Scientific Core

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Scientific Core Abstract The primary goal of the Scientific Core is to enhance the scientific impact, innovation, and productivity of Hopkins Population Center (HPC) Associates’ research by facilitating the expansion of existing research, initiation of new research directions, cross-fertilization across HPC Primary Research Areas (PRAs), successful attainment of competitive external funding, and production of influential publications. The HPC Director, Dr. Lingxin Hao, also directs the Scientific Core. Dr. Ciprian Crainiceanu is the Methods Lead, and Dr. Qingfeng Li is the Data Lead. The Scientific core includes a part-time technical staff and a graduate RA. The Scientific Core provides three types of services: Methods, Data, and Computing. Specifically, the Methods Support facilitates the adoption of advanced methods to enhance the rigor of population dynamics research in three topics: (1) Advanced Data Analytics address the fusion between data science, population science, and health science, focusing on innovative analytics of wearable data, biomarkers, and population-scale networks available in surveys or cohort studies; (2) Advanced Demographic Measurement and Modeling methods enhance population dynamics research, focusing on advanced demographic measurement, Bayesian modeling, and causal inferences; and (3) Data Collection Methods in the 21st Century focuses on innovative data collection methods such as digital survey methods, long-term panel surveys, assessing and achieving population representativeness, and innovative combination of qualitative data and econometrics. The Scientific Core provides Methods Support via Methodological Consultation for developing new projects and analyzing data supported by a Methodological Improvement Fund (MIF) program and Informal Educational Programs. The Data Support includes timely data acquisition and management for new demographic events and changing population processes, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The Computing Support maintains a “Cold Room” for confidential data use and a server with a large memory and voluminous workspace. The Scientific Core, jointly with the Development Core and Administrative Core, provides concerted nurturing of Early-Career Associates to put them on fast track to independence. The P2C funding will allow the Scientific Core to provide targeted, efficient services to HPC Associates and maximize the HPC’s scientific output through a close synergy with the Development Core and Administrative Core, linking HPC Associates’ methodological needs with methodological expertise within and beyond Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and leveraging the resources of JHU’s data science units.