Training Core

University Of Arizona, Tucson AZ

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Training Core; Maier, Estrella, Moreno-Ramirez, Wilkinson) The University of Arizona Superfund Research Program (UA SRP) seeks to move beyond conventional approaches to graduate student training. The success of our approach is evidenced by the number of awards our students receive and by their placement upon graduation into desirable academic, regulatory, and industry positions. The overarching mission of the UA SRP is to use our research on the impacts of hardrock mining for the improvement of human health and the environment. The Training Core drives this effort through the production of interdisciplinary graduates who are equipped to address complex 21st century hazardous waste challenges associated with the mining industry and beyond. Our students are intimately involved in generating the scientific discoveries made by the UA SRP as well as presenting these discoveries to the science community and general public. Our Training Core will provide intensive and extensive training opportunities but most importantly, we will establish interdisciplinary collaboration and the incorporation of research translation and community engagement as the norm for student training. Our Training Core will partially support eight graduate Fellows representing each of the research projects. Additionally, any graduate student affiliated with or supported by a UA SRP Project/Core is welcomed to participate in our formalized Training Core activities. The new and continuing objectives we have outlined to achieve our Training Core objective include: 1) To provide our Fellows access to intensive and extensive training opportunities in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, Public Health and Risk Assessment, and Environmental Toxicology; 2) To require Fellows to become familiar with the language and culture of multiple scientific disciplines; 3) To require Fellows to participate in one research translation or community engagement activity related to our Center goals; 4) To require Fellows to become familiar with best practices in the responsible conduct of research; 5) To incorporate community-engaged research concepts and experience into each Fellow's education experience and; 6) To provide opportunities for multi-mentor apprenticeship to our Fellows.