Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute recently announced the appointment of Jennifer Sinibaldi as assistant director for the institute.
Sinibaldi comes to Penn State from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation. There, she established the NCSES Research Program which includes a small grant program, research-focused contracts through Broad Agency Announcements, and innovation surveys called Bridge Panels. Prior to that, she was the director for the Statistics and Methods Program which provides statistical and methodological support to the survey programs within NCSES.
Sinibaldi also worked as a survey methodologist in private industry, academia, and government agencies. Her roles have included project management, academic and operational research, training, and teaching.
In her new role, Sinibaldi will work closely with the SSRI Director Dr. Deborah Ehrenthal and the executive team to further SSRI’s mission to support interdisciplinary research. In addition to involvement in SSRI management operations, she will lead special initiatives and participate in research activities.
Sinibaldi earned her doctorate in statistics from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany and received a Master’s in survey methodology from the University of Michigan.
She has settled into rural central PA with her two rambunctious mutts, Nessie and Kipper, who will continue their training in agility and tracking.
SSRI enables and facilitates research that addresses critical human and social challenges at the local, national, and international levels. The institute supports 58 cofunded faculty positioned within nine colleges and over 500 faculty across nine campuses via various funding mechanisms.