Other Penn State University Park Data Services Units

Many other Penn State  entities that can help you with your data-focused research, either directly through consultations and training services, or indirectly by providing resources and tools.

Center for Astrostatistics

The Center for Astrostatistics, in the Eberly College of Science, develops and shares methodologies that connect statistics, data analysis, astronomy, space, and observational physics. In addition to conducting interdisciplinary research, they also provide online tools and tutorials for analyzing astronomical data.

Location: Thomas Building, University Park
Contact: Director G. Jogesh Babu, babu@psu.edu or (814) 863-2837

CTSI Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) group, in conjunction with the Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) in the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, offers study design, biostatistical, data management, and statistical review services for researchers and students. The first four hours of consultation are free of charge, with graduate students and junior investigators receiving priority for the free service. However, hands-on data assistance is generally not provided without funding.

Contact: Form via website

HHD Methodology Consulting Group
The Health and Human Development (HHD) Methodology Consulting Group provides consultations in the areas of statistics, research design, and measurement for faculty, staff and graduate students of the College of HHD, as well as other researchers associated with the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI). Consultations are free and are available by appointment. Grant-related activities are given priority for consulting services.

Contact: Director Michael Rovina, mr7@psu.edu

Pennsylvania State Data Center
The Pennsylvania State Data Center (PaSDC). Pennsylvania's acting liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau, is an official source of population and economic statistics, as well as maps. Additionally, PaSDC offers Census data workshops and consultation services for finding, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.

Location: 777 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA
Contact: pasdc@psu.edu or (717) 948-6336

Population Research Institute
Part of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), the Population Research Institute (PRI) offers a computing environment, training and seminars, grant support, data analysis services, and publication resources. However, these services are available only to PRI affiliates.

Location: Oswald Tower, University Park
Contact: ssv5024@psu.edu or (814) 865-7760

Statistical Consulting Center
The Statistical Consulting Center (SCC), located within the Department of Statistics, provides assistance on design, statistical analysis, analysis interpretation, and data software use. The service is free to Penn State University students. Others may incur a cost depending on the needs of the project.

Location: 323 Thomas Building, University Park
Contact: scc@stat.psu.edu or (814) 863-0281

GIS

Survey Research Center
Part of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), the Survey Research Center assists both those within and outside the Penn State community in the design and collection of surveys, data methodology, and proposals for external funding. There may be costs associated with this service, but initial consultations are free.

Location: 330 Building, Innovation Park
Contact: src@survey.psu.edu or (814) 863-0170

Center for Environmental Informatics
The Center for Environmental Informatics (CEI) of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute develops and disseminates new ways to create and use environmental information resources. Staff are particularly skilled in geographic information systems, cartography, databases, and computer programming.

Location: 317G Earth Engineering Sciences Building, University Park
Contact: Dr. Douglas Miller, miller@eesi.psu.edu or (814) 863-7207

Center for Geographic Information Services
The Center for Geographic Information Services at Penn State Harrisburg offers one-on-one instruction, one- or two-day training programs, workshops and seminars, access to a twelve-seat GIS lab, and assistance in developing a GIS research plan.

Location: 777 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA
Contact: Brady Stroh, bms16@psu.edu or (717) 948-6178

GeoVISTA Center
The GeoVISTA Center's specific mission is to coordinate integrated and innovative research in Geographic Information Science (GIScience), with an emphasis on geovisualization. They also provide a list of resources to help with GIS research, including a digital library of GeoVISTA publications, videos and demos, and a list of geospatial software.

Location: 206 Walker Building, University Park
Contact: Form via website

Geographic Information Analysis Core
A part of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), the Geographic Information Analysis Core (GIA) provides basic to advanced assistance in spatial statistics, spatial analysis, and GIS programming for social science researchers. Services include methods consultations, data collection and management, and traditional GIA services such as mapping.

Contact: Form via website

Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access
Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA) is the official public access geospatial information clearinghouse for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The primary service PASDA provides includes data storage, access, and documentation. However, they do provide some training and educational outreach services related to GIS and using PASDA.

Location: 117 Land and Water Research Building, University Park
Contact: pasda@psu.edu or (814) 863-0104

The Peter R. Gould Center for Geography Education and Outreach
The Gould Center is an academic support unit of the Department of Geography, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, and Penn State. The Gould Center's cartographic services are available to the departments, colleges, and organizations throughout the University Park campus, State College community, and beyond.

Location: Department of Geography (Walker Building)
Contact: Jodi Vender, jvender@psu.edu

Computing and Research Development

Center for Humanities and Information
The Center for Humanities and Information (CHI) is a collaboration between the College of Liberal Arts and the University Libraries. CHI provides scholarly, research and technical support in data mining, geographical mapping, and visualization, as well as the role of information in humanistic research.

Location: 210 Ritenour Building, University Park
Contact: infocenter@psu.edu or (814) 863-0589

Penn State Institute for Cyberscience
The Institute for Cyberscience is composed of faculty, staff, and students from a variety of disciplines across the university. They conduct cyberscience research and provide training. Most notably, the Institute provides computing resources for Penn State users. These resources include high performance computing systems, visualization facilities, information on software, and user guides.

Location: Old Main, University Park
Contact: Director Padma Raghavan, raghavan@psu.edu or (814) 865-9233

The Methodology Center
The Methodology Center is an interdisciplinary research center within the College of Health and Human Development. Researchers develop and distribute new research design and analysis methods for social, behavioral, and health science, with a focus on public health. They offer training in research methods, including brown bag seminars, one-credit course, workshops, and student programs. They also provide digital resources for researchers, including a list of free software, podcasts, videos, and “Ask a Methodologist”.

Location: 204 E. Calder Way, Suite 400, State College
Contact: MC@psu.edu or (814) 865-3253

Quantitative Developmental Systems Methodology
Quantitative Developmental Systems Methodology, part of the Social Science Research Initiative (SSRI), consists of a group of Human Development and Family Studies faculty who develop new methods for the study of human behavior. They also consult and collaborate with other social scientists.

Location: 4th floor, Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park
Contact: Christa Kreps, chs5007@psu.edu or (814) 863-8001