Alexis R. Santos

Dr. Alexis R. Santos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Demography at Pennsylvania State University, leading the Morbidity, Mortality and Demography Lab (MOMA-D Lab). He holds affiliations with the Population Research Institute, Center for Healthy Aging, and the Social Science Research Institute. His research focuses on population-level health disparities, aging, and the intersection of demography with policy. Santos earned a Ph.D. in Applied Demography from the University of Texas at San Antonio, an M.A. in Economics from the University of Puerto Rico, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey.

His work examines health inequities through biomarkers and self-reported data, rural-urban health disparities, and demographic shifts. Recent projects include studying Medicaid expansion impacts, remittance effects in Guatemala, and anxiety disparities across racial/ethnic groups. He has secured grants from NIH’s NIA and NICHD, supporting studies on health data accuracy and aging policy.

Santos mentors graduate and undergraduate students, emphasizing five mentorship styles: Connecting, Challenging, Educating, Cheerleading, and Ideating. His lab collaborates internationally, with ongoing projects in Ecuador and Puerto Rico. He is currently on sabbatical until Fall 2026 and will not accept new students until 2027.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Applied Demography, University of Texas at San Antonio (2015)
  • M.A. Economics, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras (2012)
  • B.A. Economics, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey (2010)
• Grants:
  • NIA R21 (2023-2025)
  • NICHD R03 (2022-2024)
• Lab Focus: Policy-relevant research on aging, mortality, and disparities