Center for Research on Families 2024 Annual Report by CRF UMass Amherst

The Center for Research on Families

Dorothy Gavin ‘43 and Lorraine Cordeiro Ph.D, MPH (May, 2024)

Research and Methods

Community Engagement

Center for Research on Families About Us

Our Vision

The Center for Research on Families (CRF) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst stands out for its commitment to fostering interdisciplinary research on families, integrating insights from the social, behavioral, and natural sciences. By addressing urgent issues and systemic inequalities, CRF advances family-focused research and community-engaged initiatives. Reflecting UMass Amherst’s land-grant mission, our center champions teaching, research, and public service to benefit families both in the Commonwealth and across the world. We facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and generate innovative, evidence-based solutions to tackle the complex challenges that families face today.

Our Mission

Promote, conduct, and translate high quality, substantive research on issues affecting families

Teach, mentor, and support family researchers throughout their careers

Engage with the community to improve family outcomes and inform social policy

Advance social justice by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through our research and programming

Our Story

The Center for Research on Families (CRF) has a long history and deep roots at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Founded over forty years ago and supported by a generous endowment given in 1996 by Dorothy Dunklee Gavin ‘43 and Joseph G. Gavin Jr. In 2003, the original Center for the Family was transformed into today’s Center for Research on Families and has continued to grow in relevance and presence within the campus community and beyond.

The Center for Research on Families is supported by the Provost’s Office and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement. It is housed within the College of Natural Sciences, which provides administrative support. The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, where CRF was originally established, continues to be a foundational supporter. Key partners in CRF’s work include the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Education, the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, the Manning College of Information and Computer Science, Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, and others. Additional generous support comes from endowments established by Dorothy and Late Joseph G. Gavin Jr. including the Edna Skinner and Tay Gavin Erickson Funds, and many other valued donors.

Advancing Research for the Health and Well-Being of All Families

Joseph G. Gavin Jr. & Dorthy Dunklee Gavin

What is Family Research?

At CRF, we recognize that families come in many diverse forms, including single-parent households and those of different sexual orientations, gender identities, and cultural backgrounds. We believe that families are best understood within the context of their social settings, through an intersectional lens that considers factors such as class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, and ability. This inclusive approach ensures that all families—regardless of structure or identity—are represented and valued in our research. Moreover, we view research from all disciplines as essential to our mission, as it provides comprehensive insights into the complex realities families face.

Some of our Recent Areas of Research and Outreach:

Springfield Produce Prescription Collaborative – a Food as Medicine Initiative in partnership with Wellspring Cooperative and Baystate Health

The Greater Springfield Economic Security Hub Study in partnership with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

Early Childhood Mental Health

Developing a humanized 3D bone mechanoculture model

Improving the safety of social media platforms for children

Maternal and Early Childhood Mental Health and Wellbeing in Black Women/Birthing People

Our Approach

Research and Methods

Methodology

Consulting

Academic-Year Seminars

Summer Methodology Workshops

Grant Support

Analysis and Dissemination of Community Based Research

Teaching and Mentoring

Faculty

Family Research Scholars Program

Mentoring and Engaging Faculty of Color

The Impact of Developmental Toxicants on Embryonic Development

Students

Undergraduate Student Research Awards

Methodology Mentoring and Training

Community Engagement

Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series

Community Engaged Research

Dietetic Internship Program Support

Dr. Kirby Deater-Decker and family.

Director's Letter

Dear Colleagues, Friends, and Supporters,

As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the strides we have made together at the Center for Research on Families (CRF). Our collective efforts have not only strengthened our research programs but also deepened our commitment to serving local communities with excellence and compassion. I am pleased to share some of the key highlights from this year.

One of our most significant achievements has been the implementation of the Springfield Produce Prescription Collaborative, funded through USDA’s GusNIP Produce Prescription Program. This partnership between Wellspring Cooperative, Baystate Health, and CRF has strengthened local infrastructure by providing patients at three Baystate Health Centers with access to fresh, nutritious produce, as well as nutrition education. Furthermore, CRF research fellow and registered dietitian, Dr. Bi-sek Hsiao, has provided training opportunities as a preceptor for the UMass Department of Nutrition’s Dietetic Internship program and spearheaded implementation of the produce prescription program and Tracey’s classes. By addressing food insecurity and promoting healthier lifestyles, we are contributing to a stronger, more resilient community in Greater Springfield.

Ph.D, MPH

Our commitment to leadership and professional development has been further exemplified in our long-standing partnership with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts and several community service agencies in Western Massachusetts. Most recently, CRF organized and hosted the Leadership, Engagement, and Equity in Evaluation Training featuring Dr. Kien Lee, Vice President of Consulting with Community Science. The day-long training engaged 24 youth and emerging adults, including eight UMass students. Furthermore, more than 45 individuals representing five community agencies were in attendance. This program has equipped our staff and partners with the skills and knowledge to evaluate our initiatives more effectively, ensuring that we continue to meet the evolving needs of those we serve. CRF also facilitated internships with some of these agencies for UMass students.

This year, we piloted our Community Ambassador program by supporting Tracey Thomas, a gifted artist and dedicated member of the Springfield community. This program engaged community members, patients, human service providers, helping specialists, and others in weekly exercise, wellness, and nutrition education classes. Tracy Thomas has played a crucial role in bridging gaps between CRF and the community, fostering trust, and enhancing our outreach efforts.

Lorraine Cordeiro,

As we look ahead, CRF is excited to be begin preparations for strategic planning. This endeavor will allow us to chart a clear path forward, aligning our goals and resources to maximize our impact, and advancing the mission of the university. We are committed to engaging our stakeholders throughout this process to ensure that our plans are inclusive, forward-thinking, and responsive to the needs of our community.

We were thrilled to celebrate Dorothy Gavin’s birthday with her in the fall of 2024. Dorothy Gavin ‘43 and late Joseph G. Gavin Jr’s unwavering belief in CRF’s mission provided us with resources to support our family research faculty scholars and engage in mentoring faculty through the grant development process. Their endowment will have a lasting impact, allowing us to continue our work with greater stability and reach. In the 2023-24 academic year, we hosted seven Tay Gavin Erickson Lectures in classroom and symposia settings to maximize student engagement with national experts.

Finally, please join me in welcoming Lara Temkin-Pisani as CRF’s new Associate Director. Lara comes to us from Western New England University and brings expertise in communications, leadership, community engagement, and student and family engagement. In Fall 2024, we also welcomed Gabrielle Hill as a support staff member.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we are making a difference in building a brighter future for all.

With gratitude,

Lorraine Cordeiro Director

Director's Professional Activities

Promotion to Full Professor Service

Rudd Program: Advisory Board Member and Search Committee Member

Elected Member, Faculty Senate Research Council

Senator, Faculty Senate

Interdisciplinary Institutes and Centers Working Group Member

Member, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Collaborative

Member, SPHHS Personnel Committee

Member, Department Graduate Curriculum and Policy Committee

Adam Grabell FRS 2019 with preschool research participant in a SEES lab study on early emotion regulation and mental health.

FY’ 24 CRF Highlights

Grants by College

Submitted FY'17 to date

CRF has achieved significant milestones in Fiscal Year 2024

Through our three-pronged approach, these are a few highlights of what we have accomplished this year

1) Supporting high-quality, substantive research on key issues affecting family life

2023-2024 CRF Family Research Scholars (FRS) met biweekly to develop competitive grants through intensive faculty and peer feedback,targeted instruction on the review process,and methodology support

CRF welcomed six new FRS for 2024-25 from across campus

Scholarsfrom past cohortscontinued to revise and submit additional grants

CRF Family Research Scholars and Directors submitted 12 grants totaling $16,497,215

Two CRF Scholars and Directors were funded for a total of $3,721,105

CRF has 12 active grants totaling $10,060,552

CRF Family Research Scholars success rates are50% for NSF Grantsand 33% for NIH grants

ComparisonbetweenCRFratesandnational ratesforsuccessfulgrantsubmissions

vs vs

FY 2024 CRF Highlights

2) Teaching, mentoring, and supporting faculty and student family researchers throughout their careers

Dr. Cordeiro taught an undergraduate seminar focusing on Family Research through the Commonwealth Honors College

CRF awarded $19,000 in Student Family Research Grants and scholarships to 22 undergraduate students, and a total of $496,750 since inception. Funding was provided by the Women for UMass Fund, the Commonwealth Honors College, Rudd Adoption Research Program, and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Undergraduate Awardees were recognized on Friday, April 19th, at the 30th Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC)

CRF provided over 600 hours of formal advanced statistical and methodological consultation to UMass faculty and graduate student researchers, researchers at other universities, and community organizations

CRF and the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) offered an Informational Session and a Pre-Scholars Application Workshop to advise new faculty in the scholars application process

3) Engaging with the community to address and inform outreach and policy on issues critical to the well-being of families

CRF is growing strong partnerships in Springfield as demonstrated by a key collaboration with Baystate Health and Wellspring Cooperative on a GusNIP USDA grant aimed at improving access to fruits and vegetables among residents with low-income and living with chronic disease in Greater Springfield

CRF has a long-standing partnership with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts that involves community-engaged research, supporting the data-driven Springfield Economic Security Hub

CRF hosted seven (7) prominent scholars who presented live and virtual public lectures through our Tay Gavin Erikson Lecture Series

CRF scholars were featured in news outlets including The Washington Post, the Boston Globe, The New York Times, GBH News, New England Public Media, and many other outlets

Grants Submitted in FY ‘24

$16,497,215

Amount of Grants Submitted in FY ‘24

73 TotalGrantsAwarded sinceInception

12 $10,060,552 Amount of Active Grants

252

Total Grants Submitted since Inception $38,863,784 Total Grant Funding since Inception Active Grants

2 Newlyfundedgrants duringFY‘24

$2,724,709

Amountofnewly fundedgrantsduring FY‘24

CRF by the Numbers

CRF provided more than 1800 people with over 2,900 hours of programming and services.

Engagement by College

Number of faculty & students served

Hours of services & programming provided

CNS - College of Natural Sciences

SPHHS - School of Public Health & Health Sciences

SBS - College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

EDUC - College of Education

NUR - Elaine Marieb College of Nursing

ENGIN - College of Engineering

HFA - College of Humanities & Fine Arts

ISEN - Isenberg School of Management

CICS - Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences

969 hours of programing to community members

1044 individuals reached Community Engagement

Tracey Thomas with her granddaugter.

Submitted Research Grants FY’ 24

Rafael Arku (Environmental Sciences)

NIH-$3,880,242

Prenatal and Early Life Environmental Exposures and Child Health in Accra

Eleni Christofa (Engineering)

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-$344,986

Bicycle Infrastructure Investments in Socioeconomically Diverse Communities and their Impact of Adolescents’ Commute to School

Jungwoo Lee (Chemical Engineering)

NIH-$941,346

Bioengineered 3D Human Bone Mechanoculture Model to Study the Effects of Exercise on Disseminated Tumor Cell Dormancy

Evelyn Mercado (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

NIH-$471,429

Understanding Socio-Cultural and Family-Level Biobehavioral Processes that are Associated with Hispanic/Latinx Youth Mental Health Disparities

Amanda Paluch (Kinesiology)

American Heart Association-$230,996

Feasibility Trial on the Optimal Steps per Day Volume and Pace for Cardiovascular Health in Older Adults

American Heart Association-$299,985

PULSE STEP: Progressive Understanding of Lifelong Step Effects on Cardiovascular Health

Mariana Pereira (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

NIH-$1,964,312

Postpartum Depression and Parenting: Circuit Level Transcriptomic and Neurochemical Mechanisms

Krishna Poudel (Health and Health Sciences)

NIH-$1,377,918

Development and Testing of an App-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention for People Living with HIV

Sarah Nahm-Gonzalez (Nutrition)

NIH-$2,974,325

Linking Adolescent Cardiometabolic Risk to Early Life Food Insecurity

Maria Galano (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

NIH-$175,394

Using Daily Diaries to Trace Spillover Effects of Maternal Trauma and Racism on Children’s Stress Regulation in Families of Color

Cassandra Spracklen (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)

NIH-$4,092,114

Analysis, Interpretation, and Fine-Mapping of Genetic and Genomic Data from Single and Multi-Ancestry Populations

Joshua Kaiser (Sociology)

NSF-$341,062

Russell Sage Foundation-$74,813

Collaborative Research: Mechanisms and Extent of Penal Inequality in the United States

Joshua Kaiser Assistant Professor of Sociology

Cassandra Spracklen Associate Professor of Epidemiology

Newly Funded Grants

Lili He (Food Science)

National Institutes of Health - $1,710,000

A Novel Approach of Age-grading of Mosquitos using SERS and Machine Learning Models

Mariana Pereira (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

National Institutes of Health - $1,964,312

Postpartum Depression and Parenting: Circuit Level Transcriptomic and Neurochemical Mechanisms

National Institutes of Health - $429,417

Neural Mechanisms Preventing Postpartum Relapse to Cocaine Seeking in New Mothers

Active Research

Laura Attanasio (Health and Promotion)

NIH-$462,653

Hospital Quality, Processes of Care, and Racial Disparities in Birth Mode for Individuals with a Prior Cesarean

Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) CRF Director

Holly Laws (Psychological and Brain Sciences) CRF Methodology Program Director

Commonwealth of Massachusetts/Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts-$94,800

Greater Springfield Women’s Economic Security Hub

Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) CRF Director

Bi-Sek Research Fellow

USDA/NIFA-$274,000

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) Produce Prescription Program

Adam Grabell (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

NIH-$427,576

Using Wearable Devices and Machine Learning to Forecast Preschool Tantrums and Identify Clinically Significant Variant

Lili He (Food Science)

NIH-$1,710,000

A Novel Approach of Age-Grading of Mosquitos using SERS and Machine Learning Models

Linda Isbell (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-$1,712,843

Emotional Influences on Diagnostic Error in Emergency Medicine: An Experimental Approach to Understand Diagnostic Failure and Facilitate Improvement for Patients with and without Mental Illness

Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar (Nursing)

NIH-$732,144

Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms via a Family-Centered Preventative Intervention for Immigrants

Mariana Pereira (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

NIH-$1,964,312

Postpartum Depression and Parenting: Circuit Level Transcriptomic and Neurochemical Mechanisms

NIH-$429,417

Neural Mechanisms Preventing Postpartum Relaspe to Cocaine Seeking New Mothers

Jamie Rowen (Political Science)

NSF-$500,000

CAREER: Thank you for Your Service: The Instrumentalization of Law through Veterans Treatment Courts

Alicia Timme-Laragy (Environmental Health)

NIH-$2,743,555

Activation of Nrf2 during Embryonic Development: Mechanisms and Consequences

NIH-$421,400

Developmental Toxicants and Congenital Pancreas Malformations

Nicole VanKim (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)

NIH-$612,072

Physiologic Stress and Sexual Orientation Disparities in Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Among Women

Center Grants and Contracts:

Lorraine Cordeiro (Nutrition) CRF Director

USDA- $500,000

Commonwealth of Massachusetts $1,080,000

Advancing Research on Families

FamilyResearchScholars(FRS)

TheFamilyResearchScholarsProgram,establishedin2003,isthecornerstoneofour commitmenttoadvancinginterdisciplinaryresearch.

Highlycompetitiveprogrampreparesfacultyforsuccessinsecuringfederaland majorgrants

Fostersgroundbreakinginterdisciplinaryresearch

Enhancesevidence-basedknowledgeonthehealthandwell-beingoffamilies affectedbysocialinequities

DramaticallyboostsfederalresearchfundingatUMass

HowCRFSupportsResearch

Instruction:Grantdevelopment,feedbackandpeerreview, methodologicalsupport,in-depthconsultationwithnationalexperts, courserelease,supportingacommunityofscholars.

GrantDevelopmentGuidance:Offeringexpertindividualandgroup mentoringtoenhancethepreparationofcompetitivegrantproposals.

PeerReview&Feedback:Providingconstructivefeedbackandpeerreview torefineresearchideasandstrengthenproposals.

MethodologicalSupport:Assistingresearcherswithadvanced methodologiestoensurerigorousandimpactfulstudies.

ConsultationwithNationalExperts:Facilitatingin-depthconsultations withleadinginternationalscholarstoelevatethequalityandscopeof research.

CourseRelease:Providingfacultywithcoursereleasetimetodedicate effortstoresearchinitiatives.

CommunityofScholars:Fosteringacollaborativeenvironmenttoconnect andsupportresearchersinfamilystudies,aswellasenhance interdisciplinarydialogueonfamilyresearch.

Theseresourcesempowerresearcherstodevelop,refine,andsuccessfully executetransformativeresearchinthefieldoffamilystudies.

Achsah Dorsey Ph.D FRS ‘23-’24 in Chilean Patagonia with family.

Family Research Scholars

FamilyResearchScholars 2023-2024

DirectedbyDrs.CordeiroandDeater-Deckard

AchsahDorsey,AssistantProfessor,Anthropology

IntestinalMicrobiotaandImmuneActivationImpactsonEfficacyofChildIron Supplementation

JungwooLee,AssociateProfessor,ChemicalEngineering Bioengineered3DHumanBoneMechanocultureModeltoStudytheEffectsof ExerciseonDisseminatedTumorCellDormancy

KarineFénelon,AssistantProfessor,Biology

FunctionalInvestigationofBrainMechanismsUnderlyingSensorimotorGating AlteredbyPsychiatricDisorders

AmandaPaluch,AssistantProfessor,Kinesiology

Dose-ResponseTrialtoIdentifytheOptimalVolumeandIntensityofStepsper DayforCardiovascularHealthinOlderAdults

SoonkyuChung,AssociateProfessor,Nutrition EstablishmentofHeatTreatmentasaTherapeuticInterventionStrategyto PromoteMetabolicHealthAgainstAgingandMenopause

YuriyBrun,Professor,ManningCollegeofInformationandComputer Sciences

EngineeringFamily-AwareSoftware

FRS2024-2025

The2024-2025FamilyResearchScholarswereselectedbasedontheir promisingfamilyrelatedresearch.

LucindaCanty,AssociateProfessor,ElaineMariebCollegeofNursing

JoohyunChung,AssociateProfessor,ElaineMariebCollegeofNursing

EzraMarkowitz,Professor,EnvironmentalConservation,CollegeofNatural Sciences

KatiePotter,AssosciateProfessor,Kinesiology,SchoolofPublicHealthand HealthSciences

JohnSirard,AssociateProfessor,Kinesiology,SchoolofPublicHealthand HealthSciences

KevinYoung,Professor,Economics,CollegeofSocialandBehaviroal Sciences

Kirby Deater-Deckard, Ph.D Director

Faculty Research Scholars

2023-2024 FRS Scholars pictured left to right: Achsah Dorsey, Karine Fénelon, Yuriy Brun, Amanda Paluch, Soonkyu Chung, and Jungwoo Lee

Scholar Features

Faculty Research Scholars 2023-2024

In this year’s Annual Report, we spotlight the ground-breaking interdisciplinary research of two 2023-24 CRF Family Research Scholars: Dr. Yuriy Brun, Professor at the Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Advanced Software Engineering Research (LASER), and Dr. Jungwoo Lee, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the College of Engineering.

2023-2024 FRS Featured Scholars pictured left to right: Drs. Yuriy Brun and Jungwoo Lee

Yuriy Brun, Professor, Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences

sor Brun's research focuses on improving the quality of software that increasingly s our daily lives. His team works to develop tools that help software engineers create reliable systems, addressing the fact that software bugs are all too common in today’s ex digital world.

his year as a CRF Family Research Scholar, Dr. Brun will focus on writing a grant at improving the safety of social media platforms for children. With the rise of phones and online gaming, children are often exposed to toxic behaviors such as g and harassment, as well as online predators. Professor Brun is developing ological tools to help engineers design, implement, and test systems that prioritize n's safety, much like how engineers today use frameworks to ensure user data privacy.

Through his research, Dr. Brun hopes to empower companies to build safer social media environments and allow users to audit platforms for safety. This innovative research will hopefully lead to a safer online world for children, benefiting society as a whole.

Dr. Brun noted how much he celebrates the success of his students, who play an integral role in the lab’s research. Their work on user studies, technological solutions, and their deployment and evaluation represents a key component of his research approach. Students bring new ideas forward and through his mentoring, Dr. Brun witnesses their development into skilled researchers. The recognition students receive for their achievements is one of the most rewarding aspects of his career. Furthermore, Dr. Brun is a strong advocate for increasing the pipeline of women and individuals of color into the field.

Being a part of the CRF Family Research Scholars (FRS) program has provided Professor Brun with invaluable support, offering the uninterrupted focus time necessary to explore new, impactful research directions. This program has allowed him to continue pushing the boundaries of research that address critical issues in society today. His fellow scholars in the program praised his kindness, insights, and interdisciplinary contributions on their research.

Yuriy Brun Ph.D

Family Research Scholar ’23- '24 Pictured with his daughter Melina.

Jungwoo Lee, Associate Professor Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering

Professor Jungwoo Lee’s research focuses on creating human bone tissue models for both basic and applied scientific research. His work aims to address the significant challenges in studying bone biology, particularly the difficulty of observing bone cell behavior due to its anatomical inaccessibility. By developing bioengineered bone tissue models, Dr. Lee seeks to replicate the complexity of bone tissue and its cellular processes with high precision, advancing our understanding of bone health and disease.

During his CRF Family Research Scholars year, Dr. Lee focused on developing a humanized 3D bone mechanoculture model. This model will help investigate how exercise influences the fate of disseminated tumor cells in bone metastasis, a common and often fatal complication in breast cancer patients. By exploring the impact of exercise on bone metabolism and cancer cell behavior, Professor Lee hopes to establish exercise regimens that can help manage bone aging and prevent the spread of metastatic cancer.

Professor Lee’s research has personal resonance, as he envisions a future where his work could potentially contribute to cancer prevention and management, especially given the increasing number of cancer survivors. His work has already led to exciting findings, such as a novel approach to creating demineralized bone paper, which has opened new pathways in bone biology and tumor research.

Additionally, Professor Lee’s lab is a hub for student researchers, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate volunteers. Their collaborative efforts contribute to the development of new research directions and foster an environment of continuous learning and discovery. The Family Research Scholars (FRS) program has provided Dr. Lee with critical support in interdisciplinary research, as well as dedicated time for research, refining grant proposals, and fostering valuable collaborations with mentors and colleagues. In particular, he was able to strengthen his grant in an interdisciplinary environment with fellow FRS colleagues with expertise in Kinesiology and Nutrition, as well those with disciplinary focus in Biology, Sociology, and Computer Science. Dr. Jungwoo Lee expresses deep gratitude for the opportunities that CRF and the CRF Family Research Scholars program provided, which have been instrumental in advancing both his research and professional development, and in providing mentoring by a renowned national scholar in the impact of exercise for oncology patients.

Dr. Jungwoo Lee Family Research Scholar '24

Jungwoo Lee Ph.D Family Research Scholar ‘23-‘24

Pictured with his father who helped him make mechanoculture device for his 3D bone organoid project.

Awards and Accolades

Laura Vandenberg, CRF Family Research Scholar 2015-2016, was named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement. Vandenberg will work in conjunction with various centers and institutes, to further develop and expand research services. Dr. Vandenberg has her doctorate degree in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology from Tufts University School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University. Her research in the Family Research Scholar program focused on how early life exposures to chemicals predisposes individuals to diseases that manifest later in life. She is one of the most highly gifted scholars.

Amanda Woerman, CRF Family Research Scholar 2021-2022, received a grant from the Tau Consortium of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation to advance her research to develop a gene therapy for tauopathies, a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders. This $190,000 grant will allow Woerman to test a proof-of-concept gene therapy and eventually develop an intervention to interfere with the tau misfolding, preventing the disease. Development of this gene therapy has the capacity to effectively diagnose and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD).

Rebecca Spencer, CRF Family Research Scholar 2011-2012, collaborated with a professor from the University of Maryland on a longitudinal study observing preschoolers during naptime to see the affects on their brains if they nap versus if they stay up. They received a $6 million dollar grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Yuriy Brun, CRF Family Research Scholar 2023-2024, and his team was awarded a Distinguished Paper award at the ACM Joint European Software Engineering Conference and Symposium on the Foundations of Software Engineering. Brun and his team created a new method, Baldur, for automatically generating whole proofs that can be used to prevent software bugs and verify that the underlying code is correct.

Sarah Goff, CRF Family Research Scholar 2021-2022, was awarded a 5-year, $2.2 million grant from the National Institute of Health to examine the impact of Medicaid accountable care organizations on the quality and outcomes of behavioral and mental health care for children in Massachusetts. With mental health disorders increasing over the past decade, Goff believes there is a huge need for mental and behavioral health care for children in Massachusetts, especially when 1/6 children ages 6-17 have a mental health diagnosis.

Amanda Paluch, CRF Family Research Scholar 2023-2024, is the lead author of a newly issued update to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association regarding resistance exercise training and cardiovascular disease. Paluch and colleagues noted that there has been accumulating evidence suggesting that resistance training is a safe and effective approach to improving cardiovascular health in adults with and without cardiovascular disease.

Nilanjana Dasgupta, CRF Family Research Scholar 2012-2013, has done research on female peer mentors being present early on in college students career, resulting in women’s positive academic experiences and retention in engineering. Having female mentors for female college students has increased their feeling of belonging and confidence.

Michelle Budig, CRF Family Research Scholar 2006-2007, was honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science for her research and scholarship on labor market inequalities, wage penalties for paid and unpaid caregiving, work-family policy, and nonstandard employment.

Mark Pachucki, CRF Family Research Scholar 2018-2019, received the 2024 Outstanding Mentor Award which recognizes SBS faculty who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the mentorship of students.

Eleni Christofa, CRF Family Research Scholar 2023-2024, was awarded the 2024 College of Engineering College Outstanding Teaching Award and was selected as a Chancellors’s Leadership Fellow. This award recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring individual faculty members for their instructional accomplishments.

Eleni Christofa Ph.D FRS 2023-2024 and family.

Annual Researc

Forum & Awards Dinner

October 5, 2023

Tay Gavin

LECTURE SERIES 2023-24

Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series

Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series began in 1999, by Dorothy and Joseph Gavin Jr. in memory of their daughter. This lecture series brings renowned scholars in family research to UMass Amherst each year. In 2023-2024, CRF hosted seven speakers, engaging attendees from 15 institutions. These lectures emphasize the importance of family research and its implications for public policy.

1. Orchestrating Immunological Symphony in Type 2 Diabetes – October 23, 2023

Dr. Jason Kim, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes and Director of Metabolic Disease Research Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School – Consulted with Soonkyu Chung, FRS ‘24

2. The Evolutionary Epidemiology of Iron Deficiency – November 2, 2023

Dr. Katherine Wander, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Binghamton University – Consulted with Achsah Dorsey, FRS ‘24

3. Generational Overlap: Changing Demography and Shared Lifetimes –November 16, 2023

Dr. Marcy Carlson Sewell-Bascom Professor of Sociology, and Associate Dean of Graduate Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison – Consulted with Aida Villanueva, FRS ‘23

4. Leveraging Diversity in Polygenic Risk Scores for Diabetes and Other Advances in Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology – December 1, 2023

Dr. Alisa Manning, Assistant Investigator in the Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit (CTEU), Mongan Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH); Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School – Consulted with Cassie Spracklen, FRS ‘23

5. Exercise Therapy for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer – February 13, 2024

Dr. Lee Jones, Member and Attending Physiologist in the Department of Medicine and Director of the Exercise-Oncology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Consulted with Jungwoo Lee, FRS ‘24

6. Physical Activity and Health - Integrative Physiology to Public Health: Challenges, Caveats and Unanswered Questions – April 25, 2024

Dr. Bill Kraus, Richard and Pat Johnson University Distinguished Professor, Medicine and School of Nursing, Duke University - Consulted with Amanda Paluch, FRS ‘24

7. Combining Learning and Control in Cyber-Physical Systems – May 9, 2024

Dr. Andreas Malikopoulos, Professor, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Director, Information and Decision Science Lab at Cornell University – Consulted with Eleni Christofa, FRS ‘23

Methodology Program

Overview

CRF’s Methodology Program provides consultation for study design and statistical analysis. The program has a particular expertise in methods for analyzing non-experimental data that arise in studies of families, developmental transitions, and intervention effects, using multilevel modeling structural equation modeling for the analysis of nested and longitudinal data. The CRF Methodology Program also offers a series of methodology workshops, seminars, and other training opportunities throughout the academic year and during the summer months.

CRF’s Methodology Program has expanded in exciting ways and continues to grow into a highly sought-after resource for family scholars. We are serving larger numbers of faculty and more external institutions and community-based organizations have requested our expertise. CRF has long served as a training ground for future methodologists. CRF Methods alumni provide methodology expertise in various fields, from academic positions to research and development departments in corporations, to providing evaluation and methodology support to non-profits and community based organizations. Alumni who served as consultants have gone on to post doctoral fellows at BU among other institutions. One alumni just took on a position as a Associate Professor at ASU.

Federally Funded Grants

We continue to support several large-scale NIH funded grants, including an R01 study by PI Katie Dixon-Gordon, examining emotional processes in the days after discharge from suicide attempts, funded by NIMH. Our longterm collaboration with PI Lisa Wexler (Faculty Research Scholar 2007-2008), who has received multiple NIMH R01 grants on implementation of suicide prevention programs for Native Alaskan communities, showcases how the multilevel modeling expertise CRF methods is known for can support success with federally funded grants. Additional grants for which CRF Methodology provided analysis support in FY 24 included grants led by FRS alumni Bekki Spencer (FRS 2011-2012), Laura Attanasio (FRS 2022-2023), and Sofiya Alhassan (FRS 2016-2017). Congratulations to the PIs and thank you for including CRF Methodology as a support for your research!

Members of the Methodology Team:

Eleni Kapoulec, Ann Folker, and Academic Mentor Alexandra Lauterbach, Ph.D

Dr. Holly Laws Methodology Director's Professional Activities

Served as a methodological collaborator or coinvestigator on several NIH-funded grants (all PIs are former CRF scholars or CRF Stress Working Group members)

Feasibility and Fidelity of a Gross Motor-Based Physical Activity Intervention on Cognitive Variables in Preschool-Age Children from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds. NIH/NICHD: R21HD108125. Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Sofiya Alhassan, UMass Amherst)

Longitudinal Study of Sleep Physiology and Function Across Toddlerhood. NIH/NICHD: R21HD108913. Role: Collaborator (PI: Rebecca Spencer, UMass )

Hospital Quality, Processes of Care, and Racial Disparities in Birth Mode for Individuals with a Prior Cesarean. NIH/NIMHDL: R21MD018075 (PI: Laura Attanasio, UMass Amherst)

EMERGE: Ecological Momentary Evaluation of Responses to Gain/Loss and Emotions. NIH/NIMH: R01MH128546. Role: Collaborator (PI: Kathrine Dixon-Gordon, UMass Amherst)

A new grant was funded in April 2024 to continue methodological support with former CRF Scholar, Dr. Lisa Wexler, who is now at the University of Michigan. This grant focuses on the implementation and impact on youth outcomes for the Promoting Community Conversations about Research to End Native Youth Suicide in Rural Alaska

Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health. NIH/NIMH: R01MH136768. (PI: Lisa Wexler, University of Michigan)

Dr. Laws also continued her long-term role as an instructor of summer workshop on multilevel modeling for longitudinal, intensive longitudinal, and dyadic applications for the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at University of Michigan (June 3-7, 2024)

Co-authored methodology support of multiple publications using dyadic and developmental methodological applications

Holly Laws Ph.D Director of Methodology Program

Methodology Consultation Services

CRF’s Methodology Consultation Services provided over 600 hours of individual research and data consultation to faculty and staff from within and outside of the UMass community. Methodology consultation on the following topics was provided.

InternalConsultation(UMass)

The methodology teamhas providedsupportto UMass faculty, graduate students,and postdoctoralfellowsthisacademicyear.Consultationsrangefromonetime meetings to check analysis ortoweeklyteachingsessionstosupportdissertationanalysesandinterpretation.Ourconsultationisoftensoughtfor advanced methods support ofmaster’sordissertationproposals,includingsupportofadvanced applicationssuchasmultilevelstructuralequationmodeling, latent class analysis, and power analysis.Severalofthesecollaborationsresultedinco-authorshipon peer-reviewedpublicationsfortheMethodologyDirector and members ofthe graduateconsultingteam.

ExternalConsultation(ClientsOutsideofUMass)

Wehaveworkedinlong-termteachingconsultationswithpsychologyandsocialworkfacultyatHunterCollegeSchoolofSocialWork,UniversityofKentucky Louisville,UniversityofUtah,QueensCollegeCUNYGraduateCenter,UniversityofTexasatAustin,SmithCollege,andYaleSchoolofPublicHealth.Support rangedfromteachingconventionalstatisticstomoreadvancedapplicationssuchasmultilevelmodelingforlongitudinalordyadicdataanalyses,andstructural equationmodeling.ThestudiesfocusonmanyareasrelevanttoCRF’sfamilyresearchmissionincludingcaregiverrelationshipsandmentalhealthforageing populations,trauma-informedteachingwithinmiddleschoolclassrooms,dyadicrelationshipprocesses,andhealthfortransandnonbinaryindividuals.CRF methodologyprogramcontinuestogainrecognitionasaresourcetoprovidesuchsupport.

ExternalConsultation(CommunityBased-Clients)

CRFMethodologycontinuestosupportourlongtermworkwiththeWomen’sFundofWesternMassachusetts.DataanalysisfromtheEconomicSecurityHub (ESH)studyhasadvancedtotwodistinctprojects.HeadedbyqualitativeexpertDr.AlexandraLauterbach,thequalitativeteam(AnnFolkerandEleniKapoulea) hasemployedrigorousqualitativeanalyticapproaches,includinggroundedtheory,tofocusgroupdatawithESHparticipants.Thisprojectcentersaround participants experienceswithhealthcare,discrimination,andeconomicinsecurity,aswelltheirreactionstodatasharingfromtheprimaryESHdatacollection.A secondprojectprovidesaquantitativeanalysisfromtheESHsurveyofapproximately195participants.Findingsfromthisstudyshowedalinkbetween experiencesofdiscrimination,foodinsecurity,andself-reportedhealth.ThisworkhasbeenacceptedforDr.Cordeiro’spresentationattheAmericanPublic HealthAssociationconferenceinOctober2024.

CRF Methodology

Methodology consultants conducted virtual methodology seminars to positive e attendance from UMass and external faculty and graduate students.

Latent Basis Growth Curve Modeling, 2/23/24, Ann Folker

Introduction to Complex Survey Designs, 3/29/24, Nathan Huff

Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis, 4/19/24, Eleni Kapoulea

Methodology Mentoring and Engagement of UMass Amherst Students

We welcomed Eleni Kapoulea to the team as a mixed methods consultant. Dongwei Wang continued as the longest serving member of the team. Eleni Kapoulea, Nathan Huff, and Ann Folker, all doctoral students in Psychology and Brain Sciences served as methodology consultants.

Doctoral Student Advancements and Accolades

Best Wishes to Dr. Dongwei Wang, data manager for the Rudd Adopti Program and CRF Methodology consultant since 2018. While working UMass, Dongwei successfully completed her Ph.D. in the School of Ed Research, Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics Program in 2024. W Dongwei success and happiness in her new position at Education Tes

Congratulations also to our graduate student CRF consultant Dr. Nath joined CRF in Fall 2022 and quickly became an indispensable member Nathan defended his Ph.D. in Social Psychology in August 2024, and w methodology consultation for CRF post-graduation

Consultat

Huff

Dongwei Wang Outgoing Data Manager

Eleni Kapoulea Methodology Consultant Methodology Consultant

Ann Folker

Graduate Student Mentoring

Training the Next Generation of Family Researchers

$654,984

Total Graduate Student Family Research Funding since Inception

Student Grant Writing Activity Through 2024

Number

Recently Funded Student Grant Writers

(2018):

Doctoral Student Feature

Cannabis Liberalization Policies and School-Based Discipline Among Youth: Examining Sociodemographic Disparities in Massachusetts

Faith English is a Ph.D. candidate in Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences and a participant in the Center for Research on Families (CRF) Graduate Grant Writers Program. She has received both the CRF Graduate Student Dissertation Award and Travel Award in recognition of her impactful research.

Faith’s research centers on the criminalization of individuals under age 21 in the wake of cannabis decriminalization and changes to its legalization in Massachusetts. She is investigating the implications of cannabis-related school discipline and criminal justice involvement, with a focus on whether these processes disproportionately affect youth of color. Her research aims to deepen our understanding of how cannabis legalization impacts young people under 21, particularly in terms of their interactions with disciplinary and justice systems.

Through mentorship from Dr. Spencer in the Graduate Grant Writers Program, Faith secured an $111,000 award from the National Institute of Justice to support her dissertation research. Early findings suggest that high school students in Massachusetts are no more likely to use marijuana following legalization. However, it remains uncertain whether changes in policy and school-based discipline practices have been significantly influenced. Faith is also exploring sociodemographic factors in school districts with varying rates of discipline for cannabis offenses and examining youth perceptions of these disciplinary actions.

Faith is deeply committed to improving conditions for marginalized communities. She notes, “I hope my findings will help educators and policymakers to continue developing alternatives to suspension and expulsion, particularly for cannabis related offenses.”

Reflecting on her experience with CRF and the Graduate Grant Writers Program, Faith shares, “I am incredibly thankful for the support I received from CRF over the past 6 years, both through the networking opportunities it provided me with when I worked there as a Graduate Research Assistant from 2017-2019 and as a participant in the CRF Grant Writing Workshop in 2022 which led to me receiving a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Institute of Justice.

*At the time of publishing Faith reports “I successfully passed my dissertation defense and am excited to begin my next role as a postdoctoral fellowship with the Johns Hopkins Drug Dependence Epidemiology Training Program.”

- Ph.D

StudentResearchAwards

The Center for Research on Families (CRF) is dedicated to supporting family researchers at every stage of their careers. Established in 2010, CRF’s StudentFamily ResearchAwardsProgram recognizes outstanding student research on critical issues related to families. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $477,315 to 188 students, supporting their research endeavors and helping them present their findings at professional conferences.

In 2023-2024, 22talentedundergraduatestudents from diverse disciplines were selected to receive funding, enabling them to advance their research and enhance their analytical skills.