# Minnesota Population Center Science and Technical Core

> **NIH NIH P2C** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $208,508

## Abstract

Summary Statement: Scientific/Technical Core
The MPC Scientific/Technical Core (STC) aims to advance research in population dynamics by providing
services in computing and software development, spatial analysis, and data science. STC provides expertise to
investigators designing new projects, coordinates technical support of ongoing research projects, and helps
investigators master advanced methods and technologies. In past MPC center grant proposals, these three
areas were separate cores. The STC consolidates these functions into a single core to reduce redundant effort,
maximize administrative efficiency, and better coordinate services. This model allows MPC to employ the most
advanced development tools and design standards available, giving us a leading role in demographic data
management.
Computing and software development services include the development of new software for consistency
checking, automated data cleaning and editing, sampling, disclosure control, database harmonization, metadata
creation and parsing, and web-based tools for documentation browsing, extraction, and analysis as well as
systems administration. Spatial analysis services include training in GIS and spatial statistics, data preparation,
data analysis, and data visualization. Data sciences services include data retrieval and preparation; design and
development of data integration and dissemination projects; and data coding, cleaning, and preparation.
Center grant support of the STC is highly cost-effective, providing research projects with shared resources that
could not be efficiently supported by any single project. Investigators have access to specialists for each aspect
of their project—such as database design, geocoding, or metadata design—that they could never afford to hire
on their own. For example, many projects cannot afford a full-time user experience specialist, but they
nevertheless need some user design services. MPC’s model of centralized technical services can provide far
better support than could be obtained from a part-time developer hired on a short-term basis. The model
increases the impact and pace of population science conducted at the Center in three ways: 1) by maximizing
the fit between technical expertise and project needs; 2) by maintaining a pool of talented software developers,
GIS experts, and data scientists with experience working with demographic datasets; and 3) by minimizing
startup time for new projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9953834
- **Project number:** 5P2CHD041023-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** CATHERINE A FITCH
- **Activity code:** P2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $208,508
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9953834

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9953834, Minnesota Population Center Science and Technical Core (5P2CHD041023-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9953834. Licensed CC0.

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