Brian C. Thiede

Brian C. Thiede is an Associate Professor of Rural Sociology, Sociology, and Demography at Pennsylvania State University. He serves as Director of Graduate Studies in Rural Sociology and Interim Director of the Computational and Spatial Analysis Core at the Population Research Institute. His work bridges demographic, environmental, and development studies.

Dr. Thiede holds a PhD (2014), MS (2011) from Cornell University, and a BA (2008) from Bucknell University.

Research Focus: His research examines climate change impacts on health and development in low/middle-income countries, including NIH-funded projects studying conflict-climate health linkages in Africa and long-term health effects of childhood weather shocks in Indonesia/Mexico. Domestically, he investigates rural U.S. income inequality and resource development economics.

Key Contributions: Leads projects on transnational environmental health justice, leveraging spatial analysis methodologies. Advises on NIH-funded initiatives and directs core facilities supporting population research.