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The Center for Research on Families (CRF) Methodology Program will offer two methodology workshops during the summer of 2026, with programming including courses in advanced statistical and methodological practices. The workshops, which aim to attract researchers from around the world and across many disciplines, will be conducted by members of the CRF’s network of esteemed colleagues.

From June 8-11, the program will offer “Stress Biomarkers: Why, What, Where, and How.” Presented via Zoom, this virtual workshop will introduce participants to the field of biomarkers of acute and chronic stress. The workshop will begin with an overview of the stress concept and the incorporation of allostasis theory and allostatic load to the field of stress research. We will then introduce the main theme of biomarkers for measuring stress reactivity.

Topics will include why to include biomarker measures in research, what can be measured, where different endocrine, immune, epigenetic and physiological markers can be detected and measured (including types of fluid, cell, or tissue samples where relevant), and how to measure markers of interest.

Instructors for the Stress Biomarkers workshop include UMass Amherst’s Jerrold Meyer, Katherine Dixon-Gordon and Lisa Troy, as well as Richard Hunter of UMass Boston.

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The workshop “Introduction to Dyadic Data Analysis” will be presented via Zoom from June 15-19.  Featuring instructors Niall Bolger of Columbia University and J-P. Laurenceau of the University of Delaware, this virtual workshop will cover an introduction to conducting dyadic data analysis using a structural equation modeling framework in Mplus and the conceptual and statistical background for dyadic data analysis. Some of the topics will include the common applications of dyadic modeling, including the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), decomposition of interdependence effects in APIM, and power analysis for APIM will be introduced. Longitudinal applications will also be covered, and example datasets and associated Mplus syntax will be provided. Individualized consultation for workshop participants will be offered the final day.

The early registration rate for each workshop is $850 for faculty members and $550 for graduate students and postdocs. The fees increase by $50 after May 1.

For more information or to register, visit https://www.umass.edu/family/methodology/summer-programs.