2020/2021 IOG ReportAt this year's orientation, students listed their top three coping strategies during the pandemic. Dr. Tam Perry, the IOG's co-director of training, created a word cloud from the results.

Each year, the Institute of Gerontology Pre-Doctoral Training Program in Aging and Health (started in 1996) trains about 10 students from a broad array of majors and backgrounds. We have now trained close to 100 PhD candidates. They come from academic departments like psychology, economics, nursing, occupational therapy, anthropology, health care sciences, sociology, political science and engineering. Many students wish to study problems prevalent in older adults, like depression, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, access to health care, and vulnerability to financial exploitation. Training at the IOG helps them to become proficient in how interdisciplinary research can help address problems that often occur in later life. This interdisciplinary approach to gerontology is not available through their home departments alone.

IOG faculty members closely mentor the students, help to guide the research and are often advisors on their doctoral committees. The IOG provides a rich colloquia series and trainees are invited to attend the professional conferences put on by the IOG. Trainees receive an annual stipend, office space, travel funds and other resources. Travel funds are particularly valuable as they allow our students to attend domestic and international conferences, where they can present their research and interact with leaders in their field.

Institute of Gerontology Pre-doctoral Trainees | Achievements FY2020 & 2021

Anthropology & Social Work

Caitlin Cassady (2016-present)
WSU Research Stimulus Award for "Medical Aid in Dying: Physician Beliefs, Practices, and Respect for Autonomy" project, 2021-2022

Kimberly Shay (2020-present)
Book Review, Aging Nationally in Contemporary Poland: Memory, Kinship and Personhood, in Anthropology and Aging journal, 2021

Clinical Geropsychology/Neuropsychology

Juno Moray (2017-present)
Eight publications, three as first author
Norine G. Johnson Clinical Psychology Scholarship, WSU, 2020

Cognitive Neuroscience

Chaitali Anand (2016-present)
Two publications, one as first author
Doctoral Dissertation Grant Award, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 2020-21
WSU Match Award for Securing External Funding, 2020
Trainee Highlight Award, BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting, 2021
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Fellowship, National Institutes of Health, 2020

Jessica Hayes (2018-present)
One publication

Roya Homayouni (2017-present)
Three publications, one as first author
Olson Memorial Award for Best Paper, IOG, 2021
Neitzel Summer Research Award, Dept. of Psychology, 2020
Julie Thomas Memorial Scholarship, WSU, 2021
WSU Match Award for Securing External Funding, 2020
Doctoral Dissertation Grant Award, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 2020-21

Youjin Jung (2020-present)
One publication
Best Graduate Poster, Beyond Amyloid Research Symposium, Ann Arbor, MI, 2021
Rumble Graduate Fellowship, Dept. of Psychology, 2021
Julie Thomas Memorial Scholarship, WSU, 2020
Doctoral Dissertation Grant Award, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 2020
Olson Memorial Award for Best Paper, IOG, 2021

Jonathan Lynn (2020-present)
Two publications, one as first author

Allison Moll (2021-present)
Two publications
Blue Ribbon Finalist, Best Student Conference Abstract, APA Conference, Washington, DC, 2020

Rachel Scott (2021-Present)
National Institutes of Health Fellowship, Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity, 2021-22
Invited Feature Artist, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Annual Brain Art Exhibit, 2021

Raymond Viviano (2016-2020)
Four publications, two as first author
Best Graduate Poster, Beyond Amyloid Research Symposium, Ann Arbor, MI, 2021

Qin Yin (2020-present)
One publication, as first author
Dr. Ben and Brenda Rosen Annual Research Award, WSU, 2021
Neitzel Summer Research Award, Dept. of Psychology, 2021
Doctoral Dissertation Grant Award, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 2021

Communication Sciences & Disorders

Erica Squires (2018-present)
Three publications, one as first author
ASH Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship, 2019
Summer Dissertation Award, WSU, 2021
Rumble Graduate Fellowship, WSU, 2021

Nursing

Dwana Bass (2020-present)
Nightingale Award for Nursing in the Community Nominee, 2019
Rumble Graduate Fellowship, WSU, 2020

2020/2021 IOG Report