Printer FriendlyThe benefit of an interdisciplinary department is not only the variety of different research interests, but also different approaches to those interests. RESD faculty members often work in teams to tackle research projects. Research interests include youth in the workplace, community building, raising the minimum wage, and the effects of manufacturing on the economy.
The point where many of the RESD faculty’s interest intersects is workplace issues. In collaboration with UMass Lowell’s Work Environment Program, a partnership has been established with Sweden’s National Institute for Working Life (NIWL) to continue to explore this rich area. The partnership will include research collaboration, writing joint papers, and possibly instituting a faculty and student exchange program. NIWL is a government agency whose 450 faculty members perform and support research, training, and development in three areas: the labor market, work organization, and work environment and health.