Stanford IRiSS opens expanded Federal Statistical Research Data Center

Stanford IRiSS is home to one of approximately 30 Federal Statistical Research Data Centers (FSRDCs) scattered across the country. Since 2010, IRiSS has hosted the Stanford FSRDC at its 30 Alta Road office. Researchers with approved projects can access microdata from the Census Bureau’s economic and demographic surveys and censuses, restricted-use data from the National Center for Health Statistics and other partnered agencies, and administrative data from partnered state and local governments. In response to a constantly growing number of research projects, IRiSS began the construction of a new FSRDC facility in 2020. The $1.3 million project was funded by a combination of the schools of Humanities and Sciences, Medicine, and Business.

This month, Stanford and the Census Bureau have designated the new FSRDC location secure and safe to open under current public health guidelines. The new space, centrally located on campus at the Lathrop Library, is over 1200 square feet and includes two large computer labs and a conference room. Eventually, it will have 20-25 workstations, a large increase from the five workstations available at the original facility. 
 
Currently, the FSRDC has 14 workstations set up. Stanford COVID policies will allow only two researchers to use the facility at a time, but this limit will increase to five people when the university deems it safe. Access will first be given to Stanford faculty for an initial period and then expand to Stanford students, postdocs, and staff. Only researchers affiliated with Stanford will be able to use the FSRDC under the campus’s current COVID restrictions. 
 
The creation of such a large facility in the middle of campus was a major undertaking for Stanford staff, construction contractors, and Census Bureau staff. A celebratory opening event will be held when it is once again safe to have gatherings, which will hopefully be as early as the fall. 
 
Those looking to find out more about the SRDC and the data accessible there can contact the administrator, Emi Lesure, at Sheffield.E.Lesure [at] census.gov (Sheffield[dot]E[dot]Lesure[at]census[dot]gov).