The Institute for Social Research’s Survey Research Center and the Population Studies Center are collaborating to inaugurate the International Research Hub.
This new facility will enhance and broaden social research efforts globally.
Situated at PSC, the hub will assist University of Michigan faculty and staff involved in international research, harnessing the capabilities and collaborations across ISR’s five centers.
William Axinn, co-director of the Chitwan Valley Family Study and prior director of SRC, will spearhead the initiative as the first Ronald and Deborah Freedman Director of the program.
“Aligned with our long-term strategic objectives and timely as the demand to diversify our funding sources increases, I was thrilled to assume this position,” Axinn stated. “Periods of difficulty and challenge are always also chances to develop and fortify our institution.”
“In this position, I will strive to initiate new international research partnerships, aid in pinpointing potential funding avenues, and—if necessary—offer assistance in navigating project-specific responses to shifts in U.S. government policies regarding funding for initiatives outside of the U.S.”
Axinn is a research professor associated with SRC and PSC at the Institute for Social Research, as well as a professor of sociology and public policy. His research focuses have included research methodologies, family transformations, and mental health in the United States and Nepal.
Axinn excels in generating new data to investigate population-wide changes over periods. He will formally commence his role as director of the International Research Hub on July 1, 2025.
The research centers initiating this program, SRC and PSC, are pioneers in data collection operations, longitudinal studies, and population science. The directorship is dedicated to Deborah and PSC founder Ron Freedman, whose work, beginning in Taiwan during the 1960s, became synonymous with global studies of fertility and family planning.
The International Research Hub will leverage ISR’s expertise and infrastructure to propel worldwide research while furthering ISR’s fundamental mission of training the upcoming generation of scholars.
The hub’s endeavors will prioritize data collection and representative studies of general populations, supporting four primary objectives:
- To forge long-lasting research collaborations across various settings
- To cultivate international research capacity within partner organizations
- To foster data generation and sharing to promote science and public policy
- To execute population research aimed at enhancing health and well-being
U-M faculty and staff eager to collaborate with the International Research Hub can reach out through the PSC contact system to discuss their requirements and interests.