PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] – The demand for consistent, professional administrative research support in the social sciences has led to the creation of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) at Brown. The activities of the SSRI will formally commence on July 1, 2016, with PSTC Director Andrew Foster assuming the position of director. An email from Provost Richard Locke to Brown faculty states that the new initiative will initially "draw upon the expertise and infrastructure of Brown’s Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), which has demonstrated excellence as a provider of grant, project, methodological, and data support."  

Locke also said that the SSRI will "provide cost-effective services to all social science faculty and students; support and disseminate high-quality social science research at Brown; and enhance collaborative scholarly engagement across the University."

With Foster as director, the SSRI Steering Committee will also include Associate Professor of History Linford Fisher (PSTC associate), Assistant Professor of Anthropology Andrew Scherer, Professor of Sociology Susan Short (ex-officio as PSTC director), Watson Institute Director Edward Steinfeld (ex-officio), and Assistant Professor of Political Science Rebecca Weitz-Shapiro.