Eric R. Buhi, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of community and family health at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, has received the 2011 Darroch Award for Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research from The Guttmacher Institute.

The award, presented once every two years, recognizes an emerging leader in the field of sexual and reproductive health, where scientific evidence is essential to guiding the policies and programs of the future. It includes a $2,500 prize.

Dr. Buhi’s innovative research focuses on the impact of technology and social media on the sexual health and experiences of adolescents and young adults.

Eric Buhi, PhD, of the USF College of Public Health

“Eric’s work neatly encapsulates the criteria for the Darroch Award: cutting-edge research that has clear application to public policies and programs, leadership in the field of sexual and reproductive health, and a focus on educating students, early-career professionals and the field as a whole,” said Sharon L. Camp, president and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute. “In an era when technology plays such an important role in our lives, Eric has been a leader in understanding its impact on reproductive health – and the role it can play in improving sexual health.”

Dr. Buhi has published on the accuracy of sexual health resources online, abstinence-only education programs and the dynamics of sexual exchange in a college setting. His work has led to new understanding of how the Internet and social media affect both risk and protective behaviors among young people.

A strong leader and educator, Dr. Buhi serves as the director of the Collaborative for Research Understanding Sexual Health (CRUSH), which encourages interdisciplinary working relationships between faculty and graduate students engaged in scientific research on sexual health. He has also published several articles introducing advanced statistical methods to a broader audience.

Dr. Buhi is president of the Eastern Region of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and works with a number of community organizations focused on adolescent sexual health.

The Darroch Award was established in 2005 to recognize excellence among sexual and reproductive health researchers who are in the early or middle years of their career. It is named for Jacqueline E. Darroch, former senior vice president for science at Guttmacher and currently a senior fellow at the Institute, whose three decades at Guttmacher exemplified rigorous and innovative work on sexual and reproductive health issues and a commitment to the practical application of research to policy and programs.