NIEHS T32 Combined Training Program

About Us

Our overarching objective is to provide highly innovative training in environmental health sciences that spans mechanisms of disease, environmental epidemiology, and climate and health. This training will be enhanced by cross-cutting emphasis on life course health, the exposome, and data science.

Program Research Tracks

Program training will be based in one of three tracks: mechanisms of disease, climate and health, and environmental epidemiology. All trainees will receive training in three critical core foundations: data science, the exposome, and health across the life course.

 

Predoctoral Training Program

Pre-doctoral students will undergo rigorous training in environmental health and data science through a combination of core foundational training, track specific classes, seminars, workshop opportunities, work in small interdisciplinary training teams (SITTs), advisor mentoring, an annual retreat and dissertation research. Specifically, predoctoral trainees will:

  • Develop core skills in environmental health sciences. Predoctoral students will focus on core competencies in environmental health sciences and develop expertise in a specific disciplinary track (mechanisms of disease, environmental epidemiology, or climate and health). This will be accomplished by core coursework in Mailman SPH.
  • Gain foundational knowledge in cross-cutting research skills. Regardless of disciplinary interests, we believe that all trainees must be able to approach research on the impact of environmental factors across the life course. Further, they must be able to grapple with the diverse range of exposures that impact health using an exposome framework. Lastly, students must be facile with modern data science tools to be able to solve research problems that are increasingly complex. This knowledge will be acquired by a combination of coursework, bootcamps, and small group activities.
  • Conduct dissertation research of high impact. Predoctoral trainees will acquire a range of experiences during research rotations; however, the most important component of their training is independent dissertation research. Students will work with their faculty mentor and dissertation committee to conduct research that will address critical challenges in environmental health sciences.
  • Learn and apply interdisciplinary research skills to advance team science. Trainees will work within Small Interdisciplinary Training Teams (SITTs) to enhance their ability to work across disciplines and to advance their environmental health and data science skills (machine learning, data visualization, network science).

Postdoctoral Training Program

The postdoctoral training program is focused on rigorous primary research. Research efforts will be bolstered by advanced training in data science and leadership training in interdisciplinary team science. Specifically, postdoc trainees will:

  • Obtain core competencies in environmental health and data science. The Mailman School of Public Health and Data Science Institute have a series of seminars, workshops and bootcamps that will allow postdoctoral scholars to enhance their domain knowledge in a focused and intensive format that minimizes classroom time.
  • Conduct independent research of high impact. Our mentors have outstanding resources to support postdoctoral scholars conducting cutting-edge research. Each postdoctoral scholar will be expected to carry out high-impact research and publish in top journals. Scholars will also receive specific training in team science and grant writing.
  • Gain integration and interdisciplinary training. Environmental health science has become increasingly multidisciplinary and reliant on complex teams. Our postdoctoral scholars will lead SITTs of 4-6 predoctoral trainees. These small groups will work together to learn and integrate data science methods (machine learning, data visualization, network science) into their environmental health research.