Integrated Training Program in Data Science and Exposomics for ADRD and Aging Research (T32AG102367)

AGing/ADRD, ExposomIcs and data Sciences (AGEIS)

The Columbia University AGing/ADRD, ExposomIcs and data Sciences (AGEIS) training program will produce world-class interdisciplinary scientists through a program integrating efforts across the Departments of Biostatistics (BST) and Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) and the Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center (CAC), in collaboration with other departments and institutes across Columbia University, including Epidemiology, Neurology, and Medicine. Pre- and Post-doctoral trainees will receive integrated training in biostatistics, environmental health sciences, and the lifecourse development of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) risk. AGEIS will leverage strong existing curricula augmented by additional activities developed specifically for this training grant including an annual symposium, integrative journal club, monthly convenings, and practical activities (e.g., clinic visits, technical presentations on omics assays, environmental monitoring approaches, brain scans, neuropsychological testing, and biobank management, with trainees completing as many as 3 rotations per year). Trainees will be mentored by cross-disciplinary teams of faculty, ensuring a robust interdisciplinary educational experience that will drive future discoveries in lifecourse ADRD prevention. While trainees will specialize in disciplinary tracks—such as biostatistics, exposomics, and lifecourse epidemiology, they will also receive joint training and will collaborate during coursework and our integrative educational activities. For our training program, we request trainee slots to fund predoctoral (3 in Year 1 and 6 in all subsequent years) and postdoctoral trainees (3 per year), who will be funded for a target of up to 2 years. Students will be recruited into one of the three program units—BST, EHS and CAC (evenly distributed across units)—and will collaborate during coursework and our integrative educational activities, and through research rotations across the three units. All trainees will have mentors from at least two units, one of which will be CAC. Our trainees will 1) develop core competencies and skills in biostatistics, environmental health sciences, and lifecourse development of ADRD risk, to be able to conduct high-impact research, 2) gain foundational knowledge in cross-cutting research skills through mentorship from experts and attendance at short courses and seminars in complementary fields, and 3) cultivate leadership skills, collaborative research, and team science. In all activities, Postdoctoral trainees will have the opportunity to co-mentor predoctoral trainees. Through this program, we will equip the next generation of scientific leaders in ADRD research with skills and integrative vision to work across disciplinary boundaries and harness the potential of emerging big-data resources and AI tools to map the exposome across the lifecourse and identify modifiable causes and pathways to prevention of ADRD.

Postdoctoral Training Program

Postdoctoral training will be overseen by the MPIs. Applications are generally due on January 15 for September 1 start dates, with 12-month appointments renewable for a 2nd year contingent on progress. Out-of-cycle appointments may occur if positions are vacated early (e.g., because of career advances). Applications are reviewed by the Steering Committee and circulated to program faculty for mentor matching. Top candidates are offered positions in rank order, with the goal of matriculating 3 new post-docs every two years. Postdoctoral scholars may extend their appointments beyond two years through faculty mentor support or fellowships (e.g., K awards).Upon their arrival, postdoctoral scholars meet with the MPIs to tailor training and mentorship plan. Postdoctoral trainees meet weekly with their mentors and at least once each semester with T32 leadership and participate in all T32 activities, including the annual symposium, seminars, journal club and practical activities. In addition to program faculty, they have access to a broad set of faculty and resources from across Columbia, including at the Medical Center and the Data Science Institute. Day-to-day operations of the postdoctoral program will be managed by the MPIs, who will meet with each trainee at least once per semester. They will provide guidance on research practices, seminars and workshops, career advancement, and funding and job opportunities, while keeping records of goals and milestones.

Primary mentorship and training will occur in the BST, EHS and CAC units within on of the three focused tracks of study (Data Science, Exposomics, or Lifecourse). Further, through affiliation with the Department of Neurology, postdoctoral trainees will have access to additional mentorship, seed funding opportunities, seminars, and activities that are highly relevant for ADRD research. In addition to the courses curated for AGEIS predoctoral trainees, postdoctoral trainees will have access to courses on reproducibility and replicability, data harmonization, data visualization, cloud computing, use of high-performance computing clusters, and others throughout Columbia University. The Columbia University Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Early Career Research also provides a wealth of programming to support postdoctoral scholars (see letter from Dr. Ericka Peterson). This includes a wide range of professional development workshops, social activities, stress- reducing classes, and conflict resolution.

Training priorities for postdoctoral scholars are: 1) advancing a successful research agenda with the support of their mentors and collaborators, which will be measured by mentor assessment, seminar and conference presentations, publications, and grant applications; 2) quantitative skillset/data science expansion through independent learning, seminars, workshops, and collaboration with DSI fellows; 3) foundational learning of new topics related to the exposome, health through the life course, climate and health, mechanisms of disease, and environmental epidemiology; and 4) placement of program graduates in top-tier positions that advance the next phase of their research career.

Support and guidance for this development will take the guise of weekly face-to-face meetings with mentors and monthly meetings with the MPIs. MPIs also will communicate with mentors to assess trainee progress. To provide training in oral presentations, an important aspect of our program, postdoctoral trainees will give at least one presentationin a work-in-progress seminar series every six months. Mentors and other program faculty will provide feedback on presentation organization, content, and clarity. Trainees are expected to effectively describe the scientific rationale, experimental approach, results, and alternative experimental strategies, if the initial strategy is unsuccessful, and to answer audience questions clearly.

Postdoctoral trainees must attend the annual meeting of at least one relevant society, such as the GSA, AAN, AAIC, JSM, ISEE, etc. (generally supported by their mentor). The goal is for the trainee to present their research at a national or international meeting as well as network with others in the field. Trainees are required to give one lecture per year in a graduate-level course relevant to their training. The program also will provide opportunities for postdoctoral trainees to participate as teaching faculty in our bootcamps related to environmental health and data science. This will provide valuable experience in teaching and help trainees qualify for academic jobs. The career development plan for trainees consists of (1) mentor counseling and (2) access to services of the BioCareer Center and (3) Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Mentor counseling for career choices is ongoing and includes discussions with the research mentor, Director, and selected program faculty members. These discussions focus on creating a career plan, preparing a CV, and developing a career focus.