Federal grant to fund gerontology
research
By Emily Jones
Staff
Writer
Gerontology studies at Purdue will receive a big
boost over the next five years courtesy of a federal grant, which will
go to fund interdisciplinary research and graduate student training.
The Academic Career Leadership Award, which is
cosponsored by the National Institutes on Health and the National Institute
on Aging, will pay $540,000 over the next five years to a team of faculty
in the social and behavioral sciences headed by sociology professor
Ken Ferraro of the gerontology program.
"This is the first grant that we’ve gotten
to really build up the program," said Janet Wilmoth, assistant
professor of sociology and a gerontology researcher.
Wilmoth said a large portion of the grant will
fund life course inequality research — how economic status, race
and ethnic background, and health inequalities affect the ways in which
people age.
"We are interested in understanding the diversity
that exists among the older population, in particular the health and
economic inequalities among racial and ethnic groups," said Wilmoth.
"The life course approach acknowledges that later life outcomes
are related to previous life events."
"I think (the grant) is going to help our
researchers develop their potential," said Victor Cicirelli, professor
of psychology.
Ferraro, Wilmoth and Cicirelli will implement the
grant along with Sharon DeVaney, assistant professor of consumer sciences
and retailing; Gerald Hyner, professor of health, kinesiology and leisure
studies; and Paula Usita, assistant professor of child development and
family studies.
In addition to research, Wilmoth said the grant
will fund professional training for graduate students pursuing a gerontology
minor.
"Multi-Disciplinary Studies in Aging,"
a 500-level course, will be cross-listed and offered regularly, said
Wilmoth. Two other 600-level courses in gerontology will also be offered.
Other graduate student training initiatives will
include life course seminars and the development of a student organization
to encourage professional development and individual research.
Wilmoth said the Gerontology Student Organization,
though primarily aimed at graduate students, will be open to anyone
interested in gerontology studies.
The Purdue gerontology program is comprised of
60 teachers and researchers from eight instructional schools and 20
different departments.
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