Child Study Center Announces Director Transition
The Child Study Center (CSC) is pleased to announce that Rina Das Eiden, professor of psychology, and Jenae Neiderhiser, associate department head for research and Distinguished Professor of psychology and human development and family studies, will be assuming the role of co-directors at the Child Study Center, effective July 1, 2024.
Karen Bierman, Evan Pugh University Professor, professor of psychology and human development and family studies, will be stepping down after 15 years of generative and effective leadership as the CSC Director. During Dr. Bierman’s tenure as director, several signature initiatives, including the Gene-Environment Research Initiative, Open Data and Developmental Science Initiative, the Training Institute, CSC Innovation Hub, the annual Evidence-based workshop, Friendship Group, and the Small Grants Program, expanded the reach of the center to faculty, students, and the community. Dr. Bierman’s research focuses on social-emotional development and children at risk, with an emphasis on the design and evaluation of school-based programs that promote social competence, school readiness, positive peer relations, and reduce aggression and related behavior problems.
Rina is a professor in the developmental area of the psychology department and was the first faculty to join Penn State as a result of the Consortium for Substance Use and Addictions hiring initiatives in 2019. She obtained her Ph.D. in applied developmental psychology from the University of Maryland in 1992 and was a senior research scientist at the University at Buffalo from 1995 to 2019. Her work focuses on the role of parental substance use for children’s developmental trajectories from birth to adolescence, risk and protective family processes, as well as prenatal to early childhood intervention with families with substance use disorders.
Jenae joined the CSC in 2007. She obtained her Ph.D. in human development and family studies from Penn State in 1994. Jenae spent the early years of her career at George Washington University before making her way back to Penn State. Jenae’s research focuses on understanding how genes and environment work together to shape development throughout the lifespan. Much of this research has focused on interpersonal relationships – including parent-child, spouse, sibling, and peer relationships. She has used studies of twins, siblings, adopted children, and other family members to examine her research questions.
The CSC welcomes Rina and Jenae into their new roles and wishes Karen all the best in her future endeavors!
