Research & Impact
Meet Our Researchers
A unique strength of UMass Boston's gerontology program is the remarkable opportunity our graduate students have to participate in research projects alongside faculty members, practitioners, and fellow students.
Jacqueline Contrera Avila, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Social demography of aging, household composition and living arrangements, race and ethnicity in aging populations, labor force participation in later life, productive activity in later life, aging and health.
Read more about Dr. Avila's research
Jeffrey Burr, PhD
Professor of Gerontology
Social demography of aging, household composition and living arrangements, race and ethnicity in aging populations, labor force participation in later life, productive activity in later life, aging and health.
Read more about Dr. Burr's research
Marc Cohen, PhD
Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Co-Director, Leading Age LTSS Center @UMass Boston
Financing long-term services and supports (LTSS), private long-term care insurance, fall prevention, service utilization patterns of disabled elders, family caregiving, care management and care transitions, managing LTSS populations
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Caitlin Coyle, PhD
Director, Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging
Social aspects of health and community living with an emphasis on social isolation among older adults, aging with lifelong disability, aging equity, community engagement.
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Edward Alan Miller, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Gerontology
Aging and long-term care, intergovernmental relations, program implementation and evaluation, Medicaid, telemedicine and e-health
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Jan Mutchler, PhD
Professor of Gerontology
Director, Gerontology Institute
Diversity in aging populations, intergenerational support in later life, health disparities in later life, Elder Index, economic security, the social demography of aging populations, age-friendly communities
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Pamela Nadash, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology
Long-term care policy, comparative health policy, consumer choice in health and long term supportive services, family caregiver support, integrated care models
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Qian Jasmine Song, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Social determinants of health, migration, life course approach, living arrangements and well-being, work and later life, institutional discrimination and health outcomes
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Jeffrey Stokes, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Director, Undergraduate Aging Studies Program
Marriage and family, aging and life course, health and well-being, neighborhood effects, bereavement
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Jane Tavares, PhD
Associate Lecturer, Senior Research Fellow
Social determinants of health, patient-centered care, financial vulnerability