How to Become a PRI Associate or Affiliate

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The Population Research Institute at Penn State is an interdisciplinary center that encourages, organizes, and supports innovative research and training in the population sciences. PRI provides research infrastructure and a collegial intellectual environment to stimulate collaborative, externally funded demographic research. PRI receives external funding from the Population Infrastructure Program of the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch (DBSB), Center for Population Research (CPR), NICHD. The goals of this program are to support and advance research on the antecedents and consequences of population structure and change, to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among population scholars and scholars in allied fields, and to promote innovative approaches to population research questions. Because PRI's success in fulfilling these goals is evaluated by NICHD on an ongoing basis, we are required to limit membership to individuals whose work advances our mission of promoting population research.

CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT OF PRI RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

PRI Research Associates are scholars with clear and demonstrated interests in demographic research topics. Research Associates hold Penn State academic appointments and are appointed based on evidence of an active program of population-related research and consistent past, current and/or anticipated success in obtaining population-related external research funding. Reviews of research associate status are conducted by the Internal Advisory Committee every five years, prior to the submission of PRI's application for refunding.

Potential applicants who wish to become a PRI Associate should initiate the process by meeting with the PRI Director to discuss the application process. Applicants are asked to provide a statement regarding their population-related training and research activity as well as a current vita. These materials are circulated to members of the PRI Advisory Board. A majority vote of the Advisory Board members is required to become a PRI Associate.

CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT OF PRI RESEARCH AFFILIATES

PRI Research Affiliates differ from Research Associates in several ways. Research Affiliates potentially have a shorter-term association with PRI. The association is based on an emerging population-related research agenda or having a current population-related research project that could benefit from participation in PRI. Research Affiliates from Penn State must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline but need not have a faculty appointment in an academic department. Research Affiliates also may reside at other academic, research, or governmental institutions, but those from outside Penn State must demonstrate a significant involvement in a collaborative relationship with a Penn State PRI researcher. They must also hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline.

Research Affiliate appointments are made by the PRI Director for the length of a grant or another specified time period (usually two or three years). At the end of a term, Research Affiliates may reapply for affiliate status or apply to become a Research Associate. Individuals who wish to become a PRI Affiliate should contact the PRI Director. They will be asked to meet with the Director and to provide a letter of application and current vita. As is the case for PRI Associates, additional reviews of affiliates will be undertaken prior to the submission of PRI's application for a new five-year cycle of refunding.

MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

Because PRI is a NICHD-supported center and our renewal is based on the effectiveness of the PRI community in promoting population research, it is important that all members of the center contribute to our mission. PRI Associates and Affiliates are expected to have an active program of population research, with population research defined broadly. Associates and Affiliates are encouraged to publish in major demographic and population journals, to become active members of the Population Association of America, and to submit external grant proposals to the major demographic funding agencies. In addition, Associates and Affiliates are expected to be actively involved in PRI through such activities as attendance at seminars, presentation of their research, participation in interest groups, mentoring of junior faculty, and participation in the governance of the Institute. Associates and Affiliates are expected to contribute to the NIH Center Grant renewal process and to submit materials required for the production of the annual report.

If you are interested in becoming a PRI Associate or Affiliate, please contact:

Nancy Landale, Director
Population Research Institute
The Pennsylvania State University
601 Oswald Tower
University Park, PA 16802-6211
PHONE: (814) 865-0486
FAX: (814) 863-8342

Last modified: 10/27/09 | Contact Webmaster