OHH Traineeship Program Information
The Pacific Northwest Consortium for Pre- and Postdoctoral Traineeships in Oceans and Human Health (PNW Consortium) is training a new generation of scientists who are adept at understanding and shaping the emerging field of study focused on the interaction between oceans and human health. The PNW Consortium will build on existing capabilities of a wide range of experts, including University of Washington (UW) faculty, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center scientists, Washington Sea Grant managers, and practicum hosts who work in diverse areas such as shellfish management, water quality control and ballast water management.
Members of the PNW Consortium will serve as advisors and mentors for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are selected as Trainees in Oceans and Human Health (OHH Trainees). Information on faculty and scientists who have agreed to participate in the Consortium is contained in the PNW Consortium Member List List.
A major component of the traineeship will be the opportunity to conduct research focused on understanding and predicting the effects of ocean processes on human health. The scope of the research will cover three established areas for which collaborations among the PNW Consortium members already exist: 1) factors that influence the impacts of harmful algal blooms, pathogens and chemical toxicants on shellfish safety; 2) development of novel warning systems for detection of toxins; and 3) use of model organisms to understand toxicant impacts. The section on OHH Research Projects describes specific examples of possible research topics and includes a list of mentors for each general research area. All OHH Trainees will be encouraged through both formal (e.g., committee meetings) and informal (seminar topics) activities to routinely consider ways that research results could be directly applied to “real-life” problems.
OHH Trainees who are graduate students will be members of a home department with departmental requirements for advancement to degree. In addition, all OHH Trainees will
- Attend and present at the bi-weekly Oceans and Human Health seminar series (Ocean 539B) jointly offered by the UW and NOAA.
- Participate in a yearly research cruise aboard the R/V Thompson.
- Participate in a new 10- week (one UW quarter) case study-based Oceans and Human Health course.
Practicum experiences will be a major benefit of the graduate traineeship. Graduate level OHH Trainees will have the opportunity to participate in practicums, working with practicing professionals in aspects of oceans and human health. The practicum program will be based on the well-established program at the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine and coordinated by Washington Sea Grant. The PNW Consortium is offering a diversity of potential practicum experiences, described in greater detail in the OHH Traineeship Practicum Program. OHH Trainees may also explore alternative opportunities for practicums.
Other optional program elements will allow OHH Trainees to:
- Continue to participate in PNW Consortium activities after the traineeship is over and serve as student mentors for new students interested in oceans and human health research.
- Mentor undergraduates supported through the NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Oceans and Human Health program.
- Participate in the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence – Ocean Learning Communities (COSEE-OLC) graduate course on communicating science to elementary school students.
- Attend an annual Oceans and Human Health meeting.
Graduate Traineeship Application Guidelines