Findings from graduating doctoral students undertaking urban-related research.

The May issue of Urban Link highlights the contributions made by doctoral students graduating from the University of Pennsylvania whose research is on urban-related topics. Students, who represent Schools from across the University, share findings from their dissertations and identify novel policy recommendations for the urban community. They include:
- Marta Bruce, "The Contribution of Neighborhood Characteristics to Psychological Outcomes After Serious Injury in a Cohort of Black Men: A Multi-Methods Study"
- Chandan Deuskar, "Planning and the Politics of Informal Urbanization"
- Xiaoxia Dong, "A Philadelphia Rideshare Story: An Investigation of Rideshare’s Impact on Transit"
- Caitlin Gorback, "Your Uber has Arrived: Ridesharing and the Redistribution of Economic Activity"
- Nora Gross, "Brothers in Grief: The Stages of Grieving for a School and its Students Following Three Shooting Deaths of Black Teenage Boys"
- Ruth Moyer, "Changes Within the Urban Environment and Their Effect on Crime and the Criminal Justice System"
- Hongyu Xiao, "Commuting and Innovation: Are Closer Inventors More Productive?"
FULL STORY: May 2020 Urban LInk: New Ideas in Urban Research

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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