The view of the Carillon Tower framed by the golden autumn leaves.

Training

About

Graduate work at CDHA provides training in the demographic and biological models of health and aging. Through course work, research, and mentorships, the program enables students to build expertise in demographic concepts and methods while cultivating their professional skills.

Graduate students attend two weekly seminars. The first, Demography Seminar (DemSem)—co-sponsored by the Center for Demography and Ecology (CDE)—features lectures by top scholars in the field. A list of DemSem presentations related to CDHA Research Themes can be found here. The second, Demography Training Seminar, aims to enhance the craft of research, foster individual mentoring relationships, and address methodological standards and ethical concerns in the field. Under faculty supervision, students develop the expertise needed to undertake independent research and present at professional conferences.

Postdoctoral fellowships at the Center are designed individually to meet the needs and interests of each scholar. CDHA typically receives NIA funding for one postdoctoral position.

Support for CDHA’s training program comes from a training grant (T32 AG000129-30) from the National Institute of Aging. CDE receives training support from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (T32 HD007014-42).

Demography Training Seminar

Together with the CDE, CDHA hosts a weekly training seminar that provides training and professional development to graduate students studying population sciences. This seminar is led by Max Besbris, is open to all, and meets on Wednesday from 2:00-3:15 p.m. in room 8417 of the Sewell Social Sciences Building. You can subscribe to our Google calendar here. An archive of past seminars is available here.

Spring 2026

Jan 28:

How to Be a Good Advisee/Managing Up, Marcy Carlson

Feb 4:

Writing Job Market Materials, Martin Eiermann

Feb 11:

Choosing Journal Outlets for Your Research, Eric Grodsky

Feb 18:

Policy Impacts in Developing Contexts, Fernanda Rojas-Ampuero

Feb 25:

NIH Grant Application Materials, Katherine Curtis and the SSRS Team

March 4:

Ethical Considerations of AI Usage in Research, Corey Jackson

March 11:

Ethical Considerations in Quantitative Research, Weidi Qin

March 18:

Why Should Demographers Care about Spatial Data, Malia Jones

March 25:

Dissertation Proposal Defenses Across Disciplines, Michael Topping & Sarah Bass & Rachel Pomazal.

April 1: Spring Break

April 8:

PAA Practice Posters/Talks

April 15:

PAA Practice Talks

April 22:

PAA Practice Talks/Writing Groups

April 29:

PAA Practice Talks/Writing Groups