This booklet is for currently enrolled Gerontology PhD students only. Future applicants should visit the USC Leonard Davis School Admission website for the latest program information.
Colloquium Series in Multidisciplinary Research on Aging
Students are expected to attend invited lectures by nationally and internationally recognized scholars in the field of aging. There are generally 5-6 lectures per semester given in this series.
USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics
The Schaeffer Center is a leading national research center focused on US health policy issues, including Aging-related issues such as Medicare, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, pharmaceutical drug pricing and more. The Center hosts numerous seminars, workshops, roundtables and so on. Students interested in health policy are encouraged to sign up for and attend relevant events.
USC Research and Innovation
Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI)
The translational science spectrum represents each stage of research along the path from the biological basis of health and disease to interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public. Researchers at this CTSA hub and across the globe face common barriers in translational research that can delay the development of new interventions for patients in need. Across the spectrum of translational science, the SC CTSI is focused on research involving people. This includes clinical trials, community partnered research, implementation science, and dissemination.
Workships, Seminars, and Webinars: Training the research workforce is integral to quality research that improves human health. One of SC CTSI’s missions is to deliver educational opportunities to USC faculty, staff, students, and scholars so that they may enhance their skills and careers in clinical and translational research. Our educational offerings are provided in a variety of formats to accommodate the various research personnel needs.
Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI
A number of students have participated in the summer series of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. This program often provides opportunities to learn sophisticated research methodologies and provides experience with new data sets. Summer programs are offered by the Institute’s Survey Research Center (SRC) as well as the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) (USC is a member institution which entitles students to reduced tuition on ICPSR courses). More information is available at the ICPSR website. It is a good idea to look into these courses early in the spring.
Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
At the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, students learn a mindset that sets them apart and better positions them to make a positive difference in the world. This mindset is about much more than just founders and founding processes. It is about adaptable, flexible thinking; assessing and managing risk in dynamic, uncertain environments; and finding and pursuing new opportunities.
PhD Student Meetings
The PhD Roundtable is a monthly informal meeting during the academic year covering a variety of topics of interest to students. It is usually held around lunch time or at a time that is convenient for the majority of PhD students. Students are expected to take advantage of this opportunity to learn interactively and share their research in an informal setting. In many ways, the Roundtable acts as a support group for PhD students. Topics covered have included input from the PhD Chair, statistical methods and application, research conducted by faculty and students, current topics in gerontology, career related issues, computer software application, program requirements, and degree progression. The meetings are organized by students and can be expanded to include a wide range of topics. The incoming student representatives are charged with helping to develop the meetings. At the end of each academic year, students elect the new PhD student representatives and GSA Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization Campus Ambassadors. Check with veteran PhD students on who currently holds these positions.
