Professional Bio

Firebaugh’s career as a college professor spanned four decades, with appointments at Vanderbilt University, the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Oxford University, and Penn State. His research focuses on several big questions: Why are some nations richer than others? What accounts for differences in life expectancy across regions and racial/ethnic groups, and how are those differences changing over time? How is neighborhood segregation changing in the United States? How can we improve social science research? His research on these issues has been published in leading social science journals, and has been highly cited by other scholars. In addition to his journal articles, Firebaugh has authored three scholarly books, including the highly-acclaimed Seven Rules for Social Research. In 2018 he was awarded the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Award from the American Sociological Association for “a career of distinguished contributions to the field of sociological methodology.” His graduate classes on statistical methods attracted students from diverse fields, and many of the students he supervised now hold positions in leading universities in the United States and elsewhere.