The Institute for Social Research advances the work of the social sciences through key training opportunities for researchers in diverse fields.
Over the past year, our five centers have hosted numerous training efforts designed to support two of the three principles in our mission statement: to disseminate the findings of our research and to train the next generation of social scientists.
Among the most notable efforts, the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) has led a growing number of researchers through a specialized program designed to help with new National Institutes of Health (NIH) Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) requirements for all proposed research. This important training ensures all researchers who work with NIH data are in compliance with NIH requirements, safeguarding their projects against the pitfalls associated with falling short of NIH standards.
Other centers also worked to uplift future scientists through training. The Research Center for Group Dynamics (RCGD) sponsored two theme semesters over the past year, inviting interdisciplinary speakers to ISR and giving students an opportunity to interact with leaders in their research fields. And in addition to their ongoing work with the DMS plan as outlined above, ICPSR announced the Ukrainian Summer Methods Fellowship, giving Ukrainian students, faculty, and researchers unique access to ICPSR’s summer program.
Over the past year, ISR’s Population Studies Center (PSC) has continued to lead in the field. In the 2024 fiscal year, PSC trainee Erin Ice (right), a Ph.D. candidate, received the Dorothy S. Thomas Award from the Population Association of America, recognizing her as an outstanding young demographer. This achievement continues a notable tradition: three generations of PSC recipients have won the award 20 years apart—in 1983, 2003, and 2023. The previous awardees are current PSC Director Sarah Burgard (left) and former ISR and PSC Director David Lam (center).