From a project on sleep’s importance in every facet of our mental and physical health, to one on social media’s role in connecting communities with critical information in times of crisis, UCI social sciences researchers are forging solutions to create positive change in societies, economies and for human well-being. From 2018-19 to 2019-20, funding for this boundaryless work increased by more than 33 percent, from $6.9 million to $9.2 million. And federally funded research – grants from institutes including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the like – grew from $2.3 million to $4.8 million, representing a more than 108 percent increase.

“The school's strategic plan calls for accelerating our research enterprise - and we're doing it,” says Bill Maurer, social sciences dean and anthropology and law professor. "We're growing and diversifying our funding sources and our research portfolio in every corner of the school, from the philosophy of science to Chicano/Latino studies. These funds support grad students, undergraduate researchers, and drive studies on the fundamental questions of human behavior as well as policy relevant, topical work to address critical social problems."

Research funding for social sciences in 2019-20 included:

• 48 new awards.
• 42 research award recipients.
• $4.85 million in funding to researchers in the Department of Cognitive Sciences.
• 48 percent funding from non-federal sources including nonprofits, other government, for profit, state and UC sources.

“Great research is being done in our school that is changing the way we understand people and society - including during this COVID-19 pandemic,” says Mike McBride, social sciences associate dean of graduate studies and research and economics professor.

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