The five-year project of training and research outlined in this application will enable a junior scholar already accomplished in the social demography of fertility to master the topic of reproductive epidemiologist. With such additional directed study, the candidate will be poised to make significant contributions to the interdisciplinary study of fertility decline. This Mentored Research Scientist Development award is designed to meet the near-term career development goal of using epidemiological methods and measures to improve social and demographic explanations of reproductive trajectories, and the long-term career goal of developing more coherent models of fertility change, especially in Africa. As a whole, the aim of this project is a rigorous integration of social, demographic and epidemiological approaches to fertility over the life course, focusing on the interacting roles of reproductive intentions and reproductive health. The career development plan sets three training goals: (1) To develop a knowledge base in reproductive epidemiology, (2) To develop expertise in social scientific applications of public health methods and measures regarding reproduction, and (3) To develop advanced skills in statistical analysis. These three goals will be met with five development activities: course work, mentoring from sponsors, directed study and consultation with expert advisors, conferences, and a research plan that builds cumulatively on the knowledge and skills gained through career development activities. The research plan has five aims: (1) Develop hypotheses regarding the forms of reproductive intentions that individuals and couples hold, and the sources of variation in those intentions. (2) Develop hypothesis regarding the factors that intervene between intention and outcome. (3) Test and compare interview methods for identifying and understanding different kinds of reproductive intentions and contextual factors. (4) Create, translate and pretest a survey instrument to evaluate the hypotheses, and (5) Pilot an integrated life course research technique.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01HD043861-02
Application #
6791387
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Clark, Rebecca L
Project Start
2003-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2004-09-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$97,160
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704