COSSA Member
COSSA Member Organizations
PAA to Host Congressional Briefing on “U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families”
On October 8, the Population Association of America (PAA) will host a congressional briefing on “U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families.” The event will feature a discussion on national and international birth rate trends and evidence on the effects of policy incentives, such as tax credits and paid family leave, in impacting an individual’s decision to start a family. The discussion is particularly timely given the Trump Administration’s interest in encouraging higher birth rates nationwide. Speakers will include: PAA is a COSSA governing member organization. RSVP to secure your spot!
SSRC, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Offer Research Relief Funding
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), with generous support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is offering emergency funding to principal investigators (PIs) conducting economics-related research whose federal grants have been terminated by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Economic Research Rescue Fund is intended for PIs who received an NSF award prior to June 1, 2025 and had their award terminated, cancelled or suspended. Effected researchers can apply for funding up to $250,000 to help mitigate disruptions to the economics-related project. Full details are available here. SSRC is a COSSA member organization.
AAPSS Calls for Nominations for 2026 Moynihan Prize
The American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS) has announced their call for nominations for the 2026 Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize in Social Science and Public Policy. The Moynihan Prize is an annual honor created to recognize social scientists, public officials, and civic leaders who champion the use of informed judgment to advance the public good. The winner will deliver the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Lecture on Social Science and Public Policy in Washington, DC, next fall. Nominations will be accepted through November 1, 2025 and can be submitted on the AAPSS website. AAPSS is a COSSA member organization. Learn more about the Moynihan…
AAAS Accepting Nominations for 2026 Awards & Prizes
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announced that nominations are now open for the following awards and prizes: AAAS also sponsors a wide range of other awards and prizes recognizing scientists, engineers, authors, journalists and public servants for significant contributions to science and the public’s understanding of science. The deadline for all nominations is June 30, 2025 and winners will be announced in early 2026. Learn more on the AAAS website.
COSSA Welcomes American Institutes for Research as New Member
COSSA is thrilled to welcome the American Institutes for Research (AIR) as its newest member! AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. COSSA’s full membership list can be found here. Information on how to join is on the COSSA website.
Senate Appropriators Hold Hearing on Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation
On April 30, Senate Appropriators held a bipartisan hearing on Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation where they invited several witnesses from the scientific community, including Dr. Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Dr. Hermann Haller, President of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Dr. Cartier Esham, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Barry Paul Sleckman, Director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Emily Stenson, a patient advocate. During the hearing, several members of the committee across the aisle…
Suzanne Le Menestrel Named New Executive Director of the Society for Research in Child Development
On April 24, the Society for Research in Child Development’s (SRCD) announced that Dr. Suzanne Le Menestrel has been appointed as the Executive Director. Dr. Le Menestrel has been acting as SRCD’s Interim Executive Director since December 2024 and initially joined the Society through her appointment to Director of Science Affairs in 2022. Dr. Le Menestrel has provided oversight of SRCD’s peer-reviewed journals, grants, awards, and fellowships; collaborated with the executive leadership team on special scientific initiatives; led professional development and scientific content on behalf of SRCD’s 4,000+ members; and built relationships with scientific collaborators, both within the U.S. and…
2025 PAA Advocacy Day: A Record-Breaking Successful Day on Capitol Hill
On April 10, in conjunction with the Population Association of America (PAA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, PAA sponsored a large advocacy day in which over 100 scientists from 30 states participated in meetings with their congressional delegations. PAA sponsors a large advocacy day whenever its annual meeting is held in Washington, DC. The last two events, in 2016 and 2012, attracted over 80 individuals, making this year’s event truly record-breaking. Population scientists went to Capitol Hill to share examples of their federally funded research as well as to promote greater understanding of how data produced by federal statistical agencies are…
Tracking Current Federal Changes Affecting U.S. Education and Science
The arrival of Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president brought with it a dramatic, chaotic and generally ideological assault on the status quo for American-based or -funded schools or researchers. Sage and COSSA have sponsored a page to help track actions – and reactions – to the flurry of activity in real time. The page is titled, Tracking Current Federal Changes Affecting U.S. Education and Science and is available here on Social Science Space. Continue to check back as we post new updates about Trump Administration actions concerning federal science funding, federal statistics and data, the federal workforce, higher education, and more.
ICYMI: Trump Nominates Susan Monarez to Lead CDC
Earlier this month, President Trump nominated Dr. Susan Monarez to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monarez, who holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been serving as the acting Director of the CDC following the departure of Dr. Mandy Cohen. As COSSA previously reported, President Trump initially nominated Dr. David Weldon for the role only to abruptly withdraw the nomination hours before his first Senate confirmation hearing. Previously, Monarez served as the deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and has held roles at the White House of Office of…
Tabbye M. Chavous Named New Executive Director of the American Educational Research Association
On April 7, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) announced that Dr. Tabbye M. Chavous has been appointed as the next Executive Director of the organization, effective August 11, 2025. Dr. Chavous comes to AERA from the University of Michigan, where she is a professor of education and psychology and currently serves as vice provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. She brings over 25 years of experience and has consistently advocated for high-quality, inclusive research. COSSA looks forward to working with Dr. Chavous and thanks past-Executive Director Felice J. Levine for her service. AERA is a COSSA…
Latest from the White House (March 18)
COSSA continues to follow the flurry of executive actions taken by the Trump Administration and the impact those actions are having on the social and behavioral science community. Below are some of the latest developments coming out of the White House. Past updates are available here. Trump Eliminates Agencies On March 14, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO), Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, which eliminates several agencies “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), among others. The Woodrow Wilson International Center…
Ronald Wasserstein Elected COSSA Board Chair
The COSSA Board of Directors has elected Ronald Wasserstein, Executive Director of the American Statistical Association (ASA), as its next chair. His two-year term began January 1, 2025. Ron has led the ASA since 2007 and prior to that served as a faculty member and administrator at Washburn University in Kansas for more than two decades. The American Statistical Association is one of 10 founding organizations of COSSA. “I am honored to serve as chair of the COSSA Board of Directors at this pivotal time for the social sciences,” said Wasserstein. “With our robust network of member organizations and partners, COSSA is…
2025 AAPOR Award Nominations are Open
The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) announced that nominations are open for their portfolio of awards to recognize distinguished work in the profession, as well as to further the education of students and early career researchers. AAPOR welcomes and encourages diversity in all aspects of the research profession, including their award nominees. Read more about each award and the submission guidelines on the AAPOR website. Submissions are due February 21, 2025.
COSSA Welcomes Child Trends as Newest Member!
COSSA is pleased to welcome Child Trends as its newest member! Child Trends is an independent research organization focused on improving life for children, youth, and families. According to Child Trends, “Our work explores how a child’s environment shapes their life and the drivers of variance in their outcomes across individual, socioeconomic, and other characteristics.” Interested in joining COSSA? Find more information on the COSSA website. COSSA’s full membership list can be found here.
AERA Seeks Executive Director
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) has begun the search for their new Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that the organization contributes to building capacity for its members, fosters community and collective opportunities for collaboration, and supports the growth of a diverse and engaged membership. The Executive Director is also responsible for the fiscal well-being, financial management, and professional integrity of the association. Learn more about the description and specifications here. AERA is a COSSA governing member organization.
SSRC Opens Applications for Visual Sociology Prize
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is seeking applicants for the Rachel Tanur Memorial Prize for Visual Sociology. The prize recognizes students in the social sciences who incorporate visual analysis in their work and encourages students to work with photography as a visual medium in their study and understanding of social phenomena. The contest is open worldwide to undergraduate and graduate students in the social sciences. Students must be enrolled in their undergraduate or graduate program at the time of application. The deadline for applications is February 4, 2025. Learn more about the prize and the application process here. SSRC is a COSSA…
SRCD Accepting Applications for Policy Fellowship Program
The Society for Research Development (SRCD) is accepting applications for their U.S Policy Fellowship Program. This fellowship provides postdoctoral placements for postdoctoral child development experts for one to two years in a US federal or state agency, or a congressional agency, with a focus on child and family policy. Fellows work in fast paced environments on policy implementation programs, drafting memos, developing research funding, and more. SRCD is seeking researchers that are passionate about evidence-based policymaking, who are open to learning, and want to explore policy-related fields. Interested applicants can apply here. The application process includes a written portion, an interview, and a match-making…
Call for Applications: APSA’s Pracademic Fellowship
The American Political Science Association (APSA) is accepting proposals for the Pracademic Fellowship Program on a rolling basis. The Pracademic Fellowship Program aims to bridge the gap between academia and the world of practitioners by supporting mid-career faculty members to work in federal government agencies in the Washington, D.C. area. Fellows work directly with decision-makers involved in programs of their interest and get a first-hand vantage point of a federal agency’s decision-making environment. The program is open to faculty members in political science, public management, public policy, public administration, and related fields, and is particularly well-suited to mid-career faculty taking advantage of overlaps with…