Meet Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, whose work explores how a sense of belonging shapes students’ academic success, mental health, and physical well-being. Her research sheds light on how educational environments can better support equity and student well-being. These Affiliate Spotlights, randomly selected from our assistant and associate professor affiliates, showcase the research, inspirations, and interdisciplinary connections across our community.
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Building a Digital Ecosystem to Support Survivors and Reduce Gender-Based Violence
What if support for survivors of gender-based violence was built directly into the apps students use every day? Learn about a multi-year, interdisciplinary initiative led by Dr. Rachel Garthe that is embedding survivor-centered resources into the Illinois app to improve access to care and reduce barriers to help seeking.
From Research to Real-World Impact: Creating Community-Centered Paths for Sharing Knowledge
How do you ensure your research doesn’t collect dust? A recent CERS workshop challenged traditional academic research dissemination practices and offered practical tools for sharing research with communities, partners, and decision-makers. Discover key takeaways and why planning for impact early matters.
Bridging Research and Policy: PRLF in Action at the State Capitol
A PRLF graduate student steps inside the State Capitol—gaining firsthand insight into policymaking, advocacy, and the role of research in shaping real-world decisions. The experience highlights how programs like PRLF connect academic work to issues that impact communities across Illinois.
May 5 | Designing Competitive Broader Impacts: Strategy, Evaluation, and Communication
Join us for a dynamic, multi-session workshop series designed specifically for social and behavioral science faculty and research professionals seeking to strengthen the broader impacts of their research and develop more competitive external grant proposals. Workshop delivered by Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS).
Emerging Investigators Lunch Series: Strategies for Sustaining & Evolving Research
How do researchers sustain momentum when funding is limited—and how do they know when it’s time to pivot their work? Early-career faculty and experienced scholars gathered for candid conversations about building adaptable, collaborative research programs in today’s evolving funding landscape.
Jump ARCHES Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals
Faculty developing translational or health systems research are encouraged to apply for the Spring 2026 Jump ARCHES Grant Program. Proposals are due April 10, 2026, with two funding tracks supporting projects that move innovations into practice or develop new tools to improve care. Learn how CSBS can help strengthen your proposal and provide feedback.
CSBS Affiliate Spotlight: Meet Colin Rhinesmith
Access to digital technology shapes how people learn, work, and connect—but those opportunities aren’t distributed equally. Colin Rhinesmith, associate professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and director of the Digital Equity Action Research (DEAR) Lab, studies communication technologies and how communities access and use information. Their work focuses […]
Exploring the Promise and Limits of AI in Social Science Research
Through a guest lecture and interactive workshop, CSBS convened researchers interested in applying computational methods to the study of human behavior. The events highlighted how new analytical tools can expand research possibilities while raising important questions about bias, transparency, and interpretation.
Highlighting Social & Behavioral Science at Family STEM Night
CSBS and the I-Sci Explorers team recently welcomed local families for an evening of hands-on activities exploring emotions, decision-making, probability, and community design. Many of the activities were created and led by undergraduate and graduate students, showcasing how social and behavioral science research ideas can be transformed into engaging learning experiences.