Dyslexia gene may predict concussion susceptibility among football players
A gene associated with the learning disorder dyslexia may offer researchers clues about variations in individual athletes’ susceptibility to concussions, according to a pilot study by Penn State and Northwestern University.
The results were published in the Journal of Neurotrauma on…
Courier service to Hershey for research/bio transport
University Park/Hershey Shuttle and Courier Rules
The purpose of these shuttle rules is to maintain the safety of shuttle drivers, passengers, the public and the environment. Information on the courier service is provided to comply with federal regulations related to the shipment of hazardous…
Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey to retire in June 2019
Neil Sharkey, vice president for research at Penn State, has announced that he will retire on June 30, 2019, after a 22-year career at the University. A national search will begin immediately to identify his successor.
Sharkey has led Penn State’s research enterprise since August 2013, initially as…
Applications sought for 2019-20 Administrative Fellows Program
Applications are being sought for the Administrative Fellows Program for 2019-20. The program offers Penn State faculty and staff who hold standing positions the opportunity to work with senior University officers to gain knowledge and experiences pertaining to the challenges of leadership in the…
Challenges Facing Rural America Deeply Rooted In Economic And Social Distress, Researchers Say
By Min Xian, WPSU
Nearly three and a half million Pennsylvanians live in rural parts of the state. In many ways, rural areas face challenges different than those in urban areas. Researchers gathered on Monday for the 26th National Symposium on Family Issues at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Inn, with a…
Penn State response to new NSF and NIH requirements
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have recently taken steps to promote the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff to maintain productive research and educational environments.
NSF has announced that all institutions receiving NSF funds…
Bringing Americans together on the issue of affordable housing
A lack of affordable housing is linked with many health problems, including asthma, stress and alcoholism. Penn State researchers found that while some Americans may be less aware of this link, there may be ways to communicate this connection in a way that resonates with those groups.
The…
Does putting the brakes on outrage bottle up social change?
While outrage is often generally considered a hurdle in the path to civil discourse, a team of psychologists suggest outrage — specifically, moral outrage — may have beneficial outcomes, such as inspiring people to take part in long-term collective action.
In a literature review, the team, led by…
Why Social Science? - Because It Helps Build Resilience in the Face of Disasters
By Brandi Gilbert, Ph.D., Research Associate, Urban Institute & Nnenia Campbell, Ph.D., Research Associate, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Boulder
We are dedicated to using social science to improve disaster recovery for those on the margins of society—in particular on the…
SSRI Spotlight: Michael Donovan
As the Director of Policy & Outreach at Penn State’s Administrative Data Accelerator, Michael Donovan leads policy operations and facilitates collaborative projects between government partners and researchers to support the utilization of scholarly research in evidence-based policymaking.
At…
WPSU wins Mid-Atlantic Emmy
Penn State's WPSU took home the Emmy for Top Overall Excellence at the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards on Oct. 13.
WPSU competed against television stations from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to take home three awards from the awards. The station also won awards for episodes 2 and 3 of “Finding Your…
Clinical and translational science training program welcomes seven scholars
Penn State graduate students with varied research interests including sudden infant death syndrome, aging, childhood obesity, health disparities and leukemia have started a year of training in clinical and translational sciences. The TL1 Predoctoral Training Program is a year-long…
Kids’ sleep may suffer from moms’ tight work schedules
It may be tough for working moms to get a good night’s sleep, but working tight hours may affect their children’s sleep, too.
After studying the sleep habits of children from ages five to nine, researchers found that when mothers reported less flexibility in their work schedules, their children got…
Sainburg receives grant renewal for stroke rehabilitation research
The National Institutes of Health recently renewed funding for Penn State researcher Robert Sainburg, which will allow him to begin testing his rehabilitation intervention in treating the “unaffected” hand in stroke patients. The first cycle of this grant funded a series of basic science…
Teams sought to develop innovative research programs using Twitter data
Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is seeking teams to develop innovative research programs using Twitter data.
Proposals are invited for pilot projects aimed at using Twitter data in social science research. Twitter offers one of the most rapidly growing and accessible Big Data…
Mood of the Nation Poll finds one person's anger is another's pride
From Colin Kaepernick to Brett Kavanaugh, Americans appear to be sharply divided over the people who shape political life.
Those divides are evident in the latest McCourtney Institute Mood of the Nation Poll. The poll utilizes open-ended questions that allow participants to respond in…
The Future of Higher Education Is Social Impact
By Adam Gamoran
Over the last decade, universities have faced steady criticism for elitist practices such as political bias, hoarding wealthy endowments, and providing insufficient economic returns for students. In light of this, institutions that turn their attention to serving the public good may…
Advance feedback offered on strategic initiative seed grant funding proposals
Penn State community members, including faculty and staff, will be invited to submit ideas for pilot projects that are aimed at fulfilling the mission of the University's 2016-2020 Strategic Plan to advance innovation, research, learning and engagement at the University and beyond. Proposals for…
Biobehavioral health major working on Child Health Study
Penn State senior Rachel Brettler, who is majoring in biobehavioral health and minoring in human development and family studies, is being mentored by renowned faculty experts, as well as gaining real-world research experience, through her role as an undergraduate research assistant in the…
Newly funded project to focus on health of rural communities in Pennsylvania
Many rural Pennsylvania communities are seeing unique challenges related to the health of residents. Deaths related to heart and liver diseases, diabetes, accidental opioid overdose and suicide are rising in American small towns. Recognizing these unique problems, Penn State Clinical and…
Smokers may opt for lower nicotine cigarettes if offered at lower prices
Reducing nicotine intake, a step towards helping smokers reduce — or break — the habit, can be influenced by the price and availability of reduced-nicotine cigarettes, according to Penn State researchers.
The researchers found that smokers were more likely to choose lower-cost, lower-nicotine…
Morgan featured in “New Yorker”
SSRI co-fund and CEDR director Paul Morgan’s research has been featured in the “New Yorker’s” article, “Georgia’s Separate and Unequal Special-Education System.”
Morgan’s research focuses on the underrepresentation of children of color in special education. He argues that environmental factors like…
Yocum retires from SSRI
After over 35 years of service at Penn State, Sherry Yocum has retired as administrative director at SSRI.
A retirement party was held in her honor last week, where co-workers recognized her dedication to Penn State and wished her well in her retirement. Several unit directors and co-workers…
Child maltreatment linked to cognitive aging
Almost 10 million older adults in the U.S. have cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, or other related dementias. Penn State researchers are looking into how early life adversity, specifically child maltreatment, can affect cognitive aging later in life in a new project.
According to Chad…
Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse announces fellows program
Penn State’s Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse (CCSA) and Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) are announcing a call for proposals for the Community Fellows Program to support faculty members seeking to develop university-community collaborations that address substance abuse and its…