Research, Funding, and Awards

  • Apply to Become a UConn Pepper Scholar

    Apply to become a UConn Pepper Scholar! Develop or enhance your expertise in aging research

    The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) at UConn (P30 AG067988; Kuchel, Fortinsky - MPIs) is one of fifteen such centers throughout the United States funded by the National Institute on Aging at NIH. “Pepper Centers” honor Claude D. Pepper, the late Senator who advocated for senior health and research to enable older adults to maintain or restore their independence. The overarching goal of the OAIC (Pepper) Program is to enhance function and independence in older adults through research. The UConn Pepper Center is pioneering a theme focused on Precision Gerontology, an approach to aging research and the care of older adults that seeks to render interventions enhancing function and independence more effective through an improved understanding of heterogeneity and more precise targeting (https://health.uconn.edu/pepper-center/). 

    A key component of all Pepper Centers is the Research Education Component (REC), which provides financial support, education, and training to Pepper Scholars who Pepper Center leadership identify as showing particular promise as independent investigators.  The REC at the UConn Pepper Center, led by Dr. David Steffens and Dr. George Kuchel, includes several senior research leaders at UConn who will serve as mentors to Pepper Scholars (https://health.uconn.edu/pepper-center/research-and-education-component-rec/). A mentored research project is a primary focus of being a REC Scholar.

    We are issuing this solicitation to junior faculty and senior post-doctoral fellows with an interest in aging-related research.  Individuals with experience in this area are encouraged to apply, as are those with research backgrounds in non-aging related fields whose research might be enhanced with a new aging focus.  Physician scientists and clinicians in other disciplines are especially encouraged to apply.  We anticipate funding four new UConn Pepper Scholars through this competition. Funding for two Pepper Scholar positions will begin July 1, 2023, with two more positions starting January 1, 2024.

    The overall goals of the Pepper Center are focused on improving function and independence among older adults.  As such the following criteria for Pepper Scholar Selection were developed to be consistent with these goals:

     

    • Trainee potential and commitment to an academic career
    • Demonstrated commitment to aging research
    • Alignment of proposed training and work with the broader mission of the NIA OAIC Pepper Center Program and the focus on UConn Pepper Center on Precision Gerontology
    • Availability and commitment of suitable mentorship
    • Ability to benefit from OAIC resources

     

    As an initial step prior to submitting a full Pepper Scholar application, we are requesting that potential candidates submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), which will be due on or before 5 PM on February 17, 2023.   The LOI should be one single-spaced page consisting of two paragraphs.  The first paragraph should highlight aspects of the candidate’s educational, training, and research background that are most relevant to the Pepper Scholar program, followed by a statement of how the candidate will benefit from the Pepper Scholars program.  The second paragraph should include a brief description of the research project that will be supported by the Pepper Center REC.

    In addition to the LOI, candidates should submit either an NIH Biosketch (preferred) or a CV.

     

    The LOI and Biosketch/CV should be addressed to Dr. David Steffens, REC Core Leader and Dr. George Kuchel, REC Core Co-Leader, and emailed to Ms. Laura Masi at masi@uchc.edu

    Selected candidates will then be notified by March 13 and invited to submit a full application for the Pepper Scholar Program for an April 17 deadline.

    For more information, contact: Laura Masi at 860-679-5465