Short-Term Pre-Doctoral Training Program in Applied General Latent Variable Methods in Aging Research
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School (HMS) Interdisciplinary Center on Aging , Translational Research in Aging Pre-Doctoral Training Program, Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research
Summer 2006
Description: The BIDMC, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, is soliciting applicants for it's pre-doctoral short-term research training experience: the NIA-funded Translational Research in Aging Training Program. This program provides several funded short-term (8-12 weeks) research opportunities (clinical and basic science) for pre-doctoral candidates (M.D./Ph.D.). This announcement seeks applicants interested in participating in a short training program in Applied General Latent Variable Methods in Aging Research. The goal of the program is to provide pre-doctoral trainees with experience using and interpreting results from latent variable analysis models. The software used will be Mplus. Methods of emphasis may include one of factor analysis, item response theory, path analysis, latent growth modeling, discrete time survival analysis, latent class and profile mixture models. Trainees will pursue a independent research topic within the field of aging research broadly and that is suitably addressed using a general latent variable modeling approach. Training and supervision will be provided by Rich Jones, Sc.D. and Frances Yang, Ph.D.
Objectives: To provide participants with exposure and training using Mplus to use general latent variable methods to address substantively meaningful and important questions in aging research. It is expected that the participant will complete a research project (statistical analysis with latent variable(s)) and prepare a draft of a manuscript over this 8-12 week period. Applicants must commit to attending a training program of 8-12 consecutive weeks between June 5, 2006 and September 1, 2006 in Boston, MA.
Prerequisites: Graduate level training in multivariable statistical methods (e.g., multiple regression, ANOVA, multiple logistic regression). Training and/or experience with multivariate methods (factor analysis, path analysis, item response theory, latent class analysis) would be very helpful, but not required. The participant must be proficient with a general purpose statistical software package (e.g., SAS, SPSS, STATA, R, S; STATA will be most beneficial to the participant). A notebook computer with Mplus software is strongly recommended.
Support: Includes a stipend set at the NIH funding level for Pre-docs ($5,193 for a 12-week program). Individuals will be supplied with a work space and with a computer workstation (if needed) at the Institute for Aging Research at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston, MA. Drs. Jones and Yang will be available informally for consultation and training throughout the program, and each week one workshop day will be held to demonstrate methods and discuss methodological and inferential issues. If the applicant does not have a Mplus license, the demo version of the software will be used (available from www.statmodel.com). Travel and living expenses must be paid by the applicant.
Friday Harbor Psychometrics Workshop: Applicants may also wish to consider attending the annual "Friday Harbor Psychometrics in Aging Research" workshop held at the University of Washington Friday Harbor Research Labs on San Juan Island, Washington. The 2006 workshop will occur August 28-September 1 2006. Rich Jones' lab will cover tuition and boarding costs for summer program attendees that also attend the FH Psychometrics workshop. Travel to the FH Psychometrics workshop must be covered by the applicant.
To Apply: April 1, 2006 - Candidates interested in working with Rich Jones (jones@hrca.harvard.edu) should contact him no later than this date to discuss research interest and capacity. The formal application deadline is April 15, the following materials must be prepared and submitted to the T32 program committee: Curriculum vitae, Statement regarding the project and career goals (approximately 1 page), Letter from proposed mentor (Jones or Yang).
For more information, please contact: Richard N. Jones, Sc.D., Associate Director, Social and Health Policy Research, Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02131-1097; tel: 617-363-8493; fax: 617-363-8936; email: jones@mail.hrca.harvard.edu; http://www.hebrewrehab.org/professional/jones.htm
