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The SDSU ADAR Program
ABOUT
The Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) through Undergraduate Education
Program was funded in 2013 by the National Institute of Aging (NIA). The program is designed to
prepare SDSU students who are interested in the field of aging for entry into Ph.D. programs.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF PRE-MED STUDENTS
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To be eligible to apply you must:
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Be enrolled full-time at SDSU with 3 years left at SDSU before graduating.
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Have a 3.3 or higher grade point average.
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Be interested in obtaining a Ph.D. with an emphasis on conducting aging-related research.​
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Be a citizen or non-citizen national of the United States. ​
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The benefits of this program include:
1. Working with outstanding researchers, either at SDSU or UCSD. These researchers and their students will help you to learn about research. You will work in a lab environment where you will receive one-on-one mentoring to foster your development into a successful researcher and become a competitive applicant for graduate school.
2. Financial assistance for your research development. Undergraduates are paid 15 hours/wk during the academic semesters & 30-40 hours/wk over summer.
3. Travel funds to attend professional conferences.
4. Laboratory training supplies.
5. Going to another university for a summer to do research in another lab.
6. Meeting with visiting scientists to learn about their research, how they got started and what helped them along the way.
7. Graduate program application development and personal statement workshops.
8. Meeting other students who share your goals.
Applications will be accepted until
all positions are filled.
Please let us know if you're interested in applying.
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To access the application, click the online application button to the right
If you have any questions, please email Nancy Cronan, ADAR Program Coordinator,
Advancing Diversity in Aging Research
ADAR Scholar, Uriel Urias, presenting his research at the International Neuropsychological Society
Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA 2025
ADAR Scholars Armando Lemus, Uriel Urias, and Abel Pichardo at the 2024 Western Psychological Association conference in San Francisco
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Terry Cronan, Ph.D.
Co-PI & Program Director
Dr. Cronan received her PhD from Michigan State University. She is a professor in the psychology department at SDSU. Dr. Cronan has been involved in programs for students for more than 30 years; she developed, implemented, and directed the Faculty/Student Mentoring Program, and developed and directed the Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Program at SDSU. Both programs were very successful with all COR scholars entering graduate programs. Dr. Cronan's research lab focuses on community-based intervention programs designed to increase the health and well-being of people with chronic diseases, specifically older adults.
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ADAR Scholars at lunch with visiting scientist/speaker,
Dr. Saul Villeda from UCSF