The Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science (MPSDS) recently established an Institute for Social Research (ISR) junior faculty research support award to honor the career and legacy of Dr. James M. Lepkowski. This program offers research support to selected ISR junior faculty members by providing them with a Research Assistant, a current master’s student in the MPSDS program, for an academic year. Named in recognition of his decades of service, leadership, and mentorship, the Lepkowski Research Support Award reflects Dr. Lepkowski’s unwavering commitment to student success and faculty-student collaboration.

Dr. Lepkowski served as the founding director of the MPSDS and has long been a driving force behind its mission to integrate research and training in survey and data science. 

Throughout his career, he advocated for providing every student with meaningful research opportunities that would shape their scholarly development.

I am deeply grateful to the faculty and staff who honored me in this way. You know how much I loved our students and sought to support their research throughout their time with us. This award thoughtfully recognizes that love, and I hope it continues to foster rewarding collaborations between students and researchers.”
– Jim Lepkowski

As someone who benefited from working alongside researchers during his own graduate studies at ISR, Dr. Lepkowski knew firsthand how powerful those opportunities could be. 

He often emphasized that the most lasting learning happens through hands-on research and meaningful mentorship. The award ensures that legacy continues.

In the inaugural year, MPSDS had many strong applications but could make only a limited number of awards available. The proposed studies were strong in several areas: its relevance to the educational goals of MPSDS, its concrete plan for mentoring MPSDS’s master’s students, and its innovativeness for social science research in general. Continue reading to learn more about the research ISR faculty are doing and how MPSDS students are helping. 

Exploring Care Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Older Adults

Researchers: Dr. Sarah E. Patterson & Effy Tang

Dr. Sarah Patterson and Effy Tang are leading a research project that seeks to better understand how people think about and engage in the care of older adults. Their work explores pressing questions such as: Who do individuals believe should fund elder care? How much choice do caregivers feel they have in taking on caregiving roles? And how do these attitudes shape real-world caregiving behaviors?

Through this collaboration, Dr. Patterson and Effy aim to deepen our understanding of care systems and how cultural, economic, and personal factors influence caregiving experiences and decisions.

Advancing Social Genomics Research Through the Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Researchers: Professor Wei Zhao & Zihan Tong

Professor Wei Zhao and research assistant Zihan Tong are working on a project that utilizes genomic data collected through saliva samples in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Their goal is to assess potential sample bias in the saliva collection process and conduct preliminary analyses using pilot genomic data—research that will help lay the foundation for large-scale genomic data collection and analysis within the PSID.

Professor Zhao shared,

As a junior faculty member, this support will be instrumental in advancing my research agenda. I am also deeply grateful for the opportunity to mentor and train the next generation of scientists in the exciting interdisciplinary field of social genomics.

Zihan Tong added,

Professor Zhao’s research project is highly significant for the continued development of the PSID and the social sciences. I feel truly honored to serve as a research assistant on such an important project, where I can strengthen my skills in survey methodology and data analysis, while receiving systematic training in academic research. I will strive to make the most of this opportunity to grow my knowledge and capabilities.

Advancing Survey Science Through the Lepkowski Award

Researchers: Henning Silber & Troy Liu

With support from the Lepkowski Research Support Award, Henning Silber and Troy Liu are partnering with faculty mentor Dr. Yajuan Si on a project that advances core issues in survey methodology. Their research investigates consent for data linkage, survey nonresponse, and the respondent characteristics that influence both participation rates and data quality—using rich data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID).

For Troy Liu, the project offers hands-on experience with innovative research that bridges survey methodology and data science. For Henning Silber, the collaboration supports future journal publications and a forthcoming research grant proposal, furthering both his scholarly and professional goals.

Enhancing Mobile Health Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Lizbeth ‘Libby’ Benson and research assistant Zack Winograd are collaborating on a project that aims to improve engagement with mobile health interventions by optimizing personalized feedback visualizations. This interdisciplinary project brings together Libby’s expertise in public health with Zack’s background in political science and government.

Despite coming from different academic backgrounds, both researchers are excited to learn from each other and explore the insights that emerge from their collaboration. Zack has already made meaningful contributions to the team and is eager to continue growing his skills in applied research throughout the year.