JCPYD Mission Statement

Revision – Version 25/05/2025

The Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development (JCPYD) is a research center at the University of Zurich (UZH) dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge about child and youth development. It is co-funded by UZH and the Jacobs Foundation (JF).

The JCPYD advances knowledge about child and youth development as key stages within the human lifespan and applies the latest scientific insights to enhance children’s and youth’s lives and futures. Its research promotes the well-being of children and youth across individual, family, institutional, and societal levels, helping young people meaningfully shape their life paths and become socially engaged and active, contributing members of society.

Thematic Focus

The JCPYD research spans the entire lifespan, from the prenatal stage to late adulthood, with a particular focus on early childhood through young adulthood. Our goal is to understand how children and youth can reach their full potential. We study the protective factors and risks that affect children’s and youths' development from different perspectives, such as individual variation (e.g., how do individual traits and abilities influence development?), social bonds (e.g., how do relationships and interactions with caregivers support healthy development?), and education (e.g., how do schools and teaching approaches impact learning and well-being?).

Interdisciplinarity

The JCPYD is dedicated to conducting interdisciplinary, innovative, and collaborative research on how biological, psychological, social, and economic factors influence the development of children and youth. To encourage collaboration across disciplinary boundaries, it brings together researchers from the three main JCPYD disciplines: Sociology, Psychology, and Economics, while also working with affiliated researchers from other relevant areas such as (but not limited to) Education Science, Epidemiology, Gerontology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Demography, Statistics, and more. The JCPYD promotes open dialogue while respecting the unique commitments of each discipline.

Methodology

The JCPYD advances the application and development of cutting-edge research technology. It has developed a series of large-scale assessments and multimodal longitudinal studies to better understand sustainable and productive development. These studies will remain active over the coming years and will continue to expand with new research initiatives. To further utilize the wealth of this data, the JCPYD aims to lead in innovative methodologies for human development research. A key part of this vision is establishing a dedicated longitudinal data and methods infrastructure unit to develop new techniques and support researchers and students through workshops, analytical consultations, and collaborative problem-solving. Through these efforts, the JCPYD ensures sustainable methodological expertise, improving the quality of both planned and ongoing research.

Outreach and Translation

The JCPYD conducts research with practical relevance and policy impact. It transforms this research into meaningful solutions and initiatives such as 

1. Translation and Communication: Conveying scientific findings to policymakers and practitioners in clear, accessible language that tackles current policy issues.
2. Problem-Solution Alignment: Identifying pressing societal challenges that JCPYD research groups can address by generating and synthesizing evidence.
3. Collaborative Innovation: Developing and promoting policy-research partnerships that connect policymakers and scientists.

To realize this vision, the JCPYD envisions establishing a Policy Lab that connects its researchers with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in education, health, and mental health.

Diversity / Gender Equality

The JCYPD is dedicated to promoting diversity and preventing discrimination. It opposes discrimination or exclusion of individuals or groups based on stereotypes. UZH has established Guidelines for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Protection against Sexual Harassment. The JCYPD adheres to UZH policies and uses all available means to remove barriers that could disadvantage employees, applicants, participants, or partners, with a focus on advancing women’s careers. This includes creating a family-friendly work environment, protecting personal integrity, enhancing intercultural skills, and encouraging diverse career paths.

Support for Early Career Researchers

The JCPYD supports the development of researchers at every career stage through tailored, interdisciplinary opportunities. For B.Sc. and M.Sc. students, we offer hands-on research projects, specialized lectures, and internships across departments and disciplines, including partnerships with the Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ) and the IMPRS LIFE. Ph.D. candidates benefit from rigorous doctoral programs, training in scientific integrity, reproducibility, and science communication, along with international workshops to expand their networks. Postdoctoral researchers have access to advanced career development (grant writing, mentoring) and interdisciplinary collaborations. At all levels, we emphasize creativity, innovation, and methodological excellence. The JCPYD cultivates a dynamic environment where individual skills are nurtured within a supportive atmosphere, creating ideal conditions for cross-fertilization.

Transparency

The JCYPD fosters a culture of shared responsibility and self-management. It promotes the intellectual, professional, and personal development of its staff. Its governance is based on principles of participation, transparency, fairness, and balanced interests. Transparency guides our research from data collection to publication. We follow open science principles by publicly sharing methods, data, tools, and publications. By encouraging reproducibility and collaboration, we ensure that our work not only advances knowledge but also builds trust with the scientific community and society.

Sustainability

The UZH Mission Statement states that “sustainability in scholarship as well as in [...] operations [is] a core responsibility.” The UZH Sustainability Policy aims to codify this principle by establishing a clear goal for improving sustainability at UZH. UZH is dedicated to actively and systematically promoting sustainable development at all levels. UZH members contribute to this effort within the scope of their responsibilities. The JCPYD adheres to these principles and has developed a JCPYD Sustainability Concept.

JCPYD researchers bring extensive knowledge and practical skills to address urgent questions for partners, including governments, public agencies, and foundations. The JCPYD uses these skills to empower these institutions by turning their questions into actionable solutions through evidence-based research. In doing so, we bridge the gap between data and real-world impact.

The JCPYD applies this knowledge and these skills in advanced postgraduate education to empower professionals from various fields. Through partnerships with institutions such as UZH, we develop and contribute to programs (e.g., Master of Advanced Studies) that equip professionals from diverse backgrounds with the skills needed to address scientific and real-world challenges.