The Penn State Population Research Institute and Graduate Program in Demography offers NICHD-funded predoctoral traineeships in Family Demography for candidates seeking a dual-Ph.D. degree in either Sociology and Demography or Human Development & Family Studies and Demography.
Preference is given to candidates who have completed some population-related graduate work. The training faculty include primarily advanced-rank demography professors who have family demography-related interests and funded research grants. Traineeship awards provide a stipend (and full tuition waiver) for a 12-month appointment, and are renewable for a second year. Additional funding is provided to trainees for travel to PAA, research supplies, and other training-related expenses.
The enhanced scientific research focus of this traineeship program is on the impacts of demographic structure and processes, social contexts, individual developmental processes, and biobehavioral processes on the family. Demographic structure and processes can be either outcome or determinant variables in the candidate’s research interests and goals. As part of the curriculum in pursuing a dual-Ph.D. in Demography, candidates are required to take some cross-training courses in developmental processes and biobehavioral processes on the family.
Applications for traineeship awards should be filed by January 29, 2016. Please email application materials to Valarie King (Email: vking@psu.edu). Candidates must be U.S. citizens (or permanent residents) at the time of application.
The application should include:
1. Letter describing
- Your family demography-related research interests
- How cross-discipline training in developmental processes, demographic processes, and biobehavioral processes will enhance the scholarship of your research interests and goals
- Proposed faculty mentor you would like to work with during the traineeship
2. Current vita
3. Copy of Penn State transcript
4. Writing sample/paper from your relevant prior research, or a thesis prospectus
5. Independently filed letter of recommendation from a faculty mentor
To apply, or for more information, contact:
Valarie King, Training Program Director
415 Oswald Tower
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8716
Fax: 814-863-7216
E-mail: vking@psu.edu