Social Science Research Institute

Supporting Novel Interdisciplinary Research to Address Critical Human and Social Problems
Chris Fowler headshot with bookshelf in background, blue button down shirt, brown sweater and tie, with brown hair and beard.

Fowler featured in first SSRI Public Impact Research video

Christopher Fowler, professor of geography and director of SSRI’s Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC), is the first researcher featured in a new SSRI video series focusing on how research translates to public impact.

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Two femail students standing together, smiling.

Child Study Center program We Are Connected offers its students community

For even the most outgoing students, arriving at a place the size of Penn State can be a daunting experience that for some may lead to isolation, loneliness, anxiety and depression. With intentions of mitigating those risks, the University’s Child…

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Research Professor Sarah Chilenski wins international mentoring award.

Research Professor Sarah Chilenski wins international mentoring award

The Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center (PRC) at Penn State has announced that Sarah Chilenski, Penn State research professor of health and human development and SSRI and CSUA affiliate, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Friend of…

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A man with dark hair and a black shirt on a smart phone, standing beside a woman with long black hair, grey cardigan and black shirt, sitting down working on a laptop in a grey and glass room.

When is screen time healthy and when is it not?

Smartphones have been connected to a host of modern problems including loneliness, decreased physical activity, sleep problems and all the mental and physical health issues associated with those conditions.

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Become a SSRI Affiliate

Become a SSRI Affiliate

Welcome to the SSRI Faculty Affiliate Program, where social and behavioral science researchers at Penn State connect to share opportunities and form collaborations.

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SSRI Mission

Our mission is to foster novel, interdisciplinary collaborations by investigators who aim to address critical human and social problems at the local, national, and international levels and to translate and disseminate this knowledge into measurable outcomes for human behavior, health, and development. ​

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RESEARCH

Within SSRI we support several research units.

RESOURCES

Core resources tailored to the needs of social and behavioral scientists.

Illustration of four interlocking puzzle pieces, each featuring a distinct icon.

FUNDING

Seed grants and faculty fellowships.

AFFILIATES

SSRI Faculty Affiliate Program.

SSRI News

View Coaching parents of preschool children improved child skills through grade seven
View The Social Science Research Institute announces co-funded and affiliated faculty member promotions
View Krishnan Awarded the Lloyd Prize for Innovative Health Research
View When is screen time healthy and when is it not?
View Research Professor Sarah Chilenski wins international mentoring award
View Updates to AI Resource Hub