Research Experience & Training Coordination Core

There is a critical need for scientists and practitioners with interdisciplinary training in environmental and biomedical science and its translation, able to tackle the real-world challenge of mitigating health risks associated with exposure to complex chemical mixtures as a consequence of disaster events. Given the diversity of the disciplines involved, the excellence of the investigators, and the tight integration of the fundamental and applied research, the Texas A&M University Superfund Research Center will continue to provide an outstanding interdisciplinary training environment for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with ample opportunities for integration and professional development of trainees.

The overall objective of the RETCC is to serve as a driver for cohesion in the Center by engaging with trainees placed into all projects and cores. Based on the experience of the Training Core in the previous funding period (since 2017), the primary functions of the core will be to (i) integrate with other Center components by facilitating intentional interactive activities for trainees across projects and cores, (ii) promote trainee success via targeted skill-building programs, (iii) provide opportunities for interactions with diverse audiences (scientific and layperson), and (iv) track and evaluate trainee development and success.

Based on the success of the skill-building programs at the Center and at national and international levels, the RETCC will continue to successfully prepare both local trainees and those from other Superfund and P30 Centers, as well as our international partners, to function as independent researchers/practitioners in a multidisciplinary setting while simultaneously engaging with Superfund-relevant challenges related to health effects, risk, detection, and remediation/mitigation of hazardous substances.