# Post-Doctoral Training in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $291,519

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This program has provided interdisciplinary postdoctoral training in research on intellectual and developmental
disabilities (IDD) since 1995, with an emphasis on social-affective, cognitive and communicative, and family
processes. We have enrolled and “graduated” 43 postdoctoral trainees and have 3 postdoctoral trainees
currently in the program. Of our 43 graduated trainees, 32 obtained faculty positions at universities across the
U.S. and nearly all others have obtained research-intensive positions in the field. The training program is
housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Waisman Center, and is fully integrated into the
multidisciplinary and translational center training activities including through their NICHD-funded Intellectual
and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), over 90 NIH research grants by faculty
investigators, and a thriving clinical program serving 2900 patients/yr. The overall goal of the training program
is to provide interdisciplinary biobehavioral and translational research training to foster the next generation of
IDD researchers. Our program is designed to provide trainees with a broad foundation of knowledge on IDD
(e.g., prevalence, etiology, and presentation), the impact of race/ethnicity, cultural, and socio-economic status
on issues pertaining to IDD, research ethics, how to conduct rigorous and replicable science, and professional
development related to obtaining research funding and competencies needed in leadership positions. In
addition, through intensive research mentorship by program faculty, our trainees learn the methodological and
analytic practices to develop their own independent lines of research. Finally, through the development of an
individual development plan, and ongoing feedback from program faculty, trainees establish specific and
measurable research and professional goals and a plan for achieving these goals during the two-years.
The training program has three Specific Aims: 1. To provide postdoctoral trainees with the knowledge base
and research methods to generate new knowledge about social-affective, cognitive and communicative, and
family components of IDD. 2. To provide broad training in which we expose trainees to various theoretical
perspectives, methodological approaches, substantive areas, developmental periods, and a translational
science perspective. 3. To provide trainees with a solid foundation in research ethics and professional
development necessary to launch their own independent careers carrying out research on IDD. Support for
this program will ensure that a next generation of scientists is equipped to advance research on IDD and
associated conditions through various theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, substantive areas,
developmental periods, and a translational science/public health perspective.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9936589
- **Project number:** 2T32HD007489-26
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Sigan L Hartley
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $291,519
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1995-09-29 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9936589

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9936589, Post-Doctoral Training in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research (2T32HD007489-26). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9936589. Licensed CC0.

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