Population Science News

Weekly News – – December 21, 2020

EVENTS
As in-person events are on hold, be sure to check out virtual talks and webinars. All times are Pacific unless otherwise noted.
The Population Sciences events calendar can be found here: https://events.berkeley.edu/index.php/calendar/sn/popsci.html.
Demography Brown Bags are on winter break. Join us next year! View past talks on our Population Sciences channel. The Brown Bag talks have been organized into playlists: http://bit.ly/2kZvaME.

FUNDING
CEDA Call for Pilot Research Proposals: 
The UC Berkeley Center on the Economics and Demography of Aging (CEDA, https://populationsciences.berkeley.edu/ceda) is pleased to announce a new call for pilot research proposals for AY 2021-2022, with a submission deadline of February 1, 2021. CEDA continues its long-standing NIA-funded pilot grant program to support promising new research​. We seek proposals in areas related to demography and economics of aging, especially those aligned with CEDA’s signature themes: (a) Mortality measurement; (b) Policy and behavioral determinants of adult health; (c) Biodemography of aging and (d) Macro consequences of global aging. Note that in order to receive NIA approval, the proposed research should focus primarily on health outcomes, health-related behaviors, and other health and demographic determinants. There is some nuance to this NIH rule though, so please contact us if you are unsure whether or not your research would fit. We also seek innovative aging-related behavioral and social research proposals regarding timely topics such as COVID-19, racial equity, the Census, political demography related to elections, etc. We encourage you to review the research topics prioritized by CEDA’s funder, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Division of Behavioral and Social Research, as per the report at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2020-02/2019-BSR-Review-Committee-Report-508.pdf. Please also note this clarification of NIH’s priorities for health economics research: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-16-025.html, and reach out if you would like to discuss the appropriateness of a potential topic. We prioritize applications that will likely lead to competitive extramural research proposals to NIA and other funders, but other highly innovative or high impact projects will be considered. For this call for pilots:
* Submit by February 1, 2021 for fullest consideration. 
* Funded proposals are generally in the range of $15,000-$30,000 direct costs (over one year), but larger and longer-term proposals will be considered if well justified. 
Eligibility: Must have or be eligible for PI status at UC Berkeley, or if at another institution, be a CEDA member.
Application Format and Process​ : Submit a 2-page proposal and a budget per the attached guidelines. Email the completed proposal to CEDA Manager Maria Teresa Hernandez (mt_hernandez@berkeley.edu). For preliminary feedback on your proposal idea please contact CEDA Director Will Dow (wdow@berkeley.edu) or Berkeley Population Center Executive Director Leora Lawton (llawton@berkeley.edu). 

AGING FOCUSED
San Diego AD-RCMAR Call for Pilot Proposals: The San Diego AD-RCMAR is now accepting pilot project applications for the 2021-22 academic year. The goals of the San Diego AD-RCMAR are to increase the diversity of the Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) scientific workforce, and to fill critical scientific gaps in Latino AD/ADRD research. Funded RCMAR Scientists will receive $25,000 – $35,000 for one year to execute their proposed Specific Aims. See: https://rcmar.org/2020-san-diego-ad-rcmar-call-for-pilot-proposals/.

Johns Hopkins’ Demography and Economics Center Call for Pilot Proposals. The Hopkins’ Economics of Alzheimer’s Disease & Services (HEADS) Center is now accepting applications for pilot grants that:
1. Identify and quantify the range of care needs of persons with ADRD and the economic consequences of ADRD for patients and families.
2. Examine how the organization, financing, and delivery of services affects accessibility, affordability, quality, and equity of ADRD care.
They expect to award four 1-year pilot grants of up to $25,000 per award in the 2021-2022 cycle. The Center is particularly interested in supporting promising post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty, but applicants may be of any rank from Johns Hopkins University and external institutions. Learn more about current pilot projects here.

The Retirement Research Foundation (RRF) is accepting applications for research that focuses on improving the quality of life for older people. Potential applicants should consult the program webpage and eligibility criteria at https://www.rrf.org/apply-for-a-grant/research-grants/. RRF funds research that seeks to identify interventions, policies, and practices to improve the well-being of older adults and/or their caregivers. Preference is given to projects aimed at generating practical knowledge and guidance that can be used by advocates, policy-makers, providers, and the aging network. For more information, see the attached announcement. This grant is a limited submission award, which means just one LOI per campus.

CONFERENCES
American Sociological Association (ASA) 2021 Annual Meeting: Call for Submissions. The deadline to submit your paper, course, workshop, preconference, and symposium proposals is quickly approaching on February 3, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EST. We encourage you to submit your proposals now. Visit the Call for Submissions web page for more information. Note that the ASA office will be closed December 24-January 1. Responses to questions regarding submissions may be slightly delayed during that time. ASA members can also volunteer to serve as session presider, table presider (for roundtable sessions), or discussant. Please note that volunteering does not guarantee an invitation to serve. Session organizers fill these positions based on a variety of considerations. The deadline to volunteer is February 3, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Visit Volunteer Information to learn more. View the roster of confirmed invited sessionsincluding Thematic and Special Sessions, Book Forums, and Regional Spotlight Sessions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Popcenter Postdocs: UC Berkeley Postdocs: We are seeking interest in several postdoctoral fellowships for the 2021-2022 academic year (with possibility of renewal), start date flexible. 
Two of them will be NIA T32 postdocs: The Fellow will be expected to work part of their time independently developing their own research portfolio in the demography of aging, and to work part of their time on collaborative mentored research with a Berkeley faculty member.
Responsibilities:
Conduct research on significant issues in some aspect of demography of aging, broadly defined
Receive grant-writing training and support in order to develop a proposal for supplemental NIH funding
Get training in responsible conduct of research
Attend departmental colloquia and other related events
If interested and qualified, teach an undergraduate course (with additional funding)
We also expect fellows to attend the Population Association of America (PAA) annual meetings, and to submit population-focused articles for publication during their time at UC Berkeley.
Minimum/Basic Qualifications required: PhD or equivalent international degree by the time of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications (by start date): 
Experience in working with large data sets
Knowledge of one or two statistical analysis packages or programming (e.g., R, SAS, and/or Stata)
Qualitative and mixed methods skills
No more than five years of research experience since receipt of PhD.
Must be US Citizen or permanent resident.
Appointment: The initial appointment will be made at 100% time for 1 year with a flexible start date. Thereafter, with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and availability of extramural funding and support.
CenSoc Project: We also have one or more postdoc opportunities with the CenSoc project (censoc.berkeley.edu), although a T32 postdoc could also work on CenSoc. Unlike the T32 postdocs, one does not need to be a US citizen for the CenSoc postdoc. Please let your advanced grad students know about these opportunities. Interested persons should send a cover letter describing research interests and specifying which postdoc opportunity(ies) that are of interest, with a CV, and use a subject heading of ‘Postdoc 2021-2022’ to popcenter@demog.berkeley.edu. We will begin reviewing submitted documents on February 1, 2021.

WORKSHOPS
January 11, 1-3 pm PST. “Introduction to NIH Grants” This workshop will be open to anyone interested in having the guidance, feedback and structure for writing a grant. Potential participants could be faculty who have not written an NIH grant before, postdocs or adjunct faculty, advanced graduate students, or even early stage graduate students who want to put together a dissertation grant. The basic process and the structure of grant applications will be discussed. This stand-alone session can serve as a foundation for those actively working on a grant. If there is sufficient demand, a second session for F and K awards (pre-doc and post-doc grants) will be conducted. NOTE: All participants and hosts are now required to sign into a Zoom account prior to joining meetings hosted by UC Berkeley. Participants without a UC Berkeley-provided Zoom account can use a Zoom account provided by their institution, can create a free, consumer Zoom account (at https://zoom.us/freesignup/), or can dial in via the phone. Register to receive the Zoom link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtfuGhqDwpGdwnyUgisLVR7bf-wVRjSnIF

NSF-sponsored virtual program on Data Science in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Opening workshops are on January 5, 11, and 12. The whole program runs throughout the spring semester. From co-chair Ken Bollen: “We’re excited about the talented, multidisciplinary group of speakers who have agreed to participate. Among others, it includes a Noble Laureate in Economics (James Heckman), a Turing Award winner (Judea Pearl), the Director of the 2010 Census (Robert Groves), and a national expert panel on what went wrong with 2020 political polling (Charles Franklin, Sunshine Hillygus, Jon Krosnick), in addition to many others.” The program is open and free, but you must register by December 28. See https://www.samsi.info/data-science-in-the-social-and-behavioral-sciences-virtual-opening-workshop/ There also are free recorded didactic seminars on intensive longitudinal data, causal inference, and structural equation models accessible through the web site.

DATA
Data Sharing for Demographic Research (DSDR) data archive. DSDR archives, documents, and facilitates access to survey and other public use data sets that you can use for free without restrictions for research purposes. They house a wide variety of data sets on the US and many other countries. Many of these datasets focus on the types of issues that population researchers work on. See their website at: https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/DSDR/index.html. They also publish a regular newsletter (see below for the December edition) that you can subscribe to. 

Census Bureau Requests Comments for the 2022 Economic CensusThe Bureau of the Census (U.S. Census Bureau) publishes this notice to announce that it is planning to conduct the 2022 Economic Census. The Census Bureau also is requesting public comment on the 2022 Economic Census content. This collection will be fully electronic using a secure encrypted internet data collection system called Centurion. The Economic Census is conducted at 5-year intervals (years ending in 2 and 7) and is the most comprehensive compilation of statistics about U.S. businesses and the economy. Written comments must be submitted on or before February 12, 2021 to ensure consideration of your comments on the 2022 Economic Census content. Full information here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-12-14/pdf/2020-27403.pdf

GRADUATE STUDENTS
Gerontological Society of American internships: GSA is offering emerging scholars the opportunity to be immersed in aging-related policy development and participate in this process at the national level! We’re now accepting applications for the 2021 cycle of the Greg O’Neill Student Policy Internship, which will be conducted remotely in the summer months. The application deadline is January 29. This six-week internship is named after our late colleague Dr. Greg O’Neill, who was a member of the GSA staff for 20 years and led our nonpartisan public policy institute, the National Academy for an Aging Society. Consistent with guidance from government and health authorities, remote participation in the program will be supported – mainly during normal Eastern time business hours. 

Bay Area Innovation Challenge – Deadline Extended: The Bay Area Global Health Innovation Challenge invites students to submit their innovations for low-cost, high-impact and scalable global health solutions by January 15. This Challenge is organized by the Alliance’s academic partners Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and UCSF. Mentors and judges will be needed in 2021. Read more.

D-LAB
Be sure to check the D-lab calendar at the website, dlab.berkeley.edu. D-Lab offers training, individual consulting and data services for the UC Berkeley community – faculty to undergrads. Sign up for Leora Lawton’s Intro to NIH Grants, on January 12 2021.

RELATED LISTS
Jobs

All jobs and postdoctoral fellowships are posted as we receive them on the Demography Department Jobs Listserv, http://lists.demog.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/jobs. This list advertises positions of all sorts relevant for social and behavioral scientists with advanced degrees.

Migration Mailing List
Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative (BIMI.berkeley.edu) is a research center for the study of immigrants and immigration. BIMI has a mailing list which is where a good deal of immigration and migration announcements are posted, and only some of that material is posted on the PopSciences Weekly News. Sign up for it with this link

School of Public Health Mailing List
Tue$day Top Tip$ for SPH Research is a listserv with research funding opportunities and other information pertinent to public health researchers who are not necessarily population researchers. To subscribe, write to Dr. Lauren Goldstein, lhg@berkeley.edu.

Posted in Newsletter.