Services and Facilities

The PSTC offers state-of-the-art facilities with over 10,400 square feet in the renovated historic Mencoff Hall, located on Brown's central campus, with four levels of workspace that include 25 offices for faculty, post-docs, visitors, and staff, 30 carrels for predoctoral trainees and research assistants, a computer lab, a state-of-the-art seminar room, generous exhibit/function space, two secure data rooms, and several meeting areas.The PSTC also occupies a floor in Maxcy Hall, where Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4) is housed, with space for GIS facilities as well as other offices for S4 faculty, postdocs, and staff. 

The PSTC staff provides comprehensive support and services to the Center's faculty associates, post-doctoral and predoctoral trainees, and visiting scholars. Scroll down for details on the following:

  • Administrative services
  • Building maintenance and access
  • Compliance and data management
  • Computing and programming services
  • Editorial services and communications
  • Grant administration
  • PSTC funding opportunities
  • Spatial analysis
  • Visitors

All PSTC affiliates are eligible for all the services mentioned above, with priority given to NIH projects and junior faculty. 

Administrative services

  • Colloquia and other event arrangements
  • Financial and clerical services
  • Purchasing
  • Room and space scheduling
  • Travel coordination and reimbursement
  • Visitor coordination (paperwork, housing, etc.)

Contact: Meaghen Hanrahan

Building maintenance and access

Contact: Meaghen Hanrahan and Elly Peimer

Computing and programming services

  • Accounts and passwords
  • Computer lab (desktops, printers, poster printer, and scanner)
  • Computing infrastructure
  • Desktop support
  • Equipment rental (camcorders, laptops, projectors, etc.)
  • Hardware and software installation and maintenance
  • Poster printing
  • High-end computing
  • IT security and privacy
  • Linux/UNIX support
  • Networks (university and national)
  • Secure data rooms
  • Servers

Contact: Natalya Philibert

  • Data and data set management
  • Non-spatial programming services
  • Programming and file preparation
  • Statistical consultation
  • Training in statistics and software packages and data archiving

Contact: Hong Xia

Hong Xia offers Open Office Hours for PSTC trainees and the PSTC community from 10:00 to 12:00 on Tuesdays and 1:00 to 3:00 on Wednesdays, or by appointment.

Editorial services and communications

  • Manuscript and proposal editing and proofreading
  • Announcements and communications
  • Social media
  • Website updates and newsfeed
  • NIH/NSF public access policy and compliance

Contact: Amy Mackin

Grant preparation and administration

  • Budget consultation and preparation
  • Pre-award administration​

Contact: Corey Silvia and Kris McCutcheon

  • Financial reporting
  • Post-award administration

Contact: Kris McCutcheon and Corey Silvia  

Hires and human resources

Contact: Elly Peimer

Student employment

Contact: Meaghen Hanrahan 

Spatial Analysis

Services that promote the use of spatial methods and spatial thinking for the analysis of population problems are provided to PSTC affiliates through the Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4) program. 

  • Consultation and technical support for spatial projects
  • Training in spatial analysis through the GIS Institute and other workshops

Contact: Kevin Mwenda

Visitors

  • Travel coordination and reimbursement
  • Visitor coordination (paperwork, housing, etc.)

Contact: Meaghen Hanrahan