Predoctoral Training at CCPR

CCPR Trainees are primarily drawn from three UCLA academic departments: Economics and Sociology in the College of Letters and Science, and Community Health Sciences (CHS) in the School of Public Health. While students meet the degree requirements of their respective departments, they also receive interdisciplinary training in population studies.

Program requirements vary by department, but all CCPR trainees are expected to participate regularly in the Population Training Seminar, complete coursework in population and demography, and gain hands-on experience through involvement in interdisciplinary research projects Students typically take courses outside their home department, in order to develop a broad-based knowledge of demography and related areas, such as fertility and family planning, health, or the environment. Students engaged in research typically work closely with one or more CCPR-affiliated faculty members. This mentoring model provides trainees with practical, collaborative experience in demographic research. The ultimate goal is for students to learn the craft of demographic inquiry and contribute meaningfully to a research product, either as lead authors or collaborators.

Population Seminar

The Population Seminar is a key feature of training at CCPR. It offers weekly seminar. It is the predominant venue for the presentation of demographic research by CCPR faculty members, other UCLA researchers engaged in work of demographic interest, and off-campus visitors to UCLA. Audiences typically include CCPR-affiliated faculty and students from departments across campus. By attending this seminar trainees are exposed to a wide range of research styles and topics. They learn to listen to research presentations with an ear toward developing constructive criticisms of the work being presented and they have an opportunity to meet a variety of leaders in the field. The seminar is also a good source of research ideas for students at all stages of their degree program.

Proseminar

The Proseminar Lunch is intended to offer graduate students an opportunity for open-ended, informal discussion with the guest speaker that will contribute to their professional socialization. We hope that conversation will extend beyond talk itself to include practical issues in research, publication and career development. Speakers are welcome to share their observations on the field of demography, their own discipline or are of interest. Students appreciate informal insights into nuts-and-bolts in the craft of research, including the selection of topics, the collection of data, and strategies for publication.

Developmental and Methods Workshops

CCPR often offers 2 methods workshops and 1 developmental workshop each quarter. We hope to provide our affiliates’ access to state-of-the-art statistical methodology through methods workshops. Our developmental workshops or seminars are  to support innovation research work in population science. Ideas for these workshops come from affiliates, the Directors, staff and graduate students.

Population Association of America

The Population Association of America (PAA) meetings are another important source of ideas and an opportunity to see research presentations by a wide array of population experts. As a part of CCPR’s program, trainees are encouraged early in their careers to begin submitting papers for presentation at the PAA meetings. CCPR typically provides support to trainees to help them attend PAA.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

CCPR affiliated graduate students are eligible for support in the form of  NICHD traineeships as a result of a T32 training grant awarded to CCPR.