Laszlo Kulcsar

Dr. László J. Kulcsár is a Professor of Rural Sociology and Demography and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education at Pennsylvania State University. He specializes in social demography with focuses on migration, urbanization, aging, and regional development. His research examines population dynamics and community development in rural areas, particularly in post-socialist Eastern Europe. Dr. Kulcsár holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University (2005) and master’s degrees from Hungary.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Development Sociology, Cornell University, 2005
• M.A. in Sociology, ELTE University, Hungary, 1998
• M.A. in Public Administration, CPA, Hungary, 1995

Research Interests: Population Dynamics, Rural Community Development, Aging Populations, Depopulation, Natural Resource Management, and Post-Socialist Societies.

His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to study rural challenges, including aging-related services, water resource sustainability, and bioenergy impacts. As editor of Rural Sociology, he actively contributes to academic discourse in the field. Notable research includes studies on the Ogallala Aquifer, Eastern European demographic transitions, and rural migration patterns.

Grants & Labs: Supported by NIH grants (e.g., P2CHD041025). Engaged in collaborative projects with the Population Research Institute (PRI) at Penn State.

Labs/Teams: Associated with PRI’s interdisciplinary teams focusing on rural demographic challenges and environmental policy.