Social Science Research Institute at Penn State

Public Health Sciences Seminar Series | Social Science Research Institute "Moving beyond sub-national prevalence - novel secondary uses of population-based HIV impact assessment (PHIA) data in research"

Join us for a Public Health Seminar on "Moving beyond sub-national prevalence - novel secondary uses of population-based HIV impact assessment (PHIA) data in research" with Kristen Stafford, MPH, PhD on Oct. 15, 12 - 1 p.m.

Dr. Frances Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship | Social Science Research Institute Professorship focused on developing research focused on relationships between the human brain and human behavior (psychological and brain science) Eligibility: Tenure track Penn State faculty members…

SSRI is accepting applications for the Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship award, which provides supplemental funding to PSU social & behavioral science faculty whose research focuses on relationships between the human brain & human behavior. Deadline is Oct. 20.
Learn More ➡️

SSRI Open House - Funding Opportunities at the Russell Sage Foundation | Social Science Research Institute Join us to hear from Stephen Glauser, Program Officer for the Russell Sage Foundation, about upcoming funding opportunities.

SSRI will host an Open House, "Funding Opportunities at the Russell Sage Foundation," on Monday, October 6th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm in the 314 Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building and on Zoom. Attendees must register and a light lunch will be served for in-person attendees.

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Penn State to co-lead national brain health and dementia prevention initiative | Social Science Research Institute Scientists at Penn State, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the University of Southern California and other institutions have formed a new research network to detect the earliest signs of dementia…

Scientists at Penn State, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the University of Southern California and other institutions have formed a new research network to detect the earliest signs of dementia years before symptoms emerge. ➡️

Downs inducted as fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology | Social Science Research Institute Danielle Symons Downs, professor of kinesiology and SSRI associate director, was recently inducted as fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK). Symons Downs was among 12 distinguished…

Danielle Symons Downs, professor of kinesiology & SSRI associate director, was recently inducted as fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK). Symons Downs was among 12 distinguished scholars honored on September 13 during the Academy’s 94th Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh. ➡️

Not all heart attack patients receive the same type of care, researchers find | Social Science Research Institute While acute myocardial infarction — commonly referred to as a heart attack — remains a leading cause of death in the United States, deaths have decreased significantly over the past two decades in…

According to a new study led by Charleen Hsuan, assoc. prof of health policy & administration, Hispanic & non-Hispanic Black patients in FL who experienced a severe type of heart attack were less likely to receive the recommended treatment compared to non-Hispanic white patients. buff.ly/uG0j4ri

$3.6M NIH grant to study brain patterns in children with ADHD, behavior problems | Social Science Research Institute Approximately 7 million children in the United States between the ages of three and 17 have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the Centers For Disease…

A new 5-year, $3.6M grant will from the NIMH will study brain patterns in children with #ADHD & behavior problems. ➡️ buff.ly/keYBBYj

SSRI Open House - Foundation Relations & Russel Sage Foundation | Social Science Research Institute "Funding Opportunities at the Russell Sage Foundation"

SSRI will host an Open House, "Funding Opportunities at the Russell Sage Foundation," on Monday, October 6th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm in the 314 Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building and on Zoom. Attendees must register and a light lunch will be served for in-person attendees.

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REACH: Why. Research. Matters. Dr. Daryl Cameron is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Penn State. He explains empathy as sharing feelings, perspective-taking, and compassion. It’s flexible, can be learned, and sometimes…

Associate professor of Psychology at Penn State and director of SSRI's Consortium on Moral Decision-Making @dcameron.bsky.social was featured on WPSU's "Reach" podcast for a conversation about empathy. Listen Now ➡️

SSRI Open House - Revising and Reframing Funding Proposals to Meet the Moment | Social Science Research Institute Panelists will share their experiences revising, reframing, and resubmitting funding proposals in the new research landscape.

SSRI will host the, "Revising and Reframing Funding Proposals to Meet the Moment" Open House on Monday, September 29th from 12pm-1pm in the 314 Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building and on Zoom. It will feature several panelists sharing their experiences. Attendees must register.

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Young girls may be less responsive to food fullness cues than young boys | Social Science Research Institute Young boys ate less during a meal if they had already consumed a serving of fruit, but girls ate the same amount of the meal whether or not they had eaten fruit, researchers in the Penn State…

A recent study found that young boys ate less during a meal if they had already consumed a serving of fruit, but girls ate the same amount of the meal whether or not they had eaten fruit, researchers led by SSRI cofund, Kathleen Keller. ➡️

Six New Faculty Join Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute | Social Science Research Institute Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) welcomes six new cofunded faculty members, further strengthening its mission of advancing interdisciplinary social and behavior science across…

Six new faculty members have joined SSRI! Please welcome Miranda Galvin, Riley Tucker, Janette Watkins, Kari Sherwood, Kathryn Spearman & Elizabeth Skowron. @psuedu.bsky.social Read more about them here ➡️

New SSRI calendar subscription feed | Social Science Research Institute 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…

You can 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. The calendar will automatically update. ➡️

New Evidence-to-Impact Podcast Episode Explores the Destigmatization and Recovery of the Opioid Crisis | Social Science Research Institute We are back! We have a discussion with Denise Holden, founder and CEO of the RASE Project, a recovery community organization that has since expanded outside of Pennsylvania and Dr. Sarah Kawasaki,…

SSRI's Evidence-to-Impact's podcast is back & exploring the opioid crisis as it relates to recovery and de-stigmatization. Listen now ➡️

Lisa Gatzke-Kopp named head of human development and family studies | Social Science Research Institute Lisa Gatzke-Kopp, professor of human development and family studies, has been named the head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.

SSRI cofund & professor of human development & family studies, Lisa Gatze-Kopp, has been named the head of the Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies. Her research focuses on the development of emotional and behavioral problems in childhood. ➡️

Innovative methods of studying brain health, cognition topic of upcoming lecture | Social Science Research Institute Martin “Marty” Sliwinski, director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State and Gregory H. Wolf Professor in Healthy Aging and Human Development, will present the 2025 Schmitt Russell Research…

Martin Sliwinski, director of the Center for Healthy Aging, will present the 2025 Schmitt Russell Research Lecture, “Measuring a Moving Target: Cognition-on-the-go and the new science of brain health,” on Wed. Sept. 24, in the Bennett Pierce Living Center, 110 Henderson Bldg. ➡️

Newly named Child Health Research Center to advance health of children, families | Social Science Research Institute Since 2004, the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development has developed evidence-based strategies to promote healthy growth and eating behaviors in…

The College of Health and Human Development's Center for Childhood Obesity Research has been renamed to the Child Health Research Center to reflect a broader range of child health research initiatives. ➡️

SSRI Cofund Julia Szabo recognized for enhancing teaching with technology | Social Science Research Institute Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) has announced the recipients of the inaugural New Faculty Recognition Award for the 2024-25 academic year. This award recognizes new faculty at Penn State…

SSRI cofund & assistant professor of sociology, Julia Szabo, has been recognized for enhancing teaching with technology with the New Faculty Recognition Award from Teaching and Learning with Technology. ➡️

SSRI Open House - Understanding the New NIH Research Priorities | Social Science Research Institute A conversation with Dr. Deborah Ehrenthal, SSRI Director, on the new NIH research priorities and their implications.

SSRI will host its first Open House, "Understanding the New NIH Research Priorities" on Mon. Sept. 22 from 12pm-1pm in Room 202 in the Welch Liberal Arts Bldg/Hybrid. Lunch is provided for in-person attendees, but registration is required.

Register Now ➡️

Dr. Frances Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship | Social Science Research Institute Professorship focused on developing research focused on relationships between the human brain and human behavior (psychological and brain science) Eligibility: Tenure track Penn State faculty members…

SSRI is accepting applications for the Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship award, which provides supplemental funding to PSU social & behavioral science faculty whose research focuses on relationships between the human brain & human behavior. Deadline is Oct. 20.
Learn More ➡️

Walmart funds Clearinghouse study on skill-based veteran employment programs | Social Science Research Institute The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State (Clearinghouse) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to evaluate two innovative employment programs aimed at…

SSRI's Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to evaluate two innovative employment programs aimed at reducing underemployment among military veterans. ➡️

Center for Nursing Research announces fall 2025 seminar series | Social Science Research Institute UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing’s Center for Nursing Research (CNR) has announced its Seminar Series for the 2025-26 semesters. This seven-part series virtual series…

The Center for Nursing Research is hosting their 2025-206 seminar series. The seminars are free & hosted virtually from 12-1pm. Registration is required. Learn More ➡️

Endometriosis affects more systems in women’s bodies than previously understood | Social Science Research Institute UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In endometriosis, cells similar to uterine tissue grow outside the uterus. According to researchers in the Penn State Department of Kinesiology who study the disease,…

According to researchers in the Penn State Department of Kinesiology, #Endometriosis is often treated as a purely gynecological condition. In a new study, they demonstrated how the condition, which affects 10% of women around the world, alters how the body responds to feedback. ➡️

Research or Regress: What if we could stop impaired driving? | Social Science Research Institute For teenagers, getting a driver's license is a key to freedom. But for parents, it can be a source of worry, especially since car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among teens, and one…

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) turned to Robert Turrisi, SSRI cofund & Professor of Biobehavioral Health, to help create a program that would help parents talk to their teen about alcohol & drugs & engage in how to reduce unsafe behaviors. ➡️

Piazza Center awarded grant to examine fraternity affiliation and leadership | Social Science Research Institute UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research has been awarded $70,000 to study student learning outcomes from fraternity membership. The study,…

Penn State's Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity & Sorority Research has been awarded $70,000 to study student learning outcomes from fraternity memberships. It will examine the potential impact of fraternity involvement on critical thinking, leadership skills, & more. ➡️

Q&A: What would reclassifying marijuana mean for medical research? | Social Science Research Institute UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — There may be a major change in national drug policy coming soon.

Kent Vrana, director of the Penn State Center for Cannabis and Natural Product Pharmaceuticals (CCNPP), did a Q&A about #marijuana & how reclassifying the drug's status at the federal level would change medical research. ➡️

SSRI News - August 25, 2025 External Opportunities

Missed our newsletter? Here's some highlights: SSRI's Fall Welcome will be held on Sept. 16, SSRI affiliate Florence Becot was honored, the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is holding their annual conference on Oct. 3, and more! Subscribe ➡️

Conference to focus on improving child welfare | Social Science Research Institute The Social Science Research Institute's Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting an in-person conference, “Innovative Pathways in Child Welfare Practice”, in the Eric J Barron Innovation Hub…

SSRI's Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting an in-person conference, “Innovative Pathways in Child Welfare Practice”, in the Eric J Barron Innovation Hub on Oct. 3. Interested attendees can register now. ➡️

New screener offers empirical insights to improve veteran transitions | Social Science Research Institute For the newest generation of U.S. veterans, transitioning to civilian life can pose profound challenges. Post-9/11 veterans are younger and more diverse, and they face rising rates of trauma, mental…

SSRI's Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness have developed a new online assessment tool for assisting veteran-serving organizations identify individualized risks and provide targeted, evidence-informed support ➡️

New website shows how opioid settlement funds are helping Pennsylvanians | Social Science Research Institute Beginning in 2021, a national coalition of attorneys general led by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro reached settlements to hold prescription opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy…

Researchers at Penn State have launched a new website focused on tracking the PA Opioid Settlement Trust. Check it out here ➡️