Research Centers

Center for Behavioral and Experimental Economic Science

The Center is a venue for bringing together faculty and graduate students who meet the highest standards for experimental research on human behavior in economic settings.  Although most economists focus on aggregates, such as markets, experimental economic research studies individual behavior that may differ from the behavior of aggregates.  The Center features a newly designed, state-of-the-science laboratory with over 30 computers in both fixed and reconfigurable spaces for face-to-face and paper-pencil research.  The Center also hosts seminars and workshops that bring together leading experimentalists in the social and behavioral sciences from the United States and other countries.  Ultimately, the mission of the Center to advance significantly knowledge and understanding of the choices that people make in settings involving markets, negotiation, and trade and production relationships.

Catherine C. Eckel, Director
Amy Williams | Administrative Assistant | amy.k.williams@utdallas.edu | 972-883-4917


Center for Crime and Justice Studies

The Center for Crime & Justice Studies coordinates research and community-outreach efforts in the study of crime and societal responses to crime. Crime impacts everyone in our society and the costs of dealing with criminal activity are emerging (i.e., identity theft, cyber crime, terrorism, human trafficking) that we know very little about. The Center works to identify mentors, and assembles research teams to examine these problems, conducts workshops, accommodates short stays for scholars in residence, and sponsors lecturers and public forums to advance research on these topics. The Center also sponsors community outreach programs to educate local high school students about such justice related topics as forensics. Finally, the Center brings in extramural funding to conduct research of direct benefit to and policy relevance for justice system managers.

James Marquart, Director


Center for Global Collective Action

The Center coordinates research and educational efforts in the study of global collective action, that is, situations in which two or more countries must coordinate actions to achieve a mutually desirable outcome that cannot be achieved by either country acting alone.  Global collective actions include problems such as curbing ozone shield depletion, standards of financial practices, eradication of diseases, control of greenhouse gas emissions, and elimination of transnational terrorism.  The Center works to identify mentors and to assemble researchers on these problems, to conduct workshops and short stays for scholars in residence, and to advance publication of publicly beneficial research on these topics.

Todd Sandler, Director
Molly Dickinson | Administrative Assistant | mxd092000@utdallas.edu | 972-883-6724


Center for the Study of Texas Politics

The non-partisan Center for the Study of Texas Politics develops opportunities for North Texans to interact with Texas’ leading policy-makers while simultaneously enhancing the quality of instruction, research and service that exists in the school.

Gregory Thielemann, Director


Institute for Public Affairs
The Institute of Public Affairs helps to meet the needs of metroplex cities and other local jurisdictions to solve a variety of current and emerging challenges.  The Institute focuses its efforts on the provision of research, consulting and training services to local governments and non-profit organizations.  In particular, it engages graduate students directly with the governments that we serve, brings together policy leaders to find solutions to shared problems, and gives the University a vehicle to increase its visibility as a leader in the solution of area-wide problems.

Kimberly Aaron, Director



Institute for Urban Policy Research

The mission of the center is to improve decision making in the critical areas that influence economic growth and the distribution of income and wealth in regional and sub-regional economies. The center aims to integrate the tool and theories of economics and decision science with those from psychology, sociology, public health, arid other social sciences in order to better understand the dynamic and spatial structure of the Metroplex. The Center helps Dallas area businesses, governments and nonprofits identify opportunities for investments, volunteer activities, philanthropic giving, and public policies that positively impact the economic condition of neighborhoods and the region. The Center provides an institution where bankers, investors, real estate brokers, policy makers, academic students, and community leaders go to seek answers to questions that directly impact local economic development.

Timothy Bray, Director
Talia Jaryszak | Administrative Assistant | taj081000@utdallas.edu | 972-883-5432


The Negotiations Center

The Center's objective is to create, collect and promote research on the boundaries of these disciplines. We plan achieve this objective through a number of initiatives.  (1) Sponsoring a regular seminar series, bringing in leading scholars who appeal to faculty in multiple disciplines. Inviting a yearly keynote speaker of general interest, typical negotiation practitioner, to discuss real-world experiences. (2) Collecting and disseminating original educational material to be used in negotiation classes (negotiation "simulations" or cases). (3) Offering executive education sessions, complete courses and consulting services in negotiation, mediation and related topics to bridge theory a practice. (4) Hosting occasional conferences and other gatherings of scholars from multiple disciplines with relate research interest. Our ultimate goal is to bring together scholars from different disciplines who study related topic and to use the collected insights to inform negotiation practice through education and outreach.

Rachel Croson, Director
Katie Doctor | Administrative Assistant | kld015500@utdallas.edu | 972-883-6015


Texas Education Research Center  and Texas Schools Project

The Texas Schools Project brings together individual level data from multiple Texas state agencies, school districts, as well as other sources to support independent, high-quality academic research to improve academic achievement, increase transitions to and success in postsecondary education, and improve labor market outcomes of students in Texas and nation. Improving the quality of education provided to low-income and minority students has been a particular focus of the project.

Daniel O'Brien , Director
Janie K Jury | Administrative Assistant | jjury@utdallas.edu | 972-883-2555