PDRI-DevLab@Penn Information

The Penn Development Research Initiative – DevLab@Penn (PDRI-DevLab) is an interdisciplinary research hub housed in the Department of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. We advance evidence-based solutions to pressing global challenges through rigorous research, policy engagement, and international collaboration. Our work focuses on three core themes: 1) Migration and Forced Displacement – evaluating policies that shape refugee and migrant well-being, human trafficking risks, and strategies for safe and productive migration. 2) Land Governance and Climate Change – studying the political economy of natural resources, climate adaptation, and environmental protection in fragile and high-risk contexts. 3) AI for Development – leveraging machine learning and big data to forecast conflict, monitor democratic resilience, and strengthen humanitarian response. PDRI-DevLab brings together Penn faculty, international partners, and policymakers to design and implement large-scale evaluations, secure competitive external funding, and generate research that informs decision-making at global institutions such as the World Bank, USAID, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Through high-impact partnerships and cutting-edge research, PDRI-DevLab strengthens Penn’s role as a leader in applied social science and contributes to shaping policies that improve lives worldwide.