Welcome from the Director
Dear CSSI Community,
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Sincerely,
Director, Center for Social Science Innovation
Campus Wide Impact
The past year, we have partnered with various university research units across campus to forge strong collaborative ties. These relationships allow us to strategically leverage different university resources and funding, facilitate scholarly training, and co-sponsor joint ventures.
To continue learning how we support and advance social science research, jump to a following section:
A Hub For Interdisciplinary Social Science Research
CSSI serves as the University of Iowa’s only central hub for social scientists, including faculty, staff, and PhD students, to find a community of research support and resources. Through the following initiatives, CSSI supports innovative, high impact, and socially relevant social science research.
Inaugural CSSI Faculty Research Fellowship
Grant Writing Residency Program
Fellowship for Qualitative Research
Researcher-in-Residence Program
Our Residency Programs Provide:
Dedicated Workspace
Research Funding
Collaborative Learning
Community of Scholars
Write on Target
Grant Writers' Circle
Additional Writers' Circles Benefits
Workshops
Our workshops provide researchers a space to develop their repertoire of research skills and tools.
Methodological Workshops
| Workshop Name | Presenter | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Geospatial Data Science | Caglar Koylu | Geographical and Sustainability Sciences |
| Causal Inference | Emily Roberts | Biostatistics |
| Introduction to Spatial Regression Using R | Miah Boyle | Geographical and Sustainability Sciences |
| Introduction to Machine Learning Using Python | Anindita Bandyopadhyay | Business Analytics |
| Introduction to Data Visualization Using R | Nathan Timbs | Political Science |
| Introduction to Multilevel Modeling | Erica Dorman | Educational Measurement and Statistics |
| Network Analysis | Yongren Shi | Sociology and Criminology |
| Introductory Time Series Analysis | Sara Mitchell | Political Science |
| Survival Analysis | Jon Davis | Occupational and Environmental Health |
Enhancing Peer Review Workshop
66
27
Were represented by the workshop participants
8
Were represented by the workshop participants.
Our Researcher Affiliate Program is a network of scholars that enables interdisciplinary collaboration and community in the social sciences. Affiliates gain priority access to CSSI’s resources and expertise, receive information about funding and social science-related opportunities, and have their research accomplishments broadcast across campus and beyond.
A wall dedicated to our researcher affiliates in the Social Sciences Research Building
24
Are represented by our researcher affiliates
9
Are represented by our researcher affiliates
Our researcher affiliates chat at our first affiliate social in May 2025.
Advancing Social Science Research
We provide strategic resources to advance pioneering and impactful social science research. We support research from diverse methodological and theoretical approaches, including empirical quantitative and qualitative research, evaluation science, and historical and comparative methods.
Research Services
Our Team
Cassidy Branch
Oversees all research services projects and supervises research services specialists
Mike Oie
Oversees data management, analysis, and survey programming
CSSI Staff Spotlight: Mike Oie
Lisa Halm-Werner
Oversees human subjects’ protocols compliance, focus group planning and moderation, and instrument development and testing
Dawn Bower
Oversees the call center and manages field staff
Duhita Mahatmya
Duhita Mahatyma was added to our team in the fall of 2024! She provides research development and methodological support
Survey Research Infrastructure
Deciphering Social Media's Algorithms
Grant Development
Our Team
Kris Ackerson
Supports faculty, staff and graduate students in securing competitive grant funding for social science research
Katherine Gloer
Assists with grant development activities, including providing proposal feedback and securing new funding opportunities
CSSI Staff Spotlight: Kris Ackerson
86
In 2024
$ 53
In 2024
Survey Research Infrastructure
Innovations on Project Support
Creating Student Research Experiences and Training
We provide opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to learn about and conduct social science research. These experiences allow students to further develop and cultivate their research skills.
Serving Needs of Iowa Communities
CSSI provides research support services and topical expertise to external partners in Iowa’s communities and governmental organizations. These collaborations allow us to help assess community needs and solve local challenges.