Research & Impact

Research that starts with what matters.
Students with Professor Gonzalez Rivas at the UN

The questions shaping our world

How do we make public institutions work better? What makes communities more resilient? How do policy decisions shape people's lives?

At the University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, our faculty investigate questions that shape our communities and our world. Their research brings evidence and new perspectives to public debates, informs policy decisions, and advances our understanding of complex challenges.

Research Highlights
GIRL co-directors at the UN
Centers & Initiatives

SPIA's research centers and initiatives bring together faculty, students, and partners to investigate complex policy challenges. Their work advances scholarship, informs public debate, and creates opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and communities.

Explore Centers & Initiatives
Associate Professor Sera Linardi
Faculty Expertise

Our faculty investigate questions spanning public policy, international affairs, governance, economics, and more. Their research brings evidence and new perspectives to issues shaping communities, institutions, and the world.

Meet Our Faculty
Two students present their research at a conference
Research in Focus

Explore the questions driving research at SPIA. Discover how faculty and students examine public challenges, generate new knowledge, and contribute to conversations about policy and practice.

Explore Research Projects

SPIA in the Conversation

SPIA faculty bring research and expertise to conversations happening well beyond the university. Through news coverage, interviews, and public commentary, they offer evidence and perspective on the policy questions shaping our communities and the world. 

Please note that some articles may require a subscription to access in full.

  • Could ongoing probe into Pittsburgh finances prompt SEC investigation? TribLIVE. October 1, 2026. 
  • Officials mull O’Connor’s 2027 draft budget — and options for Pittsburgh's fiscal future. 90.5 WESA. October 1, 2026. 
  • Allegheny County residents to vote on critical amendments to council’s budget and benefits. TribLIVE. June 23, 2026. 
  • In a growing part of Butler County, Mars and Adams consider a rare municipal merger. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 22, 2026.

  • Pennsylvania lawmakers consider balcony solar to help consumers offset high electricity bills. The Allegheny Front. June 12, 2026. 
  • Green group gives Pennsylvania 'F' on solar permitting. 90.5 WESA. April 6, 2026
  • Farmer support for solar leasing depends on compatibility with rural values. The Allegheny Front. October 10, 2024. 

  • Rep. Chris Deluzio stakes out leadership role among elected Iraq veterans critical of conflict in Iran. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 12, 2026.

  • 'They were tracking us.' ICE tracks protesters in secret database. USA Today. October 8, 2026.   
  • The Trump administration’s global campaign against ‘radical left terrorism’ is built on a national security memo without congressional approval. The Conversation. July 17, 2026. 

  • ‘Cyber-physical attacks’ fueled by AI are a growing threat, experts say. CNBC. March 3, 2024. 

  • Opinion | A dispatch from the frontline of the first global info war. The Washington Post. March 27, 2026. 
  • Two Pitt professors — one Jewish, the other Muslim — create environment for the campus community to come together amid Israel-Hamas conflict. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 5, 2023. 

  • ‘Being a good neighbor’: Pitt announces $5 million investment in city-wide initiatives in partnership with Mayor O’Connor. The Pitt News. April 14, 2026.

  • Opinion | Shapiro can protect immigrant families. He should act now. TribLIVE. August 8, 2026. 

  • Reduced health insurance payments for hospital births had a bigger impact on sterilization rates than correcting an injustice. The Conversation. May 22, 2026. 

  • Opinion | Hollywood handouts shouldn't come before environmental cleanup. The Hill. September 18, 2026. 
  • Pittsburgh's deer management program sees progress, challenges, and a long road ahead. 90.5 WESA. March 23, 2026. 
  • Opinion | Statistical controversy is no crime. The Hill. October 17, 2024.
  • Opinion | To clear the deer, add sharpshooters to the archers. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 9, 2024.