Mark Feinberg

Mark Feinberg is a Research Professor in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University, affiliated with the Human Development and Family Studies department and the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. His work focuses on family-focused prevention strategies, co-parenting dynamics, and community-level interventions. He developed the Family Foundations program, a widely tested intervention addressing co-parenting quality in expecting parents, demonstrating long-term impacts on child well-being and family mental health.

Feinberg holds a Ph.D. from George Washington University (1998). His research integrates biological systems (e.g., genetics, cortisol) with family dynamics, emphasizing prevention science's role in reducing substance use, violence, and adverse outcomes. He has led large-scale projects like PROSPER, evaluating community systems for evidence-based programs. Recent work includes establishing the International Center for Coparenting to globalize prevention strategies.

Key grants include NIH-funded studies on military parents, autism families, and pandemic resilience. His publications span peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, including Designing Evidence-Based Public Health and Prevention Programs. Notable achievements include a White House Champions of Change honor (2013) and editorial roles in top prevention journals.

Feinberg's lab (Family Prevention Lab) collaborates internationally, adapting programs like Family Foundations for diverse populations. Current projects address obesity prevention, refugee adaptation, and long-term pandemic impacts on family systems.