The Gateway to Global Aging Data is organizing a research hackathon to advance understanding of the mechanisms that link education and health throughout the human life course. This initiative encourages rigorous investigation by leveraging harmonized education variables, focusing on how education influences long-term health outcomes and contributes to disparities in later life.
Program Overview
• Event Format: A four-day, team-based research hackathon for early-career researchers.
• Core Theme: Investigating the role of education in determining risk, resilience, and disparities in non-communicable diseases, with a specific focus on cognition.
• Objective: Teams will collaborate on a study addressing the theme and present their project findings to a panel of judges on the final day.
• Dates: July 27–30, 2026.
• Location: USC Capital Campus near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
Research Challenges
• Challenge 1: Utilize education policy changes within one or more countries to identify causal effects and mechanisms of education's impact on non-communicable disease risk.
• Challenge 2: Conduct a comparative study (e.g., cross-country or cross-cohort) on education's role in determining life course risks related to mid- or late-life non-communicable disease outcomes.
• Project Scope: Projects are expected to examine multiple education stages (early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary) and adopt a life-course approach. Participants are encouraged to use data from the Health and Retirement Study and its international network.
Eligibility Criteria
• Primary Audience: Early-career researchers across disciplines.
• Definition of Early-Career: Includes recent PhD recipients (within the last 10 years) and individuals in the final year of their dissertation work.
• Other Eligible Applicants: Mid-career researchers transitioning into this field are also eligible.
• Geographic Eligibility: Open to both U.S.-based and international applicants.
Application and Selection Process
• Application Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026.
• Submission Requirements: Applicants must submit an individual research proposal and a CV to hackathon@g2aging.org.
• Research Proposal: 1–2 pages (excluding references), outlining the selected research challenge, research question, data, methodology, and expected contribution.
• Curriculum Vitae: Should highlight relevant technical skills, including programming proficiency.
• Selection: Participation is limited. Invitations will be extended by May 15, 2026, based on proposal quality as evaluated by the organizing committee.
• Team Formation: Selected participants will be assigned to teams of 3–4 based on research interests, chosen challenge, and complementary skills.
Participant Benefits and Costs
• Awards for Winners: Financial support for conference participation and journal submission or publication costs.
• Provided Amenities: Meals will be provided throughout the hackathon.
• Participant Expenses: Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
• Travel Support: Limited travel funding is available and awarded based on need. Applicants should indicate interest when applying.
This hackathon enables researchers to collaborate on studies examining education as a determinant of long-term health outcomes. Participants will engage with peers and experts while contributing to research on aging, health, and social disparities.