Karina McDonald-Lopez

My name is Karina McDonald-Lopez, and I am a researcher for the University of Michigan Department of Sociology. My research interests are in the areas of urban poverty, inequality, criminology, and neighborhood environments. I received my BA in sociology, and law, justice and social change in 2016, and my MA in sociology in 2020 from the University of Michigan. I am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan.

Much of my work thus far has been place-based research exploring the interdependence of urban space and dimensions of social life including neighborhood effects, spatial mobility, and crime. I have specialized training in demography and population studies through the Institute for Social Research Population Studies Center, and am the recipient of the highly competitive National Science Foundation fellowship, which recognizes outstanding graduate students in STEM disciplines pursuing research-based advanced degrees.

I have experience in qualitative, quantitative, and demographic research methods, a good command of computer software, database programs, and advanced statistical software and data analytic tools, specifically STATA, as well as survey design and implementation.