Kirk Doran

Kirk Doran is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in labor economics, innovation economics, and international migration. His research examines human capital complementarities, the impact of migration on productivity, and the role of externalities in knowledge production. He has received the Adam Smith Panmure House Prize (2024) and holds a PhD from Princeton University (2008).

Dr. Doran's educational background includes a B.A. and S.M. in Physics and Applied Mathematics from Harvard University (2002), followed by an A.M. from Princeton University (2005) and a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton (2008). His doctoral work earned Princeton's labor economics dissertation award.

His research focuses on labor economics, innovation, and migration, particularly exploring how high-skilled immigration affects firms and knowledge production. He investigates topics such as the effects of visa policies, the role of peer networks in productivity, and the influence of demographic diversity on academic research. His work often employs natural experiments and policy analysis to understand complex economic dynamics.

Recent publications emphasize the impacts of high-skilled immigration policies on innovation and productivity, the role of language barriers in scientific collaboration, and the effects of migration shocks on academic output. His work bridges labor economics with innovation studies, highlighting the interplay between policy, human capital, and economic outcomes.

Scientific Awards:

• Adam Smith Panmure House Prize (2024)
• Princeton University Labor Economics Dissertation Award (2008)

Dr. Doran's research has been funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Upjohn Institute, and the Kauffman Foundation. While his CV does not list current advisees, his work has influenced policy discussions on immigration, innovation, and labor markets.