Carnegie Mellon University, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, is celebrating the opening of the Pittsburgh Federal Statistical Research Data Center(opens in new window) (FSRDC), a flagship federal program overseen by the U.S. Census Bureau. Hosted in the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt, the Pittsburgh FSRDC expands access to restricted federal data to researchers across the region.
“Carnegie Mellon partnered with the University of Pittsburgh to bring a critical national research capability to Pittsburgh — something neither institution could have established alone,” said Theresa Mayer(opens in new window), vice president for research at Carnegie Mellon. “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the region’s research infrastructure and positioning Pittsburgh as a leader in data-driven outcomes.”
The FSRDC program includes 37 other centers nationwide that provide secure access to confidential data from multiple agencies. These data allow researchers to investigate complex questions that cannot be addressed using publicly available datasets.
For example, while public data can show that a neighborhood has a high unemployment rate, FSRDC data allows a researcher to securely link anonymous commuting patterns with regional job locations. This could reveal if people are struggling to find work because existing public transit doesn’t reach the areas where new jobs are being created. By identifying these gaps, the center would help local planners spend tax dollars more effectively on the infrastructure that connects people to paychecks. By moving from broad observations to more precise insights, the center supports high-impact work in fields such as economics, public health, social policy, political science and demography.
Randy Walsh, a professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh, and Brian Kovak(opens in new window), professor of economics and public policy at CMU’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, serve as faculty co-directors of the FSRDC. Rob Cunningham, Pitt’s vice chancellor for research infrastructure, is executive director, and Emily Greenman, of the Pennsylvania State University Research Data Center, serves as interim facility administrator.
The Pittsburgh FSRDC will provide opportunities for researchers from Pitt, CMU and other regional institutions to collaborate on cutting-edge work that can only be implemented using the confidential data available through the center.
“The Pittsburgh FSRDC will provide opportunities for researchers from Pitt, CMU and other regional institutions to collaborate on cutting-edge work that can only be implemented using the confidential data available through the center,” said Kovak. “Having a local center gives researchers in Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Eastern Ohio access to state-of-the-art administrative data that provides detail and coverage not available through any other source.”
“One requirement of the program is that research performed using the FSRDC must support the public good. Here at Pitt and at CMU, our researchers study a wide range of societal challenges, including low-income housing assistance, disparities in colorectal cancer screenings and factors affecting how firms choose locations,” said Walsh.
Since 2017, collaborations among FSRDCs across the country have expanded significantly, increasing both the scale and impact of research outputs. The addition of the Pittsburgh FSDRC will further expand opportunities for data-driven, evidence-based inquiry.
“We are extremely excited to offer researchers the opportunity to access data that can provide the resources they need to develop quality, evidence-based solutions. Opening of the Pittsburgh FSRDC marks a significant investment in sustaining high-impact research in both institutions and beyond,” said Cunningham.
For more information, visit the FSRDC website(opens in new window); to submit a proposal to access data or to reserve time in the conference room, log into iLab(opens in new window). For other requests, faculty co-directors can be reached at @email or @email.
“Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The institution was originally established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical School. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology and began granting four-year degrees.”
Please visit the firm link to site