Call for Abstracts

August 4-5, 2027 | Minneapolis, MN & online

The Network for Data Intensive Research on Aging (NDIRA), a collaboration between IPUMS and the University of Minnesota Life Course Center, and the Education Studies for Healthy Aging Research (EdSHARe) project are currently accepting submissions for the 2027 Data-Intensive Research Conference. The conference will be held in person in Minneapolis, Minnesota with key components of the program also available to virtual participants. The conference theme is Linking Exposures and Health Across the Life Course. Abstract submissions will close on February 5, 2027.

Submit an abstract

Capturing individual and cumulative exposures across the life course can enrich our understanding of how these exposures shape health at later ages. Situating individuals in early-life, familial, or geographic contexts provides crucial information about social and environmental factors that may contribute to their wellbeing. We are interested in research that operationalizes and measures exposures across the life course and examines the intersection of these exposures and later life outcomes or life course trajectories. We seek to create a conference program that explores exposures across many domains ー including social, economic, political, environmental, and more. 

We welcome submissions that leverage large-scale population data to study exposures, either at a single point in time or cumulatively, to examine the life course in the U.S. and global contexts. Papers that are informed by a life course perspective and use data from IPUMS, including research that links complete count census data to aging surveys (e.g., HRS, PSID), EdSHARe (i.e., HS&B:80 and NLS:72), or National Couples’ Health and Time Study (NCHAT) are especially welcome. Competitive submissions will examine health and wellbeing at later ages or life course trajectories through the lens of life course exposures, including but not limited to:

• Place-based environmental conditions and/or exposures;
• Social, economic, and policy contexts;
• Early life conditions and events;
• Timing of life course processes and trajectories; or
• Proximity to resources, services, and/or hazards.

All submissions will be considered for both paper and poster sessions. We strongly encourage submissions from new and early stage investigators and from new interdisciplinary teams. All researchers are welcome to submit relevant work.

Authors are asked to submit a short abstract (150 words) and either an extended abstract (2-5 pages) or a completed paper; we will only consider abstracts submitted in English. You must cite the data you are using in your abstract submission. Submissions will be considered for paper sessions as well as poster sessions. Note that if your abstract is selected for inclusion on the program in an oral session, your session will be recorded and posted to the conference website. 

Submit an abstract

Travel Support

NDIRA and EdSHARe have funds to offer travel support for some conference presenters. Travel support may include lodging and/or reimbursement for domestic airfare. Participants must indicate their interest in receiving travel support as part of the abstract submission or workshop application forms*. Notifications about receipt of travel support will be included in messages notifying authors if they were selected to present at the conference.  

NDIRA seeks to build and support an interdisciplinary and diverse community of scientists leveraging powerful data resources in innovative ways. Our goals are to build community, lower barriers to using complex data, and engage new users to expand use of these data. We offer travel support to increase the accessibility of the event. All conference presenters and workshop participants may apply for travel support. EdSHARe travel support funds are only available to authors using EdSHARe data for their submission. 

*Workshop participants are expected to also attend the research sessions on August 4-5.