SSRI Launches Mid-Career Research–Practice Partnership Fellows Program
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) has opened applications for its 2026–2027 Mid-Career Research–Practice Partnership Fellows Program, a new initiative designed to strengthen collaborative research that drives real-world impact. Supported in part by a William T. Grant Institutional…
Structural issue believed to be the cause of Welch Building incident
As most of you are aware, an incident occurred in usan Welch Liberal Arts Building last Wednesday which prompted the evacuation of all occupants. We want to reassure you that everyone in SSRI is safe, and that no one was injured during the incident. Please be patient with us as we locate…
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SSRI
New SSRI calendar subscription feed
Now you can subscribe to SSRI events via your Calendar in Outlook. Simply click on "Subscribe to SSRI Calendar" link at the top of the SSRI events page and follow the step-by-step directions. Once completed, your Outlook Calendar will automatically update periodically with new and updated events…
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SSRI
SSRI announces 2025-26 faculty fellows
Five Penn State faculty members were recently named Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) Mentored Faculty Fellows for 2025-2026. The SSRI Mentored Faculty Fellows Program supports the career development of Penn State early career faculty to train in a new area of research and/or to develop new…
Social Science Research Institute accepting applications for inaugural SJRC Equity Fellows
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is seeking applications for their inaugural Social Justice Research Council (SJRC) Equity Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year. SJRC Equity Fellows are expected to engage in work, together or individually, that aligns with the mission of SSRI or CTSI…
Four Penn State Liberal Arts faculty members receive Fulbright Scholar Awards
Four College of the Liberal Arts faculty members recently received Fulbright Scholar Awards for the 2023-24 academic year: Gary Adler Jr.,associate professor of sociology; Jennifer E. Glick, associate director of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) and…
SSRI sponsors Centre Safe family
Once again, SSRI sponsored a mother and her three children this year through Centre Safe. The donations received from the Fall Gathering totaled $505, enabling us to purchase a $50 gift card for each family member and provided an additional $305 in checks. Thank you for helping us help a family in…
SSRI Fall Gathering goes virtual
Faculty and staff from all of SSRI's units recently gathered together virtually to celebrate major accomplishments of the year and to announce staff awards. The “Above and Beyond Award” was given to Barbara Rigg, SSRI grants and contracts manager and director of the administrative core, and Mark…
Social Science Research Institute Director Susan McHale to step down; Search for next SSRI director to commence
The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research announced on July 24 that Susan McHale will step down as the director of the Social Science Research Institute. She will continue to head the institute while a search for the next director is conducted. McHale has served as the SSRI director…
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Penn State stands out as 'exception' for team research collaboration
The faculty at Penn State may view their extensive interdisciplinary research collaborations as normal, but it turns out that Penn State’s successful culture of innovation through interdisciplinary collaborations is anything but normal. It is an exception. In December 2019, a research team led by…
Fall Gathering Basket Raffle/donations benefit local family
This year SSRI is sponsoring a family of four through Centre Safe Sponsorship. The donations received from the Fall Gathering totaled $566, enabling us to purchase gift cards and presents that each family member requested, including art supplies and a skateboard, drawing supplies, and LOL dolls for…
Morgan's research cited in report on using science and policy to advance health
Paul Morgan, director of the Center for Educational Disparities Research and PRI affiliate, and his research team's finding on disparities in disability identification are repeatedly cited in Vibrant and Healthy Kids, the new National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine report…
Mood of the Nation Poll examines gun control as case reaches Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s decision on a New York City gun regulation could mean the first significant judicial action on gun reform in nearly a decade — at a time when the McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s Mood of the Nation Poll finds that a majority of Americans support stricter regulations for gun…
SSRI Fall Gathering 2019
Faculty and staff from all of SSRI's units recently gathered together at the Hintz Family Alumni Center to celebrate major accomplishments of the year and to announce staff awards. The “Above and Beyond Award” was given to Avery Urusow from the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness. Diane…
All the feels: Feeling loved in everyday life linked with improved well-being
Poets and songwriters may tend to focus their artistry on passion and romance, but it may be those unsung, brief feelings of love throughout the day that are connected with psychological well-being, according to a team of researchers led by two Penn State Institute for Computational and Data…
Progressive gender views may protect health of financially dependent men
As it becomes more common for women to be the breadwinner of their family, men’s health may be affected depending on their views on gender ideology, according to Penn State researchers. The researchers found that men who were financially dependent on their wives and who also had more traditional…
NIH Requests Public Comment on a Draft Policy for Data Management and Sharing and Supplemental Draft Guidance
NIH recently released a Draft NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing and supplemental draft guidance for public comment. The purpose of this draft policy and supplemental draft guidance is to promote effective and efficient data management and sharing that furthers NIH’s commitment to making…
The RISE Network: Towards a New Framework for University Interventions in Disasters
In the era of climate change—where the frequency of extreme weather and disaster events is increasing and social inequality magnifies their impact—universities are acting as first responders without being designed or organized to serve in this role. Immediately after major events such as Hurricane…
Why Social Science? - Because It Makes Informed Democracy Possible
By Rush D. Holt, Ph.D., CEO Emeritus, American Association for the Advancement of Science Einstein said famously, “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.” It gives scientific optimists like me encouragement that great thinkers have concluded it is possible to understand the…
Personality traits may predict problems with problem-solving in older adults
People often blame poor genetics or lack of mental stimulation for cognitive decline with aging. While those can play a role, new research suggests that certain personality and temperament traits in older adults can cause personal problem-solving skills and can impact everyday cognitive functioning…
Symposium focuses on families and food, honors late colleague Leann Birch
The late Leann Birch, a former Penn State distinguished professor of human development and family studies and former director of the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, was honored at the 27th Annual National Symposium on Family issues, held recently at…
SSRI cofund donates graduation gowns to alleviate financial burden for students
Graduation caps and gowns are an integral aspect of the traditional graduation process. However, for some students, purchasing a cap and gown can be a financial burden that impacts their ability to attend commencement. Now, thanks to a Penn State faculty member, students in need have an option to…
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Popular electronic cigarette may deliver nicotine more effectively than others
When it comes to nicotine delivery, not all electronic cigarettes are created equally, according to Penn State researchers. New research from Penn State College of Medicine shows that JUUL, a popular pod-based electronic cigarette, can deliver more nicotine at a faster rate than most…
Conference explores role of institutions of higher education in extreme weather
As the number of extreme weather events associated to climate change continues to grow world-wide, it is becoming increasingly important that institutions of higher education reflect on their role both before and after catastrophic events. The “RISE CONFERENCE 2019: Transforming University…
Krug joins SSRI
Please welcome Public Relations Specialist Melissa Krug to SSRI. Melissa is responsible for the communications efforts of the Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse (CCSA) and is coordinating the Evidence to Impact Collaborative (EIC) podcast series. Melissa previously worked as a poverty analyst at…