IGERT in Aging Sciences: LIFE in an Aging Society

Jennifer Davidson

E-mail: davidsje@onid.orst.edu

I am a Ph.D. student in Computer Science (Human-Computer Interaction) at Oregon State University. I am interested in involving older adults in the design and development of an open source application to study health metrics. This would benefit the research community by determining how retired programmers and non-programmers can help and change the open source community. My goal is to diversity the open source community, enable an active post-working life for older adults, and improve software quality aimed at older adults.   (More details on my personal website)

Laura Lien

E-mail: lienl@onid.orst.edu

I am a Ph.D. candidate at Department of Design and the Human Environment. My research involves the concept of person-environment (P-E) fit, or how older adults relate to, identify with, and attach to their home environments. I approach my research from a physical, social, and psychological perspective—or how P-E fit is manifest in physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Implications stemming from this research will address the ties between person, environment, meaning, and technology, and will propose new approaches to P-E fit, gerontechnology, and theories surrounding healthy aging.

The IGERT program has afforded me the opportunity to understand the physical aspects of P-E fit on a higher level, including how older adults physically navigate and utilize their home environments. An   upcoming research project with Dr. Michael Pavol will focus on the biomechanics of aging, and will incorporate usability and spatial analyses of the everyday environments of older adults to gain perspective into physical P-E fit. Accessibility, usability, and activity (as well as the functional capabilities of older adults in relation to their surrounding environment) is essential to the concept of P-E fit, and the knowledge gained from both coursework and research in IGERT will contribute greatly to my current and future research.

Shannon Mejía

E-mail: lundbers@onid.orst.edu

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Human Development and Family Sciences. I study adult development and aging, and am specifically interested in co-support processes, intergenerational relationships, and how older adults regulate their emotions through their close social relationships.  After completing my Ph.D. at Oregon State, I hope to continue my research as a professor at a research university, and contribute to a greater understanding of the dynamics of social relationships, and their influence on health and well-being later in life. 

In my IGERT research I have worked closely with graduate students and professors in computer science.  We examine the potential of data visualization to facilitate older adults’ engagement in healthy behaviors.  I am also interested in the potential for infovis to strengthen relationship ties within older adults’ social networks.

Ritwik Nath

E-mail: nathr@onid.orst.edu

I am Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Sciences. My research areas include gerontology and human development. I am particularly interested in psycho-social health and aging as it pertains to chronic illnesses. I also am keen about immigrant, cross-cultural, and transnational aging. I aspire to apply my interdisciplinary training to a career in academia.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate and learn as an IGERT Fellow. I feel this unique research and interdisciplinary environment will permit me to hone my research skills and to better communicate with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines. This is especially essential to my research interests as understanding the diversity in aging involves more breath and perspective.

Kuntol Rakshit

E-mail: rakshitk@science.oregonstate.edu

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) program. My research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind age-related changes in the circadian system using the fruitfly Drosophila as a model. I am conducting functional studies using genetic manipulations to enhance the amplitude of the aging clock, and investigate its effects on healthspan and longevity.

The IGERT program provides a platform for interactions with a diverse and interdisciplinary cohort of scientists working in the field of aging. This greatly facilitates integration of basic research at a cellular level with the field of applied gerontology, which may benefit the aging human population in the long run.

Nicholas Thomas

E-mail: thomasni@onid.orst.edu

I am beginning my third year in the Biochemistry and Biophysics PhD program at Oregon State University. I am interested in characterizing the biochemical and physiological changes in stress response capacity that occur with aging. I work with Dr. Tory Hagen in the Linus Pauling Institute to study “Age-Essential” micronutrients and their potential ability to diminish the detriments of aging and enhance healthspan as well as lifespan.  I would like to expand upon this research in my interaction with other IGERT cores either by studying age related cellular changes that occur in bone and muscle or the neurological/neuroendocrine system.

Jeff Proulx

E-mail: proulxj@onid.orst.edu

I am a graduate student in Human Development and Family Sciences. I am on the American Psychological Association Subcommittee for Ethnic Minority Affairs (APAGS-CEMA) and is a past Summer Research Fellow of the Mind and Life InstituteI am currently an IGERT associate. I have experience with Native American mental health and homelessness research. My current research on the effect of neuroticism and coping on long-term stress with Dr. Carolyn Aldwin is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging. I intend to build on my current research and work with Dr. Turner Goins to study long-term stress in Native American elder communities and the benefits of mindfulness meditation as a means to reduce stress.

Han-Jung Ko (Kokoro)

E-mail: kohan@onid.orst.edu

I am a Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Sciences from Taiwan. I am currently an IGERT associate. I am interested in psychological, social, and self development across the life span. In particular, for older adults how self-concepts motivate behaviors, influence health and well-being and contribute to goal pursuit.

Note: Pam Allen has been accepted as the fellow student of the IGERT 2012.