Developmental Psychology Training Grant

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PROJECT SUMMARY: American youth are growing up in more contextually varied circumstances. These circumstances profoundly impact health and well-being, both positively and negatively across the life course. However, little is known about how economic, cultural, ethnic and family contexts become biologically embedded and how this interaction with biology during development influences trajectories of developmental and health outcomes. Part of the reason for the sparse knowledge is that few investigators have expertise in the three domains necessary to successfully grapple with these questions, namely, developmental science of context, human neurobiology, and advanced research methods. We propose a training program that will help fill this gap. The objective is to train an outstanding cohort of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on 3 pillars of knowledge: (1) developmental science of context; (2) human neurobiology, including brain development, genomics, and endocrine function; and (3) advanced research methods (e.g., predictive analytics, machine learning, comparative approaches). This cross-training, which is predicated on an understanding of basic developmental processes, will produce researchers well positioned to conduct cutting- edge research that advances knowledge about how neurobiological factors interact with contexts to influence development across multiple domains. Those who receive this training will meet the growing demand for developmental scientists who integrate neuroscience perspectives and methods into their programs of research and possess the requisite skills for successful, collaborative, interdisciplinary work at the interface of neurobiology, context, and behavioral development. The demand for this expertise is strong and predicted to grow for years to come, given the paucity of individuals with the interdisciplinary training and the exciting recent advances in our understanding of the role of neurobiology in psychological development. We request funds to support 4 advanced predoctoral and 2 postdoctoral trainees each year. Trainees will engage in a 2-year series of courses and direct mentor-based research training that will allow them to integrate work on context, human neurobiology, and advanced methodology. Each trainee will have three mentors, covering (1) development of context, (2) human neurobiology, and (3) advanced methodology. The training program will be housed in the Developmental Area (within the Department of Psychology), which has 22 participating faculty members. An additional strength is that the training grant includes 13 faculty members from other units including Human Genetics, Biopsychology, Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, Linguistics, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry. The training will draw on the rich resources of the University of Michigan, including extensive training in integrative research, and courses in advanced methodology/statistics. The training program will prepare predoctoral and postdoctoral students to bridge research in the developmental science of context and human neurobiology in order to determine how the social environment interacts with genetics and the brain to guide development.