Upcoming Events at a Glance

Below are a few upcoming dates on our calendar. For our complete schedule, bookmark our MIWI 2026-2027 Calendar.

• Sept 15 | MIWI Cohort 8 Applications Open

• Sept 22 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET — MIWI Seminar: Beyond “Publish or Perish”: Building a Sustainable Academic Career, led by Dr. Briana Mezuk

• Oct 14 | 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET — MIWI LRP Q&A Session, led by Dr. Tara Bautista

• Oct 16 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET — MIWI Seminar: Benefiting Our Communities—While Building Your Brand, led by Dr. Cal Halvorsen

• Every Wednesday | 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET — Weekly MIWI Writing Group, facilitated by Drs. Tara Bautista, Alexandrea Golden, and Natalie Guerrero.

MIWI Scholar Highlights

• Dr. Brianna Baker (Cohort 7) | Won 1st place ($2,000 prize) at the APA Psychological Science in 3 Competition for her 3-minute research presentation.

• Dr. Alein Haro Ramos (Cohort 6) | Received a research grant from the Michigan Center on Demography of Aging (MiCDA) to advance population health research.

• Dr. Vanessa Volpe (Cohort 2) | Elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) for her exceptional contributions to the field.

• Dr. Jess West (Cohort 6) | Awarded an NIH K01 Research Career Development Award (NIDCD) to study hearing loss stigma and healthcare engagement.

• Drs. Chris Lane, Christina Huerta & Jordan Dyett (Cohort 7) | Dr. Lane hosted a virtual faculty applications panel through the Northwestern University Postdoctoral Association where Drs. Huerta and Dyett served as featured panelists.

New Publications

• Dr. DeAnnah Byrd (Cohort 2) and Dr. Yanping Jiang (Cohort 4) investigate how physical functioning, depressive symptoms, and cognitive functioning continually influence one another over time in older Chinese immigrants, revealing key insights for supporting holistic healthy aging. Read paper.

• Dr. Natalie Guerrero (Cohort 2) examines the widespread discordance between Latinx youth and their caregivers regarding youth thoughts of death and suicidal ideation, highlighting how family dynamics and ethnic factors influence whether parents recognize a teen's suicide risk. Read paper.

• Dr. Liza Hinchey (Cohort 7) shows that childhood trauma impacts the body's HPA axis differently in men and women, revealing that women uniquely experience blunted cortisol reactivity—a finding that may help clarify long-standing inconsistencies in trauma research. Read paper.

• Dr. Yuanyuan Hu identifies key factors influencing cross-system collaboration between child welfare and behavioral health organizations, showing how differences in provider attitudes, treatment approaches, and communication shape coordinated care for families. Read paper

• Dr. Lea Marineau (Cohort 6) is the first author on a study examining substance use treatment retention following the redesign of a comprehensive addiction and pregnancy program in Baltimore, Maryland. Read paper

• Drs. Weidi Qin (ADRD Cohort), Briana Mezuk (Program Director), and Julie Ober Allen (Cohort 2) explore how prioritizing mental health critically influences patient outcomes. Read paper.

• Dr. Ana Cecilia Sala (Cohort 6) first authored a new study evaluating the feasibility and future practices of a virtual Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) protocol designed to address the emotional consequences of living with cancer. Read paper.

Opportunities and Resources

Intersectionality Training Institute | Tried and True: Strategies for Academic Career Success

• Overview: Monthly lunchtime series with Dr. Jennifer M. Gomez on salary negotiation, R1 tenure, promotion packets, and book publishing.

• Learn more and register.

Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine, Donald Oken Fellowship

• Overview: For first-time SBSM attendees (Consultation-Liaison psychiatrists or internists). Includes free registration, travel reimbursement, and a $1,000 honorarium.

• Submission deadline: September 15

• Learn more and apply.

Training: Northwestern Implementation Science Short Courses 2027

• Implementation Science Academy (ISA): In-person immersive skills training | April 20–22, 2027 in Chicago, IL (Cost: $3,500)

• ISA+ (Advanced): Virtual program for complex implementation challenges | January 28–29, 2027 ($2,500).

• Application deadline: Both due January 8, 2027

• Website: Learn more here.

Resource: NIH Matchmaker

• Overview: Match your project abstract directly to relevant NIH institutes, study sections, and program officials.

• Website:  Matchmaker tool in RePORTER

Get Featured

Have updates, awards, papers, or anything else interesting to feature in the next edition? Email monicadf@umich.edu.

To keep up with us day to day, you can follow us on LinkedIn.

MIWI Institute 2026

New Publications

• Dr. Yanping Jiang (MIWI Cohort 4) first-authored a study effects of neighborhood amenities, services, and built infrastructure on cognitive health of older Chinese immigrants. Link to Paper.

• Dr. Kaleea Lewis (Cohort 1) first-authored the paper, “‘These Experiences Kill You Emotionally’: Examining How Black Emerging Adults Construct Meaning of Race-Based Traumatic Stress” published in the journal, Emerging Adulthood. Link to Paper.

• Dr. Brianna Baker (Cohort 7) first-authored a study using maternal filicide cases to examine how structural factors—including access to care, housing instability, and institutional responses—can contribute to severe maternal psychological distress.Link to Paper

• Dr. Jaqueline Jahn (Cohort 2) served as senior author on the paper “Relationships Between Extreme Ambient Temperatures, Neighborhood Structural Deprivation, and Fatal Police Violence: A Case-Crossover Analysis” published in The Journal of Urban Health. Link to paper.

MIWI Scholar Highlights

• Dr. Carolyn (Carly) Camplain (Cohort 6) was featured on a podcast: Living Well (5 of 5): Health Equity and Underserved Populations. The discussion centered on how equity-focused research, policy, and community engagement can improve health systems and reduce barriers to care for underserved populations. Check it out!

• Dr. Xing Sherry Zhang (Cohort 1) received tenure at Arizona State University and will be promoted to associate professor, effective this fall! She will also be doing a sabbatical in Paris, France at Sciences Po this upcoming academic year (August 2026-July 2027). Congrats, Sherry!

• Dr. Katherine Carroll Britt (Cohort 4) was honored with the Early Research Career Award from the Gerontological Nursing Research Interest and Implementation Group at the Midwest Nursing Research Society 50th Annual Research Conference. This recognition celebrates her impactful work advancing person-centered, culturally responsive care and digital tools to support families living with dementia.

Opportunities and Resources

RWJF LinkedIn Live Discussion - Beyond Borders: Reorienting Research for Health Equity

• What is it? Discusson led by Dr. Kunga Denzongpa on how community-based participatory research can help build trust, elevate community voices, and create more equitable health research.

• Date/Time: June 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.

• Learn more and RSVP here.

NIH Sleep and Cognition Workshop

• What is it? A two-day virtual event featuring presentations and interactive discussions on the relationship between sleep and cognition. Hosted by The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute on Aging (NIA), the presentations will highlight current scientific methodologies, findings, and implications of sleep and cognition health across multiple conditions and populations.

• Date/Time: June 25–26, 2026 12:30-5:00 PM ET)

• Learn more here.

Call for papers: The Journals of Gerontology Series B, Special Issue

• Topic: Advancing Psychological Aging Research Through Mixed Methods Approaches

• Submissions due: July 31, 2026

• Learn more here.

Resource: NIH Matchmaker

• What is it? With NIH Matchmaker, you can find your research’s ideal home by inputting your abstract to identify the specific institutes, study sections, and program officials that best align with your project’s mission.

• Website:  Matchmaker tool in RePORTER

If you would like to contribute to MIWI’s next bulletin, please email information to monicadf@umich.edu.

To keep up with us day to day, you can follow us on LinkedIn.

New Scholars!

Welcome to our seventh cohort of MIWI Scholars!

• Dr. Brianna Baker

• Dr. Samuel Baxter

• Dr. Maira Castañeda Avila

• Dr. Jordan Dyett

• Dr. Liza Hinchy

• Dr. Yuanyuan Hu

• Dr. Christina Huerta

• Dr. Chris Lane

• Dr. Christopher Otmar

• Dr. Yiqing Qian

• Dr. John Richmond Sy

• Dr. Tess Thomas

We look forward to getting started with our work together at the institute from May 11-14 in Ann Arbor.

New Publications

• Dr. Kate Perepezko (Cohort 6) is first author of a new study in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine exploring how an internet-delivered insomnia intervention improved not only caregivers’ sleep, but also their mood, self-care, and overall capacity to provide care. Link to Paper

• Dr. Charlotte Farewell (Cohort 4) co-authored the paper “The association of social support and burnout among Head Start staff in Colorado,” published in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education. Link to Paper

• Dr. Shanting Chen (Cohort 6) is first author on a new study in Clinical Psychological Science demonstrating that larger hippocampal volume may amplify the long-term depressive impact of racial-ethnic discrimination in minority youth. Link to Paper

• Dr. Antonius Skipper (Cohort 2) is coauthor on a study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology titled, “Countering Deficits: Relational Sanctification, Forgiveness, and Family Functioning Among Older, Romantically Involved African Americans.” Link to paper.

• Dr. Jiao Yu (Cohort 5) and Weidi Qin (ADRD Cohort) co-authored a study in PLOS One titled “Thriving in place: Multidimensional neighborhood typologies and cognitive function among U.S. older adults in the Health and Retirement Study.” Link to Paper

• Dr. Brianna Jackson (Cohort 6) is first author on a paper in Children and Youth Services Review titled, “Prioritizing participant safety in mental health research involving marginalized groups: a narrative review and case exemplar synthesizing recommendations and best practices.” Link to paper.

Scholar News

• Dr. Shanting Chen (Cohort 6) received an NIH K01 award to lead a new study at the University of Florida that uses machine learning to identify how life stressors "get under the skin" to impact long-term health and aging.

MIWI Program Updates and Seminars

Upcoming MIWI Virtual Seminars

• TODAY — Intersectionality and Health Inequities, led by Dr. Guadalupe Marquez-Velarde

  • Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET.

• Weekly Writing Group, led by Drs. Julie Ober Allen, Charlotte Farewell, and Margaret Gough Courtney,

  • Mondays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Opportunities and Resources

Data for Health Leadership Lab Application

• What is it? A blended pilot program that equips public health professionals with both the data science competencies and strategic leadership skills needed to turn analytical insights into equitable, mission-driven action.

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2026 5:00 PM ET.

• Learn more here.

Family Caregiving Collaborative - Secondary Data Analysis Training Workshop

• What is it? A half-day immersive workshop that offers early-career researchers expert mentorship and full travel coverage to develop actionable secondary analytic plans using national caregiving datasets.

• Great opportunity to learn about National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) or Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.

• Application Deadline: May 1, 2026, 11:59 PM MST

• Learn more here.

Call for papers: The Journals of Gerontology Series B, Special Issue

• Topic: Advancing Psychological Aging Research Through Mixed Methods Approaches

• Submissions due: July 31, 2026

• Learn more here.

Resource: NIH Matchmaker

• What is it? With NIH Matchmaker, you can find your research’s ideal home by inputting your abstract to identify the specific institutes, study sections, and program officials that best align with your project’s mission.

• Website:  Matchmaker tool in RePORTER

Resource: MIWI Seminar - Toward a biopsychosocial model of care in neurology; From the Neuro-ICU to outpatient specialty clinics

• Facilitator: Dr. Ana Maria Vranceanu

• Link to video

If you would like to contribute to MIWI’s next bulletin, please email information to monicadf@umich.edu.

Read on to see scholar publications, news, program updates, events, and opportunities. To keep up with us day to day, you can follow us on LinkedIn.

New Publications

• Andrea Nederveld (Cohort 5) is the first author on a study examining barriers and facilitators to implementing a digital depression care program in primary care in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Link to Paper

• Tiffany Ford (Cohort 4) is co-author on a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health examining whether responsive city services and strong local governance improve life satisfaction equitably across communities. Link to Paper

• Dr. Julie Ober Allen (Cohort 2) and Weidi Qin (ADRD) investigate how everyday ageism shapes older adults’ stress responses and mental health in their recent publication in Aging & Mental Health. Link to Paper

• Dr. Molly Copleand (Cohort 4) first-authored “Social Network Structure and Composition Predicting Cognitive Impairment: Racial/Ethnic Differences Among Older Adults,” published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. Link to Paper

• DeAnnah Byrd (ADRD Cohort) authored “Social Support Satisfaction as a Buffer Against Hypertension-Related Cognitive Decline in Black Americans,” published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Link to Paper

• Agus Surachman (Cohort 6) authored “Neighborhood Deprivation, Financial Hardship, and Decrements in Kidney Function Across a Decade,” published in Innovation in Aging. Link to Paper

• Dr. Brianna Jackson (Cohort 6) is first author on “Prioritizing participant safety in mental health research involving marginalized groups: a narrative review and case exemplar synthesizing recommendations and best practices” published in Children and Youth Services Review. Link to Paper.

• Dr. Juan Del Toro (Cohort 1) is the first author on a paper in Child Development that shares study findings that exploring one’s racial-ethnic identity can help early adolescents buffer the mental health impact of discrimination. Link to Paper.

Scholar Highlights

Congratulations to Hiral Master (Cohort 2) on her selection to the UNC BIRCWH K12 Institutional Training Grant, where she will lead an innovative, digitally enhanced intervention to help women with arthritis increase physical activity. Read more here.

MIWI Program Updates and Seminars

Upcoming MIWI Virtual Seminars

• TODAY: Meaningful Community Engagement in Research, led by Dr. Gerald McKinley

  • Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET

• Designing & Delivering Skills-Based Interventions in Healthcare Settings, led by Dr. Ana Maria Vranceanu

  • Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET

• Intersectionality and Health Inequities, led by Dr. Guadalupe Marquez-Velarde

  • Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET.

• Weekly Writing Group, led by Drs. Julie Ober Allen, Charlotte Farewell, and Margaret Gough Courtney,

  • Mondays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Events & Opportunities

Job Opportunity - Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Community Health & Nutrition at the University of Florida

• Dr. Tennisha Riley (Cohort 2) shared a tenure-track position in her department. She shares: “Because we play a large role in the land-grant mission of the university, this position is 70% extension/30% research. This would be great for community health folks with opportunity to work with our land-grant HBCU partners at FAMU”

• How to Learn More: Check the job posting link here.

Health & Aging Policy Fellows Program (2026–27)

• A nationally recognized, year-long fellowship preparing leaders to shape policy for older adults, caregivers, and communities.

• Apply by March 2, 2026. Learn more here.

NIA Impact Collaboratory Health Care Systems Scholars Program

• Program Overview: The Health Care Systems Scholars Program is a 1-year mentored experience designed to support immersion of mid-career investigators (MD, PhD, or equivalent) within a health care system to foster durable partnerships, advance system-informed research priorities, and lay the groundwork for future embedded pragmatic clinical trials in dementia care.

• Learn more to apply.

Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees (HEFT)

• Program Overview: The purpose of the Fellowship is to increase the quantity and quality of manuscripts published on the topic of health equity, while cultivating future health equity research leaders. In the program, Fellows will receive multi-layered mentorship from experienced Health Affairs authors and editorial staff for 18 months (July 2026 - December 2027).

• Applications due March 16.

• Learn more to apply.

If you would like to contribute to MIWI’s next bulletin, please email information to monicadf@umich.edu.

Read on to see scholar publications, news, program updates, events, and opportunities. To keep up with us day to day, you can follow us on LinkedIn.

New Publications

• Dr. Jessica West (Cohort 6) led a new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine examining the impact of hearing loss on hospitalizations among U.S. adults with heart failure. Link to Paper

• Dr. Emily Brinck (Cohort 3) is first author on “Serving Older Adults with Disabilities: Recognizing the Impact of Assisting Individuals to Stay Employed Versus Obtain Employment,” published in the Journal of Vocational Research. Link to Paper

• Dr. Hans Oh (Cohort 2) co-authored a cross-sectional quantitative study examining online racism, use of digital mental health tools, and online mental health communication among Black young adults with and without depression or anxiety. Link to Paper

• Dr. Anastasia Rogova (Cohort 6) co-authored a study on counseling and shared decision-making for lung cancer screening, published in the medical journal, Chest. Link to Paper

• Dr. Weidi Qin (ADRD Cohort) is first author on “Neighborhood Disadvantage, Functional Difficulty, and Cognitive Decline among Older Mexican Americans,” published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Link to Paper

Scholar News

• Dr. Cal Halvorsen (Cohort 4) was featured in The Washington Post for his study on volunteering and epigenetic aging with Drs. Seoyoun Kim and Dr. Jessica Faul, who served as his MIWI Mentor. Link to WaPo Article | Link to Study

• Dr. Deshira Wallace (Cohort 6) is collaborating with Ascend at the Aspen Institute on the Perinatal Scope of Care Initiative, helping develop the first comprehensive standard of care for the perinatal period by centering family narratives through journey mapping. Learn more about the project here.

• Dr. Heather Farmer (Cohort 2) was featured by the University of Delaware for herDr. research showing that a strong sense of purpose in life helps protect cognitive function in older adults—even after stressful experiences like discrimination, using data from a nationally representative sample. Link to Article.

MIWI Program Updates and Seminars

Upcoming MIWI Virtual Seminars

• The Conversational Interface: Vibe Coding and the Future of AI-Assisted Code Generation, led by Dr. Dante Anthony Tolentino

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET

• Meaningful Community Engagement in Research, led by Dr. Gerald McKinley

  • Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET

• Designing & Delivering Skills-Based Interventions in Healthcare Settings, led by Dr. Ana Maria Vranceanu

  • Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET

• Intersectionality and Health Inequities, led by Dr. Guadalupe Marquez-Velarde

  • Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET.

• Weekly Writing Group, led by Drs. Julie Ober Allen, Charlotte Farewell, and Margaret Gough Courtney,

  • Mondays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Events & Opportunities

MIXED METHODS PROGRAM SEMINAR TODAY:

• Topic: Sampling in Mixed Methods Studies

• Today — Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET

• Description: Integrating on the sampling dimension considers the relation between the quantitative and qualitative data, and the timing of data collection. In this methods talk, Dr. Tyler G. James will describe the different ways to integrate on the sampling dimension and then facilitate a group discussion on implications of the ways we consider sampling.

• Zoom Link

MCCFAD 2026 Summer Data Immersion Program — Deadline Extended

• The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD) is a MIWI partner program offering hands-on training using PSID data to explore Alzheimer’s disparities.

• Co-directed by MIWI mentor Kristine Ajrouch, with other MIWI Faculty including Drs. Rich Gonazlez, Briana Mezuk, and Wassim Tarraf.

• In-person at U-M Institute for Social Research, May 18–21

• Apply by Feb 16

Job Opportunity - Teaching position, Epidemiology & Biostatistics Department, Indiana University School of Public Health–Bloomington

• Dr. Carly Camplain (Cohort 6) shared an upcoming non-tenure-track teaching position

• Position Description: The role includes a full-time teaching load (currently 3–3) and is ideal for candidates interested in teaching-focused academic careers.

• How to Learn More: This position is not yet posted. Interested individuals should contact Ricky Camplain (rcampla@iu.edu) with questions.

Novo Nordisk Foundation NERD Programme 2026

• Funding Opportunity: The NERD Programme supports ambitious research in health, life sciences, and sustainability.

• Apply by Feb 19, 2026. Learn more here.

Health & Aging Policy Fellows Program (2026–27)

• A nationally recognized, year-long fellowship preparing leaders to shape policy for older adults, caregivers, and communities.

• Apply by March 2, 2026. Learn more here.

If you would like to contribute to MIWI’s next bulletin, please email information to monicadf@umich.edu.

New Publications

• Dr. Carolyn (Carly) Camplain (Cohort 6) is first author on the publication, “Gatekeeping wellbeing: healthcare copayments while incarcerated as a barrier to good health” in Health Affairs Scholar. Link to paper

• Dr. Candidus Nwakasi (Cohort 4) and Dr. Darlingtina Esiaka (Cohort 2) co-authored a new paper in Ethnicity & Health applying the PEN-3 cultural model to improve cancer survivorship among Black and Latinx people in the U.S. Link to paper

• Dr. Jiao Yu (Cohort 5) is the first author on a new publication: “Uncovering the Biological Toll of Neighborhood Disorder Trajectories: A Machine Learning Based Weighting Analysis of Biomarkers in Older Adults” published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. Link to paper

• Dr. Xing Sherry Zhang, (Cohort 1), co-authored “Associations Between Dependent-Related Job Lock and Adult Mental and Physical Health.” in Health Affairs, Link to paper

Scholar News

• Congratulations to MIWI alums Dr. Keri Kirk (Cohort 1) and Dr. Christina Marea (Cohort 4), who were selected for the 2025–26 DISCOVER Pilot Awards, a competitive program supporting community-engaged research in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kirk’s project focuses on supporting maternal mental health and physical activity among millennial Black mothers, and Dr. Marea’s project examines postpartum well-being among Hispanic and Latinx/e birthing people.

• Dr. Elizabeth Rhodus (Cohort 3) was featured on the Dementia Researcher podcast, discussing behavioral and community-based dementia trials, mentorship, and building rigorous, participant-centered research. Link to episode, entitled: Beyond the Pill Methodology in Dementia Clinical Trials

MIWI Program Updates and Seminars

MIWI Call for Applications for Cohort 7!

• Applications due Feb 1, 2026.

• Institute Dates: May 11–14, 2026.

• Recording of webinar for interested applicants.

• Please share with your networks!

Upcoming MIWI Virtual Seminars

• Building Work–Life Balance in the New Year, led by Dr. Alexandrea Golden

  • January 14, 2025 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET.

• The Conversational Interface: Vibe Coding and the Future of AI-Assisted Code Generation, led by Dr. Dante Anthony Tolentino

  • February 4, 2025 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET

• Weekly Writing Group, led by Drs. Julie Ober Allen, Charlotte Farewell, and Margaret Gough Courtney,

  • Mondays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET (we will not meet Monday December 29)

• We will be announcing many more seminars coming soon!

Events & Opportunities

MCCFAD 2026 Summer Data Immersion Program

• The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD) is a MIWI partner program offering hands-on training using PSID data to explore Alzheimer’s disparities.

• Co-directed by MIWI mentor Kristine Ajrouch, with other MIWI Faculty including Drs. Rich Gonazlez, Briana Mezuk, and Wassim Tarraf.

• In-person at U-M Institute for Social Research, May 18–21

• Apply by Feb 2

Novo Nordisk Foundation NERD Programme 2026

• Funding Opportunity: The NERD Programme supports ambitious research in health, life sciences, and sustainability.

• Apply by Feb 19, 2026. Learn more here.

Health & Aging Policy Fellows Program (2026–27)

• A nationally recognized, year-long fellowship preparing leaders to shape policy for older adults, caregivers, and communities.

• Apply by March 2, 2026. Info session: Dec 18 at 1 PM ET. Learn more here.

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Resources

Lab Management Resources

• Many MIWI Scholars have shared their Lab Manuals and Websites to support others who are newly starting up labs!

• Dr. Vanessa Volpe (Cohort 2) created a wonderful video on Lab Management for us. It’s a great source of information!

Health and Retirement Study in Practice

• If you missed the presentation on the Health and Retirement Study with a quick intro to ICPSR led by Dr. Heather Farmer and David Thomas, you can watch it now!

• You can also view Dr. Farmer’s slides and David Thomas’s slides.

New Publications

• Dr. Katherine Britt, (Cohort 4), is first author on “The association of spirituality and memory in older Black and White U.S. Adults.” in Journal of Religion, Spirtuality, and Aging, Link to paper

• Dr. Agus Surachman (Cohort 6), co-authored “Educational attainment, health locus of control and inflammation among cancer survivors in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study” in Psychology, Health & Medicine. Link to Paper

• Dr. Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald (Cohort 2) is first author and our Program Director, Dr. Briana Mezuk is co-author on a new publication: “Individual, intergenerational, and contextual factors associated with coping strategies, coping variability, and perceived coping efficacy among young adults” published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Link to Paper

Scholar News

• Dr. Vanessa Volpe (Cohort 2, Mentor): Awarded the Distinguished Early Career Professional Contributions to Media Psychology and Technology from the American Psychological Association’s Society for Media Psychology and Technology.

• Dr. Lainey Sevillano (Cohort 6) is now an Assistant Professor at California State University, Long Beach and was highlighted in this faculty spotlight.

• Dr. Jyotsana Parajuli (Cohort 5): Received the Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing (DEGN) Award from the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence.

• Congratulations to MIWI Scholars who presented at The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) annual meeting! Drs. Julie Ober Allen, Katherine Britt, Darlingtina Esiaka, Heather Farmer, Angela Groves, Cal Halvorsen, Yanping Jiang, Kate Perepezko, Agus Surachman, Jessica West — and apologies if we missed anyone else!

MIWI Program Updates and Seminars

MIWI Call for Applications for Cohort 7!

• Applications due Feb 1, 2026.

• Next Institute: May 11–14, 2026.

• Webinar for interested applicants: Dec 12, 2–3 PM ET, Email miwitraining@umich.edu for an invite.

• Please share with your networks!

Upcoming MIWI Virtual Seminars

• Health and Retirement Study in Practice, led by Dr. Heather Farmer and David Thomas, Program Manager at the ICPSR.

  • December 9, 2025 from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET.

• Building Work–Life Balance in the New Year, led by Dr. Alexandrea Golden

  • January 14, 2025 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET.

• The Conversational Interface: Vibe Coding and the Future of AI-Assisted Code Generation, led by Dr. Dante Anthony Tolentino

  • February 4, 2025 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET

• Weekly Writing Group, led by Drs. Julie Ober Allen, Charlotte Farewell, and Margaret Gough Courtney,

  • Mondays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Events & Opportunities

Curtis Center Health Equity Seminar — “Addressing Structural Racism in Heart Failure Care and Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Social Structure of Care Delivery”

• Led by MIWI Mentor, Dr. Daphne Watkins, along with Drs. Russell Funk and Donald Likosky

• December 2, 2025, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

• Virtually Session

• REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/gJUExmZt

Call for Applications: 2026 NIH mHealth Training Insitute (mHTI)

• The 2026 mHTI will offer a distinctive hybrid learning experience, combining a series of interactive online webinars with an intensive in-person institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The program will be held on June 7–11, 2026.

• Application Deadline: January 20, 2026

• For detailed information and application instructions, please visit https://mhti.md2k.org/apply.