ANNOUNCING THE 2021-2022 ISSR SCHOLARS

The Institute for Social Science Research is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 ISSR Scholars, who represent three colleges and seven departments across the University of Massachusetts, Amherst campus. Krista Harper, Acting Director of the Institute for Social Science Research, notes, “Social science uncovers the human dimensions of societal and global problems, and ISSR is thrilled to launch work with this cohort of innovative social scientists.”

ISSR Scholars have emerged from all of the UMass Colleges, and have obtained an unprecedented funding success rate of over 70% since 2012.

ISSR Scholars participate in a year-long biweekly seminar that helps each of them develop a strong research grant proposal. In addition to attending in-depth sessions on grant writing and receiving valuable peer feedback on their proposals, ISSR Scholars are given unique opportunities to consult with nationally recognized experts about their proposals.

This year, the Scholars program will give faculty from the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Social and Behavior Sciences, and the School of Public Health and Health Sciences the time and support necessary to develop a successful large grant proposal. This group includes two interdisciplinary projects, bringing together faculty members across departments to develop new insights on the governance of "smart cities" technologies (Regional Planning and Public Policy) and on export trade networks and globalization (Regional Planning and Public Policy). All of the faculty benefit from the interdisciplinary communication and learning that occurs as part of the program.

The mission of ISSR is to promote excellence in social science research. One of its most important goals, served by the Scholars Program, is to strengthen existing social science infrastructure on campus in order to stimulate high-quality scholarship and build capacity for externally sponsored research grants.. 

Learn more about the ISSR Scholars program

MEET OUR 2021-2022 SCHOLARS

CAMILLE BARCHERS
Assistant Professor
Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Building Capacities for the Governance of Smart Cities (Co-Scholar Thaddeus Miller)

MARYCLARE GRIFFIN
Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Natural Sciences
Project Title: Export Diversification Across Two Globalizations: A Network Anallysis (Co-Scholar Isabella Weber)

JUNIPER KATZ
Assistant Professor
School of Public Policy
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Linking Land Conservation and Clean Energy: Conflict and Opportunity in Siting Clean Energy Projects

JENNIFER MACK
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication Disorders
School of Public Health & Health Sciences
Project Title: Impact of Self-disclosure of Aphasia on Neurotypical Listeners
 

THADDEUS MILLER
Associate Professor
School of Public Policy
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Building Capacities for the Governance of Smart Cities (Co-Scholar Camille Barchers)

MANASVINI SINGH
Assistant Professor
Department of Resource Economics
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Environmental Pressures and Health Care Delivery
 

ISABELLA WEBER
Assistant Professor
Department of Economics
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Export Diversification Across Two Globalizations: A Network Anallysis (Co-Scholar Maryclare Griffin)

WEIAI (WAYNE) XU
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: The Digital Civil War in Diaspora Communities: An Investigation of Actors, Networks, and Content in Digital Disinformation and Propaganda Targeting Immigrant Communities