Initiative to empower growth of Penn State’s research enterprise
Sep 25, 2023
Penn State has experienced unprecedented growth in its research enterprise over the last five years, including exceeding $1 billion in research expenditures. To capitalize on this momentum and empower continued growth, the University aims to transform research support operations so that faculty,…
SSRI Welcomes New Associate Directors Frankenberg and Thompson
Sep 25, 2023
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) at Penn State recently announced the addition of two new associate directors: Cheryl Thompson and Erica Frankenberg.Thompson is a professor in the department of public health sciences at the Hershey College of Medicine, the…
New publication on child safety and well-being now available
Sep 21, 2023
The new publication, “Strengthening Child Safety and Well-Being Through Integrated Data Solutions,” edited by Christian Connell and Daniel Crowley, directors of Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network and Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative, is now available.This publication is based on a…
Frankenberg discusses racial segregation in schools on new podcast
Sep 21, 2023
Erica Frankenberg, SSRI associate director and professor of education and demography, was featured in a Policy in Brief podcast that examined ‘Segregation in our Schools.’In this podcast, Frankenberg discusses the racial segregation that marginalized students have faced over the past few decades…
Seed grants fund research collaborations with minority-serving institutions
Sep 21, 2023
The first awardees of Penn State’s new Inter-Institutional Partnerships for Diversifying Research (IDPR) initiative have been selected, comprising a total of 16 collaborative projects that connect Penn State researchers with colleagues from minority-serving institutions (MSIs).The IPDR program,…
Supporting speech and swallowing in individuals with Down syndrome
Sep 21, 2023
Individuals with Down syndrome have vocational, educational, social and personal goals, all of which can be realized with targeted services, according to a Penn State research team. The researchers recently investigated how to establish specific support interventions related to speaking and…
Penn State Family Symposium to focus on immigrant families
Sep 20, 2023
The 31st Annual National Symposium on Family Issues, being held Oct. 23 - Oct. 24 virtually and in person in 233B HUB-Robeson Center, will focus on immigrant family research and the effects of public policies and practices on this demographic.The first session, “How immigration admission and…
Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction Seeking Director Position Applications
Sep 19, 2023
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is searching for a faculty member to lead the interdisciplinary Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction (CSUA). Applications for the position are open until October 1, 2023. For more information about the position, please visit CSUA’s website.The…
SSRI Open House series kicks off on Oct. 2
Sep 19, 2023
Penn State's Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) will be hosting an Open House brainstorming session, “Building Resources for Social and Behavioral Science Research Using Smart Devices and Digital Platforms,” on Oct. 2, noon - 1:00 p.m. in 110 Henderson Building.This Open House features…
SSRI Open House on Data Resources Hub
Sep 19, 2023
Penn State's Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) will be hosting an Open House on the new SSRI Data Resources Hub in 114 Henderson Building, on Oct. 16, noon - 1 p.m.Join Jason Shumberger, SSRI special projects manager, and Joe Broniszewski, SSRI IT director, as they go over the pilot year…
Teachers across globe feel undervalued, researchers find
Sep 14, 2023
A significant number of teachers across 28 high-income countries feel undervalued in their respective societies, which consequently impacts their level of job satisfaction and how they engage in their work, according to a study co-authored by a Penn State College of Education researcher.The study…
Conference on supporting youth in child welfare and juvenile court systems
Sep 13, 2023
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting a conference at The Hintz Family Alumni Center on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.The conference, “Supporting Crossover Youth Involved with Child Welfare and Juvenile Court Systems”, will feature nationally renowned…
A Turning Point for the Unauthorized Immigrant Population in the United States
Sep 13, 2023
By Jennifer Van Hook, Julia Gelatt and Ariel G. Ruiz SotoApproximately 11.2 million unauthorized immigrants lived in the United States in 2021, up from 11.0 million in 2019, according to new Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates. This represents larger annual growth in the unauthorized…
Long-term study of early brain and child development launches enrollment
Sep 13, 2023
Penn State researchers are launching enrollment for the largest long-term study of early brain and child development in the U.S.Penn State researchers aim to enroll 300 people, about 4% of the total cohort. The researchers will follow participants and their children from before birth through early…
Lecture to explore how demography influences environmental research and policies
Sep 11, 2023
Penn State’s 18th annual De Jong Lecture in Social Demography, “Reflections on Necessary, Next Generation Population & Environment Research Agendas,” will be presented by Sara Curran on Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the HUB Robeson Center room 233 B and virtually.Curran is a professor of…
Theatre professor and psychology faculty expand research on drawing and anxiety
Sep 6, 2023
For the past six years, Bill Doan’s research and creative work has focused on how drawing can be a tool for managing mental health. He is now involved in a joint-funded project that is taking that work to a new level by measuring individuals’ physiological responses while drawing.Doan, professor…
$3.6M to fund study on long-term physical activity to reduce Alzheimer’s risk
Sep 5, 2023
Penn State College of Medicine researchers are exploring a new way to keep people physically active long term, and in doing so, they said they hope to prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. With a $3.6 million, two‑phase grant from the National…
Mixed-reality technology may improve research on eating behaviors
Sep 1, 2023
In 2020, more than four-in-10 people in the United States had obesity, an increase from three-in-10 people in the year 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To better understand eating behaviors and food choices that may contribute to obesity, researchers investigate…
Kindergarten conduct problems could cost society later, researchers find
Aug 31, 2023
A new economic analysis has linked, for the first time, conduct problems among kindergarten students with significant costs to society in terms of crime and associated medical expenses and lost productivity when they are adults.“Providing effective, evidence-based programming designed to address…
Amish found to be under-vaccinated for COVID-19 but not unvaccinated
Aug 28, 2023
This summer, viral misinformation claimed that the Amish did not vaccinate against COVID-19 and, as a result, had a death rate 90 times lower than the rest of the United States. Now, a Penn State study is the first to provide geographically broad and population-wide evidence that while the Amish-…
CHEER team launches the Community Partner Toolkit
Aug 23, 2023
The community-facing toolkit is designed to educate learners about the importance of community-engaged researchThe Community Health Equity & Engagement in Research (CHEER) Team has launched a community-facing toolkit for researchers to share with their community partners! The Community Partner…
Almeida Earns GSA’s 2023 Robert W. Kleemeier Award
Aug 21, 2023
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has chosen David Almeida, professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, as the 2023 recipient of the Robert W. Kleemeier Award.This distinguished…
Inaugural faculty success and equity workshop held
Aug 20, 2023
The inaugural Initiative for Faculty Success and Equity Workshop was a great success last week, with over 100 attendees participating in knowledge and skill building presentations, workshops, and discussions focused on equity and inclusion and career development. This was the first in a series of…
Next-day effects of heavy drinking on young adults the focus of NIH grant
Aug 14, 2023
Nausea, headaches and difficulty concentrating are just a few of the hangover symptoms that can besiege young adults who drink alcohol to excess. To gain a greater understanding of how heavy drinking impacts young adults, Ashley Linden-Carmichael, Penn State associate research professor of health…
SSRI Welcomes Three New Co-Funded Faculty Members
Aug 9, 2023
The Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members to Penn State:Cleothia Frazier, asistant professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts. Frazier completed her Ph.D. in sociology at Vanderbilt University and MPH at Michigan State University. Prior to…