/our-people/faculty/mary-ganguli-mbbs-md

M.H. Martica H Hall, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Clinical and Translational Science
https://www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/about-us/our-people/faculty/mh-martica-h-hall-phd

Alison E Hipwell, PhD, PsyD
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
Professor of Epidemiology
https://psychiatry.pitt.edu/about-us/our-people/faculty/alison-e-hipwell-phd-psyd

Gale Richardson, PhD
Professor, Psychiatry
Professor, Epidemiology
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/home/directory/gale-richardson

Rebecca C Thurston, PhD
Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Women’s Health and Dementia and
Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical and Translational Science
Professor of Epidemiology
Professor of Psychology
https://psychiatry.pitt.edu/about-us/our-people/faculty/rebecca-c-thurston-phd

Department of Neurology

Oscar L. Lopez, MD
Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Clinical and Translational Sciences
Levidow – Pittsburgh Foundation Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Chief, Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Division
Professor of Epidemiology
https://www.neurology.pitt.edu/people/oscar-l-lopez-md-faan

University of Pittsburgh
Center for Aging and Population Health
130 N Bellefield Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213