IPR - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Research Project Coordinator
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- Research Project Coordinator
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- Associate Director of Research Programs
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- Research Data Analyst Associate
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- Research Study Coordinator Senior
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- Technical Support Specialist
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- Carlos Montezuma Professor of Anthropology
CharlesF.ManskihasbeenBoardofTrusteesProfessorinEconomicsatNorthwesternUniversitysince1997.HewasformerlyamemberofthefacultyattheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison(1983-98),theHebrewUniversityofJerusalem(1979-83),andCarnegieMellonUniversity(1973-80).
Manski'sresearchspanseconometrics,judgmentanddecision,andtheanalysisofpublicpolicy.Heistheauthorofeightbooks,includingPatientCareunderUncertainty(PrincetonUniversityPress,2019),PublicPolicyinanUncertainWorld(HarvardUniversityPress,2013)andIdentificationforPredictionandDecision(HarvardUniversityPress,2007),co-authorofCollegeChoiceinAmerica(HarvardUniversityPress,1983),andco-editoroffourothers.
ManskihasbeeneditoroftheJournalofHumanResources(1991-94),co-editoroftheEconometricSocietyMonographSeries(1983-88),memberoftheeditorialboardoftheAnnualReviewofEconomics(2007-13),andassociateeditoroftheAnnalsofAppliedStatistics(2006-10),JournalofEconomicPerspectives(1986-89),Econometrica(1980-88),theJournaloftheAmericanStatisticalAssociation(1983-85,2002-04),andTransportationScience(1978-84).
HehasservedasdirectoroftheInstituteforResearchonPoverty(1988-91)attheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison,aschairoftheBoardofOverseersofthePanelStudyofIncomeDynamics(1994-98),andaschairoftheDepartmentofEconomicsatNorthwesternUniversity(2007-10).AttheNationalResearchCouncil,hehasbeenchairoftheCommitteeonDataandResearchforPolicyonIllegalDrugs(1998-2001),amemberoftheBoardonMathematicalSciencesandtheirApplications(2004-07),theCommitteeonLawandJustice(2009-15),theCommitteeonDeterrenceandtheDeathPenalty(2010-12),theCommitteeonProactivePolicing(2015-17),theReportReviewCommittee(2010-18),theCommitteeonNationalStatistics(1996-2000),theCommissiononBehavioralandSocialSciencesandEducation(1992-98),theCommitteeontheFederalRoleinEducationResearch(1991-92),theCommitteeonResearchonLawEnforcementandtheAdministrationofJustice(1985-87),andthePanelonResearchonCriminalCareers(1983-86).ManskiisanelectedmemberoftheNationalAcademyofSciencesandanelectedfellowoftheEconometricSociety,TheAmericanAcademyofArtsandSciences,theAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience,theAmericanStatisticalAssociation,andtheBritishAcademy.HeisaDistinguishedFellowoftheAmericanEconomicAssociation.
CurrentResearch
PolicyChoicewithPartialKnowledgeofTreatmentResponse.Economistshavelongsoughttolearntheeffectofa"treatment"onsomeoutcomeofinterest,justasdoctorsdowiththeirpatients.Acentralpracticalobjectiveofresearchontreatmentresponseistoprovidedecisionmakerswithinformationusefulinchoosingtreatments.Oftenthedecisionmakerisasocialplannerwhomustchoosetreatmentsforaheterogeneouspopulation-forexample,aphysicianchoosingmedicaltreatmentsfordiversepatientsorajudgechoosingsentencesforconvictedoffenders.Butresearchontreatmentresponserarelyprovidesalltheinformationthatplannerswouldliketohave.Howthenshouldplannersusetheavailableevidencetochoosetreatments?Manski'sresearchaddresseskeyaspectsofthisbroadquestion,exploringandpartiallyresolvingpervasiveproblemsofidentificationandstatisticalinferencethatarisewhenstudyingtreatmentresponseandmakingtreatmentchoices.
Job Titles:
- Research Project Coordinator
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- Senior Communications Coordinator
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- Research Associate / STEPP Center
Job Titles:
- Research Project Coordinator
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- Senior Research Study Coordinator
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- Administrator
- Research Assistant
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- Director of Data & Research Partnerships
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- Director
- Economist
- Margaret Walker Alexander Professor of Human Development and Social Policy
DianeWhitmoreSchanzenbachisaneconomistwhostudiespoliciesaimedatimprovingthelivesofchildreninpoverty,includingeducation,health,andincomesupportpolicies.HerworktracestheimpactofmajorpublicpoliciessuchastheFoodStampProgram,schoolfinancereform,andearlychildhoodeducationonchildren'slong-termoutcomes.SheistheMargaretWalkerAlexanderProfessorintheSchoolofEducationandSocialPolicy.
Schanzenbachhaspublishedinmanytop-tiereconomicsjournals.Herresearchisregularlycitedintopmediaoutlets,andshehastestifiedbeforeboththeSenateandHouseofRepresentativesonherresearch.
From2015-17,sheservedasdirectoroftheHamiltonProjectattheBrookingsInstitutioninWashington,D.C.,andfromSeptember2017untilJuly2023,shewasIPR'sdirector.SheisaresearchassociateattheNationalBureauofEconomicResearch,anonresidentseniorfellowattheBrookingsInstitution,andaresearchassociateattheInstituteforResearchonPovertyattheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison.SheisanelectedmemberoftheNationalAcademyofEducationandtheNationalAcademyofSocialInsurance.
CurrentResearch
ImpactsofNutritionAssistancePrograms.Withvariouscoauthors,Schanzenbachisworkingonunderstandingtheimpactsofnutritionassistanceprograms-includingthefood-stampprogramandschoolmeals.Inthisongoingwork,sheinvestigateschildoutcomessuchashealth,obesity,andacademicoutcomes,andoutcomesregardingfamilyfinancessuchasfoodsecurityandspending.SincetheCOVID-19pandemicstruck,shehasbeenresearchingtheeffectsofthepandemiconfoodinsecurityinrealtime.ShealsohascreatedanappwithanIPRsummerundergraduateresearchassistantthattracksmeasuresoffoodinsecurityacrossall50states.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Human Development and Social Policy
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- Professor of Psychology Professor of Management and Organizations
- Social Psychologist
Inadditiontohisresearchonrelationshipscience,Finkelstudiespoliticalpsychology,withspecialfocusonpoliticalsectarianismandantidemocratictendenciesintheU.S.Heexaminestheintersectionofinterpersonalrelationshipsandpoliticalspeechandaction.InadditiontoTheAll-Or-NothingMarriage,heistheauthorofmorethan160articlesandtheco-editoroffourbooks.FinkelisthedirectorofNorthwestern'sRelationshipsandMotivationLab(RAMLAB)andholdsappointmentsinbothpsychologyandtheKelloggSchoolofManagement.HisresearchhasreceivedfundingfromtheNationalScienceFoundation,theJohnTempletonFoundation,andtheNationalInstituteonAging,amongothers.
CurrentResearch
TheSocialMediaDiscourseofEngagedPartisans.Politicaldiscourseonsocialmediaisinfamouslyuncivil.Prevailingexplanationsarguethatsuchincivilityisdrivenbydifferencesinideologicalorsocial-identityconflict-partisansareuncivilbecausethepoliticalstakesaresohigh.FinkelandhiscolleagueMichalisMamakosconsideradifferent(albeitnotcontradictory)possibility-thatonlinepoliticaldiscoursetendstobeuncivilbecausethepeoplewhooptintosuchdiscoursearegenerallyuncivil.Theyareanalyzingcommentingbehaviorofover6.3millionRedditusersacrossthousandsofdiverseculturalcontexts(subreddits).Theysuggestanalternativehypothesis:Peoplewhooptintopoliticaldiscoursetendtobeespeciallytoxic,evenwhendiscussingnon-politicaltopicsinnon-partisancontexts.Suchindividualsdisproportionatelydominatepoliticaldiscourseonline,therebyunderminingthepublicsphereasavenueforinclusivedebate.
Social-EmotionalPolarizationandAntidemocraticTendencies.Doessocial-emotionalpolarizationfosterantidemocratictendencies?Overthepastdecade,claimsofsuchaneffecthavepervadedbothpopularcommentaryandscholarlydiscourse-tothepointwherethelinkhasbecomewidelyacceptedasanarticleoffaith.Butrecentresearchhasraisedcredibledoubts.EvenasFinkelandhiscolleaguesreplicatetheeffectsunderlyingthosedoubts,theydemonstratethatsocial-emotionalpolarization,whenproperlyconceptualizedandoperationalized,doesindeedpredictantidemocratictendencies.Leveragingcross-sectional,longitudinal,andexperimentalmethods,includingastudyconductedduringtheU.S.2022midtermelections,theyaredevelopingandvalidatingameasureofpoliticalsectarianism.
SocialpsychologistEliFinkel'sresearchfocusesonromanticrelationships-includinginitialattraction,maritaldynamics,andsharedgoalpursuit-andonpolarizationinAmericanpolitics.HeistheauthorofthehighlylaudedTheAll-Or-NothingMarriage:HowtheBestMarriagesWork(2017),whichanalyzestheinstitutionofmarriageovertime,findingthatthebestmarriagesoftodayarebetterthanthebestonesofthepast.HisfindingsonmarriageandromanticrelationshipshaveappearedinpublicationsfromtheHarvardBusinessReviewandScientificAmericantotheWallStreetJournal,theEconomist,theAtlantic,andmanymore.HeisaguestessayistfortheNewYorkTimes.
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- Professor of Statistics / Co - Director of the STEPP Center IPR Fellow
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- Administrative Assistant III
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- Research Professor and Its Senior Director for Operations
- Senior Director of Operations and Outreach
FrancescaGaibaisanIPRResearchProfessoranditsSeniorDirectorforOperationsandOutreach.SheholdsanundergraduatedegreefromItaly'sUniversityofBologna,andamastersininternationalrelationsandaPhDinanthropologyfromSyracuseUniversity.
From2007-09,GaibawastheassociatedirectoroftheUniversityofIllinoisatChicago'sOfficeofSocialScienceResearch.Between2010and2015,shemanagedtheUICInstituteforResearchonRaceandPublicPolicy(IRRPP),focusingonprogramdevelopmentandimplementation,grantsupportandmanagement,andhigh-leveladministration.AtIRRPPshewasthecofounderoftheWriteOut!Writingretreatforscholarsofraceandethnicity.GaibamanagedtheNorthwesternUniversityInstituteforSexualandGenderMinorityHealthandWellbeingasitsassociatedirectorfrom2015-20.SheisaCertifiedPre-AwardResearchAdministrator(CPRA).GaibabringsacommitmenttoracialandLGBTjusticeandtheirpolicyimplicationstoherscholarshipandacademicwork.
Gaiba,F.2017(March14).TheimportanceoffamilysupportwhenLGBTQyouthcomeout.Rewire.
Job Titles:
- Research Study Coordinator
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- Research Project Coordinator
PsychologistGregMiller'sresearchfocusesonearly-lifestressorsrelatedtopoverty,andhowtheyreverberateacrossthelifespantoinfluencediseaserisks.Tostudyissueslikethis,hislabbringstogethertheoriesandmethodsfromacrossthebehavioralandbiomedicalsciences.Hislong-termgoalistoestablishabehaviorallyandbiologicallyplausibleunderstandingofhowsocioeconomicconditionsaffectchildren'shealth,andleveragethisknowledgetoimprovepracticesandpoliciesaimedatmitigatinghealthdisparities.
Job Titles:
- Research Assistant / Center for Native American and Indigenous Research
CenterforNativeAmericanandIndigenousResearch(CNAIR)
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- Associate Director
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Political Scientist
PoliticalscientistJamesDruckmanisIPR'sassociatedirectorandhisresearchfocusesonpoliticalpreferenceformationandcommunication.
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- Research Finance Assistant
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- Assistant Professor of Sociology
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- Research Study Coordinator
EC-REACH,theEarlyChildhoodResearchAllianceofChicago
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- Communications Coordinator
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- Chairman in Psychology Professor of Cognitive Psychology
- Professor of Psychology Co - Director of the Foundations of Health Research Center
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- Assistant to the Director
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- Research Data Analyst Associate
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- Research Project Coordinator
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- Research Data Analyst Associate
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- Research Data Analyst Associate
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- Economist
- Professor of Human Development and Social Policy
- Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research
OferMalamudisaneconomistfocusedoneducationpolicyfromaninternationalperspective.Hisresearchisconcentratedinthreesubstantiveareas:educationalinvestmentsoverthelifecourse,theroleoftechnologyintheformationofhumancapital,andtheeffectofgeneralandspecificeducationonlabormarketoutcomes.HehasstudiedthesetopicsinawiderangeofinstitutionalsettingsacrosscountriessuchasChile,England,Israel,Mexico,Peru,Romania,Scotland,andtheUnitedStates.
MalamudisaresearchassociateattheNationalBureauofEconomicResearchandamemberoftheCESifoResearchNetwork.HealsoservesasaresearchconsultantfortheFederalReserveBankofChicago.BeforejoiningNorthwestern,hewasonthefacultyoftheUniversityofChicago'sHarrisSchoolofPublicPolicyandavisitingfellowattheBrookingsInstitution.
CurrentResearch
Self-,Peer-andTeacherPerceptionsunderSchoolTracking:Thisproject,coauthoredwithAndreeaMitrut,CristianPop-Eleches,andMiguelUrquiola,focusesonRomania'shighlytrackedschoolsystem.Usinginformationonstudentandteacherperceptionsofacademiceffort,performance,ability,andself-confidencethattheresearcherscollectedin87highschoolsthatusestrictabilitytracking,theyfindthatstudentswhoaretrackedintoatopclasshavelessfavorableself-perceptionsthanthosejustbelow,consistentwith"big-fish-little-pond"effects.Furthermore,studentsperceivestudentsintheirownclassmorefavorably,consistentwith"in-groupbias",andthisbiasisstrongerinlower-achievingclasses.Finally,studentsperceivethemselvesmorepositivelythanothersperceivethem,consistentwith"illusorysuperiority",andthisbiasalsoappearstobestrongeramonglower-achievingstudents,consistentwithKrueger-Dunningeffects.Malamudandhiscolleaguesconcludethattrackingdoesnotnecessarilynegativelyaffectstudents'self-perceptions.
Understandingtheadoptionanddiffusionofeducationaltechnology:EvidencefromPeru:Thisprojectexplorestheadoptionanddiffusionofanonlinemathcurriculumfor4thto6th-gradestudents,calledConnectaIdeas(CI).CollaboratingwiththeMinistryofEducationinPeru,Malamudandhiscolleaguesrandomlyassigned188primaryschoolsinLimatofourtreatmentarms:(i)anintensiveteacherinterventionthatpairedteacherswithcoordinatorstoassistwithtake-upanduse,(ii)alow-costteacherinterventionthatprovidesteacherswithvirtualworkshopstoencouragetake-upanduse,(iii)aschool-wideinterventionprovidingvirtualworkshopstoallteachers,and(iv)acontrolgroupthatreceivesnotreatment.Theywillexaminewhichteachersaremorelikelytoadoptthisonlinemathcurriculumandhowthiseducationaltechnologyisdiffusedtostudentsandwhethertherearespilloverstootherteachers.TheresultswillinformpolicymakerswhoareseekingtoscaleupthisprograminPeruandotherpartsofLatinAmerica,aswellastheadoptionofeducationtechnologyinothersettings.
TechnicalandVocationalEducationandTraining(TVET)inMongolia.Thereisrenewedinterestinthepotentialfortechnicalandvocationaleducationtoimprovelabormarketoutcomesindevelopedanddevelopingcountries.AninitiativebytheMillenniumChallengeCorporation(MCC)hassoughttoalleviatethemismatchbetweenthesupplyanddemandforskilledlaborinMongoliabyfundingequipmentupgradesinvocationalschools.MalamudisamongtheprincipalinvestigatorsleadingtheefforttoanalyzetheimpactoftheseequipmentupgradesandvocationaleducationinMongoliamoregenerally.Therandomassignmentofapplicantstotradesin10TVETschoolsallowsforacompellingevaluationoftheimpactofadmissiontoaTVETschool.Preliminaryresultsindicatethatadmissionto,andgraduationfrom,technicalandvocationalschoolsleadstoimprovedemploymentprospectsandhigherearnings,especiallyforwomen.Thereisalsoevidenceofimprovedknowledgeinthechosentradesandhigherworkintensityamongwomen.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
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- Professor of Political Science
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- Research Project Coordinator
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- Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
SandraWaxmanisacognitivepsychologistspecializinginthreekeyresearchareas:Howlanguageandcognitivedevelopmentunfoldfromthefirstmonthsoflife,howchildrenlearn,forbetterorworse,aboutsocialbias,andhowchildrenacrosscultureslearnaboutthenaturalworld.SheholdsajointappointmentintheWeinbergCollegeofArts&SciencesandtheSchoolofEducationandSocialPolicy.
Waxman'sresearchinearlylinguisticandconceptualdevelopmentemploysbothdevelopmentalandcross-linguisticdesigns,engaginginfantsfrombirththroughthepreschoolyears.Thisisessentialindiscoveringtheoriginofinfants'earlycapacities,identifyingwhichmightbeuniversal,andspecifyinghowtheseareshapedbyinfants'experiencewiththeirnativelanguage(s).Herrecentworkonsocialbiasrevealsthatevenbeforetheyenterschool,youngchildrenareexquisitelysensitivetotheracialandgenderbiasesevidentintheworldaroundthem.Waxman'scross-culturalworkexploreshownotionsofthenaturalworldunfold-acrossdevelopment,acrosscultures,andacrosslanguages,exploringfundamentalquestions,including:Whatistheplaceofhumanswithinthenaturalworld?Whatdoesitmeantobe"alive"?Inallthreeresearcharenas,Waxman'sresearchhelpstounravelthebasicmechanismsbehindhowwelearn.Inilluminatingtheimportanceofearlyexperience,herworkoffersinsightsintopromotingpositivedevelopmentaloutcomesinallchildren.
WaxmanisafellowoftheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience,AmericanAcademyofArtsandSciences,AmericanPsychologicalAssociation,AssociationforPsychologicalScience,andtheCognitiveScienceSociety.In2007,shereceivedaJamesMcKeenCattellAwardandaGuggenheimFellowship.SheisafoundingexecutivecommitteememberofNorthwestern'sInstituteforInnovationsinDevelopmentalScience(DevSci).Earlier,sheco-foundedNorthwestern'sprograminCulture,Language,andCognition.ShehasbeenaresearchfellowoftheSpencerFoundationandtheNationalAcademyofEducation,avisitingresearchfellowattheInstituteforCognitiveScienceinLyon,France,andavisitingprofessoratHarvardUniversityandtheÉcoleNormaleSupérieureinParis.Shewasco-editorofthe2004bookWeavingaLexicon,publishedbyMITPress,andshehasbeenanassociateeditorofthejournalCognitivePsychologysince2005.In2016,shebecameaconsultingeditorofPsychologicalReview.Sheisnowinauguralco-editoroftheAnnualReviewofDevelopmentalScience.
CurrentResearch
LinkingEarlyLinguisticandConceptualDevelopment.Waxman'sprimaryresearchlab,theInfantandChildDevelopmentCenter,considerstheacquisitionoftwofundamentalhumancapacities-conceptualdevelopmentandlanguagedevelopment-andtherelationbetweenthemininfantsandtoddlers.Waxmanfocusesonthesecapacitiesthroughoutthefirsttwoyearsoflife,beginningwithinfantsasyoungas3monthsofage.Adoptingacross-linguisticdevelopmentalperspective,herresearchinvolvesinfantsandyoungchildrenacquiringarangeofdifferentlanguages,includingEnglish,Mandarin,Korean,Spanish,French,andItalian.Sheshowsthatevenbeforeinfantsbegintospeak,theirlanguageandcognitiveadvancesarepowerfullylinked.
Children'sSensitivitytoBiasattheIntersectionofRaceandGender.Waxmanandcolleagueshaveshownthatpreschool-agedchildrenaresensitivitytotheracialandgenderbiastheyobserveinthesocialworldaroundthem.Hercurrentproject,acollaborationwithIPRdevelopmentalpsychologistLeoandraRogers,JennRichesonandGalenBodenhausen,isdesignedtodeepenourunderstandingofhowsocialbiasisacquiredinbothBlackandWhitechildren,andhowitinteractswiththeiridentities.
Children'sDevelopingUnderstandingoftheNaturalWorld.Waxmanexaminestheroleofcultureandassociatedepistemologicalorientationsinthedevelopmentofknowledgeandreasoningaboutthenaturalworld.TogetherwithfellowNorthwesternpsychologistDougMedinandcolleaguesattheNationalResearchCouncilofArgentina(CONICET),theyexaminelearninginveryyoungchildrenfromNativeAmericanandnon-Nativecommunities.Theyhaveshownthatculturaldifferencesinconceptionsofhuman-naturerelationsmanifestnotonlyinexplicitknowledge,butalsoimplicitlyinpractices.
Job Titles:
- Member ( on Leave 2023 - 24 )
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Become IPR 's Next Director
- Director and John G. Searle Professor Professor of Sociology Director of the Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research and Science ( CORNERS )
SociologistAndrewV.PapachristosisIPRdirectorandtheJohnG.SearleProfessorofSociology.
IPR'seighthdirectorisAndrewPapachristos,asociologist,whodeploysnetworkscienceinexaminationsofpolicemisconduct,gunviolence,andneighborhoodinequalityinurbanAmerica.
Corners,theCenterforNeighborhoodEngagedResearch&Science
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Human Development and Social Policy
TerriSabolisadevelopmentalpsychologistwhoconductsresearchattheintersectionofchilddevelopmentandsocialpolicy.Sheinvestigateshowindividualandenvironmentalfactorscontributetochildren'shealthydevelopmentandappliesthisscientificevidencetostrengthenearlychildhoodeducation(ECE)programsandpoliciesintheUnitedStates.HerbroadgoalasascholaristoproduceinnovativeresearchtohelpoptimizeinvestmentsinECEandsupportchildreninthe21stcentury.Inparticular,shehasinitiatedthreelinesofresearchthatfocusonwaystooptimizeinvestmentinearlychildhoodeducation.First,shestudieshowyoungchildren'slivesunfoldovertimetodiscovernewwaysthatearlychildhoodeducationcanenhancechilddevelopment.Second,sheexaminesmicro-levelclassroomprocessestoadvancetheframeworkforassessingandimprovingECEquality.Third,sheexpandsthestudyofECEtoincludethebroadercontextsinwhichECEtakesplace,includingfamilies,neighborhoods,andmostrecently,theCOVID-19pandemic.
Herworkhasbeenpublishedindevelopmentaljournals(ChildDevelopment,DevelopmentalPsychology,AnnualReviewofPsychology),aswellaspolicy(JournalofPolicyAnalysisandManagement),education(AmericanEducationResearchJournal,JournalofResearchonEducationEffectiveness)andsocialsciencejournals(Science,AnnalsoftheNewYorkAcademyofScience).HerworkhasbeensupportedbytheNationalInstitutesforHealth,InstituteforEducationSciences(IES),AdministrationofChildrenandFamilies,aswellastheMcCormickFoundationandtheFoundationforChildDevelopment.ShereceivedtheAERA-SRCDEarlyCareerFellowinEarlyChildhoodEducationandwasawardedtheAssociationforPsychologicalScience(APS)RisingStaraward.ShecurrentlyservesasthedirectoroftheDevelopment,EarlyEducation,andPolicy(DEEP)lab.
CurrentResearch
CharacterizingImpactVariationofEarlyChildhoodEducationInterventions.InthisIES-fundedproject,Sabolandhercolleagues,includingIPReducationresearcherandstatisticianLarryHedges,arebuildingtheearlychildhoodeducationevidencebase.Theresearchersidentifytheconditionsthatcontributetotheeffectivenessofprofessionaldevelopmentprogramsforearlychildhoodclassroomqualityandchildlearningoutcomes.Usingcutting-edgestatisticalapproaches,theyexplorewhethervariationintheprograms'effectsispredictedbycharacteristicswithinschoolwalls,suchasthecompositionofstudents;teacherqualificationsandpsychologicalcharacteristics;andcenterstructuralcharacteristics,suchasenrollmentsize,aswellasoutofschoolwalls(gentrification,greenspace,businesses,resources,anddisorder).
DevelopingNewToolstoUnderstandYoungChildren'sPerceptionsofEarlyChildhoodInterventions.Toooften,researchersdonotincludechildren'sownvoicesandinterpretationsoftheirexperiencesinearlychildhoodinterventions/policies.Advancesinmeasurementtools,largelybasedinclinicalandtherapeuticresearch,suggestthatyoungchildrencanaccuratelyandreliablyreportontheirownexperiences(e.g.,theBerkeleyPuppetInterview[BPI]),refutingdecadesofpriorassumptionsthatveryyoungchildrencannotexpressinterpretationsoftheirexperiences.Yet,toolsliketheBPIhavenotbeenwidelyusedinECEevaluations,largelyduetotheirtimeandcost(livedatacollectionandintensivecoding).Sabolandherformergraduatestudent,AndreaBusby,developedanovel,time-efficientassessmentparadigm-theChildhoodAssessmentTool-Electronic(CHAT-E)-toassesschildren'smeaningmakingofthemselvesandtheirbroaderenvironments.TheCHAT-EusesasimilarapproachtotheBPI-namely,usingtwoidenticalpuppetsthatexpresstwoopposingstatementsandaskschildrentochoosetheonethatismorelikethem(e.g.,Ilikeschool/Idon'tlikeschool)-butadaptedforatablet-basedsystemusinganimatedcharacters(seehttps://sites.northwestern.edu/chate/).ShehasusedthistoolinanevaluationofanECEintervention,namelytheKindergartentoCollegeprogram,whichprovidescollegesavingsaccountstoallkindergartenersinOaklandPublicSchools.Thelong-termgoalistocontinuerefinementoftheCHAT-EwiththegoalthatresearcherscoulddeveloptheirownscalesforarangeofECEinterventionsandusethetooltolearnwhatchildrenthinkabouttheveryprograms/policiesdesignedforthem.
Expandthemeasuresandstatisticalmethodsusedtocapturechildren'sindividualexperiencesinECEclassrooms,withaparticularfocusonpromotingequitableinteractions.Saboliscurrentlytheco-PIofagrantfromIES(PI:Dr.SandyHong,UNCChapelHill)thatleveragesdatafromtheEmergingAcademicSnapshotmeasure,whichcaptures20-secondinterval"snapshots"ofclassroomsovertwodays.Theyareusingthismeasuretocharacterizetheextenttowhichchildren'sengagementvarieswithinclassroomsorwithinindividualchildrenfromdaytodayamongchildrenfromracially/ethnicallydiversebackgrounds.Inaddition,withIPRdevelopmentalpsychologistOnnieRogersandIPRpsychologistSandraWaxman,Sabolandhercolleaguesarebuildingameasurementtoolkittoaddressrace-baseddisparitiesinpreschooldisciplinepractices.ThroughthesupportoftheSESPVentureFunds(role:PI),theyarebuildingatablet-basedtoolkittoassesshowchildrenseethemselvesandareseenbyothers,theirownawarenessandperceptionsofteacherbiasesanddisciplinarypractices,andhowthisintersectswithteachers'ownbiasesandbehaviorsintheclassroom.Thegoalistodesignareliable,valid,andefficientsetofmeasurestobetterdiscoverthemechanismsunderlyingthepreschoolrace/ethnicdisparitiesthatcanbeusedasthefoundationforteacherprofessionaldevelopment.
Job Titles:
- Carlos Montezuma Professor of Anthropology
ThomMcDadeisabiologicalanthropologistwhoconductsresearchonhowexperiencebecomesbiology.Inotherwords,howdosocial,economic,andculturalcontextsshapehumanbiologyandhealthoverthelifecourse?Muchofthisworkfocusesonthelong-termeffectsofearlyenvironments,andtheintegrationofbiologicalmeasuresintopopulation-based,socialscienceresearch.HeisdirectoroftheLaboratoryforHumanBiologyResearch,whichhasasitscentralmissionthedevelopmentandapplicationofminimallyinvasivemethodsforstudyinghumanbiologyandhealthindiversecommunity-basedsettingsaroundtheworld.
McDade'sworkhasappearedinawiderangeofjournals,includingProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences,ProceedingsoftheRoyalSociety,NewEnglandJournalofMedicine,SocialScienceandMedicine,AmericanJournalofPublicHealth,Demography,AmericanJournalofClinicalNutrition,AmericanJournalofHumanBiology,MedicalAnthropology,andPsychosomaticMedicine.In2002,hereceivedaPresidentialEarlyCareerAwardforScientistsandEngineers(PECASE),thenation'shighesthonorforscientistsearlyintheircareer.HeisaFellowoftheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience,andmemberoftheNationalAcademyofSciencesandAmericanAcademyofArtsandSciences.
CurrentResearch
SocialEpigeneticsandtheEmbodimentofEarlyEnvironments.Epigeneticprocessesareresponsivetoexperiencesduringdevelopmentandplayimportantrolesinregulatinggeneexpression.Afocusonepigeneticsincommunity-basedstudiesencouragesustoreconceptualizethehumangenomeasadynamicsubstratethatincorporatesinformationfromtheenvironmenttoalteritsstructureandfunction-anapproachthatmovesbeyondsimplistic"naturevs.nurture"and"DNAasdestiny"metaphors.Severalstudiesareinvestigatingepigeneticsignaturesofsocioeconomicadversityearlyinlife,epigeneticmodificationstoinflammatorygenesasamechanismlinkingearlyenvironmentswithinflammationinadulthood,andthesocialandecologicalfactorsthatpredictgeneexpression.
PathwaysLinkingSocialInequalities,Inflammation,andHealthWithinandAcrossGenerations.Inflammationisanimportantpartofnormalimmunefunction,butexcessiveorchronicactivationofinflammationcontributestoadversebirthoutcomes,cardiovasculardisease,diabetes,andotherchronicdegenerativediseases.McDadeisconductingresearchintheUnitedStatesandthePhilippinesthatinvestigatesthesocialanddevelopmentalfactorsthatshapetheregulationofinflammation.Recentpapershavedocumentedsignificantimpactsofstress,breastfeedingduration,birthweight,andmicrobialexposuresininfancyoninflammationinadulthood.AnewprojectisfocusingonthedevelopmentaloriginsofsocialinequalitiesinchronicinflammationusingdatafromtheNationalLongitudinalStudyofAdolescentHealthtoAdult(AddHealth).Thestudyincludesafocusoninflammationduringpregnancyasapotentialmechanismcontributingtotheintergenerationaltransmissionofsocialinequalitiesandhealth.
BiomarkersforPopulation-BasedHealthResearch.Theapplicationofminimallyinvasive,"field-friendly"methodsformeasuringphysiologyisanimportantpartofMcDade'sefforttoconductintegrativepopulation-basedresearchonhealth.Hehasdevelopedmethodsforassayingbiomarkersinadropofbloodcollectedfromasimplefingerprick,andheconsultsontheimplementationofthesemethodsintoanumberoflarge,nationallyrepresentativehealthsurveys,includingtheNationalLongitudinalStudyofAdolescenttoAdultHealth,HealthandRetirementStudy,andWHOStudyonGlobalAgeingandAdultHealth.In2020,McDadedevelopedthefirstmethodforquantifyingcoronavirusantibodiesinfingerstickdriedbloodspotsamplestofacilitateremote,"nocontact"testingoflargenumbersofpeopletotrackviralspreadinthecommunity.Newmethodsarefocusingongeneexpressionandbiomarkersofdementia.
CellstoSociety(C2S):TheCenteronSocialDisparitiesandHealth.Socialandculturalcontextsarecriticaldeterminantsofhumandevelopmentandhealth,butweknowverylittleabouttheprocessesorpathwaysthroughwhichtheyact.AlongwithcolleaguesatIPR,McDadehashelpedestablishC2SasacenteratNorthwesterntoserveascatalystforinnovative,multidisciplinaryapproachestounderstandinghealthdisparities.
Job Titles:
- Research Study Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Administrator