Jennifer McCormick

Jennifer McCormick, PhD, MPP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at Penn State University and a key member of the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). With an h-index of 29 and 2,975 citations, she has established herself as a leading scholar in research ethics and policy.

Her research interests focus on ethical issues in biomedical research, particularly in the areas of data sharing, biobanking, addiction research, and genetic studies. Her work examines patient views, broad consent models, and the ethical challenges of translational research. She has published extensively on rural patients' attitudes toward data sharing and ethical considerations in clinical trials.

Dr. McCormick's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on ethical challenges in clinical research, including issues related to sleep apnea screening, implicit bias in pediatric trauma evaluations, and national survey results on research ethics consultation services. Her work consistently addresses the intersection of ethics, policy, and practical implementation in clinical research settings.

Scientific Awards:

• Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020)

Dr. McCormick currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator on multiple significant research projects, including 'From Research to Clinic: Addressing Ethical and Policy Challenges Facing the Gene Therapy Ecosystem' (2024-2026) funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute and the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute project (2016-2025) funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. She previously led the 'Translating Addiction Genomics Research into Practice' project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Her research activities are centered around the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute, where she contributes to addressing ethical and policy challenges in translating research findings into clinical practice, with particular attention to rural health contexts and vulnerable populations.