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Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar (FRS 2017-18) Receives 3-year R34 Research Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health at the National Institutes of Health

Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, has been awarded a 3-year R34 Research Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health at the National Institutes of Health. The grant, “Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Via a Family-centered Preventative Intervention for Immigrants: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial”, was developed during her time as CRF Family Research Scholar. 

Paula Pietromonaco, FRS 2003-04 & 2015-16, Selected for Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology

Paula Pietromonaco, FRS 2003-04 & 2015-16, professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences, has been selected for the 2019 Service to the Field Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). Pietromonaco is a social psychologist whose work focuses on how people think, feel and behave in the context of their closest relationships. Her particular interest lies in how couple members influence each other’s ability to manage their emotions, and how these relationship processes are connected to emotional and physical health over time. Her current work, funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, examines how newlywed spouses’ expectations and beliefs about relationships, together with their physiological stress reactions (e.g., cortisol reactivity and recovery) and behavior patterns when discussing disagreements, predict later risks for depression and anxiety. The award recognizes distinguished efforts by individuals to benefit the field of social and personality psychology generally.

Nilanjana Buju Dasgupta FRS 2006-07, 2012-13 Leads the Helm at New Leadership Academy for students of color and women

Nilanjana Buju Dasgupta, FRS 2006-07, 2012-13, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Director of Faculty Equity and Inclusion, College of Natural Sciences, has been tapped to lead a new initiative promoting career development for students of color and women who are interested in careers in technology and engineering. The Leadership Academy will work in partnership with several Massachusetts colleges and universities as well as technology and engineering firms to provide students with expert guidance to develop professional leadership skills. 

CRF Proudly Supports CNS Workshop Series for UMass Faculty, Staff & Graduate Students

As expressed in the CRF Statement Against Racism, our team is committed to taking meaningful action to undo the effects of systemic racism in our society, in our workplaces, in academia, in our communities, and in our country. One of the many measures we will be supporting is the upcoming anti-racism workshop series hosted by CNS. The workshop series, White Like Me Viewing and Group Discussions, will foster and facilitate discussion within identity groups before coming together to meet across groups. Learn more about the workshop series and register here.

*Workshop groups will be offered beginning Monday, July 13 and will run through Thursday, July 16 

Register here

Social Justice Related Research

The Center for Research on Families (CRF) has a deep commitment to social justice which is demonstrated through our core mission of advancing research for the health and well-being of all families. Our goal is that the faculty and student research that we support will inform policy and practices that will reduce and, ultimately, eliminate social, economic and health inequities. Our student and faculty scholars are studying topics across a broad range of areas that affect families. Many are looking at inequality in the lives of families that exist at the intersections of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, and abilities. 

Former CRF Scholars Received SEED Grants

Three former CRF Family Research Scholars have received SEED Grant funds from the Institute of Diversity Sciences. Director of IDS Nilanjana Buju Dasgupta announced this month that the scholars, Krista Harper (FRS '08-'09), Mark Pachucki (FRS '18-19) Nicole VanKim (FRS '19-'20) were awarded the grants as members of interdisciplinary and inter-university teams for working on projects that "strive to solve important equity-related problems through science and engineering research.” 

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