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Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology

*New* The New Wave of SRH Indicators: Where Do Fertility Goals Fit In? (02/12/26)

Join the Ohio Population Consortium on February 12 at 12 pm EST for the second of three webinars in a series on “Fertility Goals: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Implications for Science and Policy“. CSDE External Affiliate Jamaica Corker (BMGF) is one of four panelist speaking on new indicators of sexual and reproductive health. Register for Zoom link.

There has been a recent surge of efforts to develop new indicators of sexual and reproductive health, indicators intended to supplant the constructs “unmet need for contraception” and “demand satisfied” that have served as featured indicators during the past two decades. The proposed indicators reflect an effort to achieve a more woman-centered approach to both SRH science and policy. Fertility goals were essential ingredients of the past indicators. Where do they fit in now? Have they been sidelined (deliberately or unintentionally)? If so, is this defensible and desirable, from both a scientific and policy perspective? The aim of this webinar is to have an energetic exchange about these (and related) questions.

Presenters

  • John Casterline, Institute for Population Research, The Ohio State University
  • Nurudeen Alhassan, AFIDEP, Lilongwe, Malawi
  • Jamaica Corker, External Research Affiliate, Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology, University of Washington
  • Leigh Senderowicz, Department of Gender & Women’s Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

*New* CAPS Webinar: Moderated Discussion on Social Science Funding within NIH (02/13/26)

Syracuse University is sponsoring a webinar on the funding landscape at NIH for aging and population health research.  Since CSDE is part of the Association of Population Centers, along with Syracuse, UW affiliates are welcome to join.  Two sociologists will be offering their insights on their understanding of the current landscape, given their experiences and current roles.  Both are highly productive social scientists with longstanding, successfully funded research programs from NICHD, NIA, NIMH, NIAID, NCI, etc.  Sarah Burgard is the University of Michigan’s population center director and Tara McKay is the co-founder of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab at Vanderbilt University.  The conversation and insights should be illuminating.  Sarah Burgard is also President of the Association of Population Centers and actively engaged in interacting with NIH programs, other federal agencies, and with US Congress on health funding for population research.
Please add this to your calendar and  feel free to join Syracuse University’s Center for Aging and Population Studies for a moderated discussion on funding research in population health and aging. The speakers, Sarah Burgard and Tara McKay, will address the current funding landscape and prospects for the future.

 

Applications Open for NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Early Career Workshop (02/13/26)

We are now accepting applications for the NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Early Career Workshop. This opportunity provides early stage investigators with training on how to transform their research ideas into competitive NIH grant applications. The workshop includes strategies for developing strong NIH proposals, navigating the peer review process, and building a professional network to support a successful research career. The application submission deadline is February 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

This workshop provides opportunities to gain insights from NIH program officers and scientific review officers on writing strong National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant proposals and navigating the peer review process. It also facilitates networking with NIH program staff and fellow early career researchers, exchange ideas, and connect with potential collaborators

Program Details
OBSSR will select up to 15 early stage investigators to present their research findings and participate in this one-day, in-person workshop. Selection will be based on an applicant’s first-authored research paper.

Key Dates

  • Application Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
  • Awardee Notification: May 1, 2026
  • Workshop Date (in-person): June 3, 2026

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must submit one eligible article focused on the study of behavioral and social phenomena relevant to health. They also must—

  • Meet the National Institutes of Health’s definition of an early stage investigator.
  • Be the sole or primary author of a peer-reviewed, original research article, published or accepted between January 1 to December 31, 2025.