Find Academic Supervisors

• Behavioral Public Administration
• Government Reform
• Administrative Burden
• +2 more

Sebastian Jilke is Provost's Distinguished Associate Professor at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy and co-director of the Better Government Lab. His research applies behavioral science to public management, examining how government reforms affect citizens and service delivery, particularly regarding administrative burdens and equity. His work demonstrates consistent focus on experimental approaches to public administration challenges, with recent publications examining policy implementation barriers, motivational structures in bureaucracy, and behavioral interventions. Research consistently addresses practical governance challenges through rigorous methodological designs. Jilke maintains active policy engagement, advising multiple federal agencies including OMB, SSA, and DHS. As co-editor of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, he shapes scholarly discourse at the intersection of behavioral science and governance.

• Public Policy
• Labor Economics
• Health Economics
• +3 more

Krista Ruffini is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. She also serves as a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and an Affiliate at CES-Ifo. Her research focuses on evaluating how government policies targeting disadvantaged populations influence labor markets, education, and health outcomes. Prior roles include Visiting Scholar at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute and Visiting Research Scholar at Princeton’s Center for Health and Wellbeing. Education: PhD and MA in Economics, UC-Berkeley MPA, London School of Economics BA in Economics, International Relations, and Political Science, Boston University Her research interests include income and nutritional assistance programs for children, as well as workplace policies in healthcare sectors. Notable projects examine the effects of free school meals on community resources, minimum wage reforms in nursing homes, and pandemic-era policies like Pandemic EBT. Her work has been featured in outlets such as the New York Times and NPR. Awards & Recognition: None explicitly listed, though her research has been widely cited in policy discussions. Advising & Grants: No specific grants or advisees listed. Her work is primarily funded through academic and policy institutions like NBER and Georgetown. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with interdisciplinary networks at NBER and CES-Ifo, but no dedicated lab mentioned.

• Information Technology
• Development Studies
• Governance Systems
• +4 more

Rajesh Veeraraghavan is an Associate Professor in the Science Technology and International Affairs (STIA) Program at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. His research focuses on the intersection of information technology, development, and governance, particularly in India. He examines how technology can enhance participatory governance and address socio-economic challenges. Education: Ph.D., School of Information, University of California, Berkeley M.S., Computer Science, Clemson University M.A., Economics, Cleveland State University Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and Management, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, India Research Interests: Technological solutions for development and governance Role of information and technology in participatory systems Design of civic technologies for marginalized communities Datafication and algorithmic decision-making in public services Key Contributions: Co-founded Digital Green, a non-profit using participatory video for agricultural extension Explored adaptive governance models through studies of India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) Analyzed technology-mediated cash transfer programs and their socio-economic impacts Current Work: Teaching courses on information technology, governance, and technology’s role in socio-economic development at Georgetown.

Shareen JoshiView profile

Associate Professor

• Development Economics
• Poverty Alleviation
• Public Policy Evaluation
• +5 more

Shareen Joshi is an Associate Professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. Her research focuses on poverty alleviation, demographic change in developing nations, and the evaluation of development policies using mixed methods. Key areas include maternal and child health programs in Bangladesh, self-help groups in rural India, and patterns of marriage/household structures across the Global South. She holds a PhD in Economics from Yale University. Education: Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University. Research Interests: Development Economics, Public Policy, Gender Studies, Environmental Governance, Legal Justice, and Social Demographics. She has conducted extensive work on caste, religion, and gender dynamics in India’s legal system, as well as environmental litigation and policy impacts. Recent work explores AI-assisted analysis of environmental rulings, judicial mitigation of disparities for minority groups, and fractal inequality in rural Bihar. Her studies often bridge quantitative data with qualitative insights, contributing to policy debates on equity and development. Notable contributions include evaluations of India’s POCSO Act, analyses of public-private partnerships in water management, and studies on contraceptive practices. She collaborates with institutions like the World Bank on rural livelihoods and policy frameworks. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address systemic inequalities in justice systems, health outcomes, and socioeconomic structures. Ongoing projects include environmental justice, judicial reforms, and gender empowerment strategies in developing economies.

Meg ElkinsView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Behavioral Economics
• Arts and Culture
• Information Bias
• +4 more

Meg Elkins is a Senior Lecturer at RMIT University’s School of Economics, Finance and Marketing. Her research focuses on behavioral economics, information biases, and societal development, with notable projects on arts economics and poverty reduction. She actively contributes to the Behavioral Business Lab and the Centre for International Development. Education: Not explicitly stated in provided texts. Affiliations: RMIT University (School of Economics, Finance & Marketing), Behavioral Business Lab, Centre for International Development. Research interests span three core areas: information biases (e.g., conspiracy theories), culture/arts (street performers, artists’ livelihoods), and societal development (social protection, wellbeing). She has led impactful studies like evaluating Melbourne’s arts investments and analyzing refugee integration. Her teaching excellence is recognized through multiple awards, including the RMIT Teaching Excellence Award (2015) and Learning and Teaching Partnerships Award (2022). Industry collaborations include work with ASIC, ATEC Global Research Centre, and Finding Infinity. Notable Media Presence: Regular TV/radio/print commentator on behavioral economics (e.g., ABC, SBS, BBC). Industry Experience: Former actor (TV/film roles) and arts strategy consultant (City of Melbourne, 2016–2017). Labs/Teams: Active in the Placemaking Economics Group and supervises PhD projects on topics like refugee integration and temperature shocks’ impact on violence.

Ariun IshdorjView profile

Associate Professor

• Applied Econometrics
• Agricultural Economics
• Health Economics
• +2 more

Ariun Ishdorj is an Associate Professor and Regional Director at the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development within the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the National University of Mongolia, an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Idaho, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University. Her research focuses on: Economics of food, nutrition, and health Cost-effectiveness of food assistance policies Consumer demand analysis Food insecurity and disability Impacts of food environments on diet quality Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on agricultural value chains, food policy evaluation, nutrition security, and disaster impacts on food systems, with particular emphasis on quantitative analysis of interventions in developing economies.

Sandra L. BarnesView profile

Professor

• Sociology of Religion
• Inequality and Poverty
• Urban Sociology
• +3 more

Sandra L. Barnes is the C.V. Starr Professor of Sociology at Brown University. Previously, she held a joint appointment as Professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and Divinity School (2008–2019), and served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Vanderbilt (2016–2018). Her research focuses on race, religion, urban inequality, and Black youth education. Notable projects include documentaries like Gary, Indiana: A Tale of Two Cities (2018, Emmy-nominated) and About the Kids series (2023), examining urban challenges and educational systems in Gary, Indiana. Barnes has secured over $2.5M in grants and published 9 books, 3 edited volumes, and 60+ peer-reviewed articles. She is a two-time President of the Association of Black Sociologists and recipient of the 2019 Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award from the ASA. Her work blends mixed methodologies to explore resilience in marginalized communities, the role of Black churches in education and health, and systemic racial inequities. Recent projects like the Telly Award-winning Four Voices (2023) continue her focus on documentary storytelling for social impact. Barnes has presented globally and advised policymakers, bridging academic research with community advocacy. Awards: Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award (2019), Emmy nomination (2018) Leadership: ASA’s Association of Black Sociologists (2010–2012), Equity Officer at Vanderbilt Grants: Over $2.5M as PI/Co-PI, focusing on urban sociology and religious institutions Barnes’ research labs and collaborations include interdisciplinary teams producing documentaries and policy analyses, emphasizing community-driven solutions to systemic poverty and educational disparities.

Christiane SzermanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Labour Economics
• Development Economics
• Inequality
• +3 more

Christiane Szerman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE), affiliated with the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), CESifo, and IZA. She holds a PhD in Economics from Princeton University and prior degrees from institutions including PUC-Rio and the Getulio Vargas Foundation. Her research focuses on Labour Economics, Development Economics, and Inequality, with a particular emphasis on the distributional consequences of public policies. Education includes a PhD and MA from Princeton University, an MA from EPGE-FGV, and a B.A. from PUC-Rio. She has held postdoctoral and research roles at UCL, the World Bank, and the Climate Policy Initiative. Her research explores topics such as disability hiring quotas, paid maternity leave policies, and the long-term effects of cash transfers. She has received multiple prestigious awards, including the NBER Pre-Doctoral Fellowship and the Clarence J. Hicks Memorial Fellowship. Her teaching spans Labour Economics at the PhD and MSc levels, as well as undergraduate courses on diversity and discrimination. She has secured grants from institutions like the Russell Sage Foundation and the Development Bank of Latin America.

• Urban Sustainable Development
• Urban Climate Finance
• Global Urbanization
• +3 more

Eugenie L. Birch is Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research & Education and Chair of the Graduate Group in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design. She co-directs the Penn Institute for Urban Research and co-edits the City in the 21st Century book series. Her research addresses global urbanization, urban climate finance, and implementation of UN sustainable development goals. She co-directs the SDSN Global Commission on Urban SDG Finance, producing key reports on green financing mechanisms. Recent books include 'Slums, How Informal Real Estate Markets Work' and contributions to IPCC assessments. Key Research Areas: Financing mechanisms for urban climate resilience Implementation of UN New Urban Agenda and SDGs Metropolitan governance and stakeholder engagement Honors: Distinguished Educator Award from ACSP APA President's Award for leadership Fellow of American Institute of Certified Planners She has advised UN-Habitat, served on New York City Planning Commission, and lectured worldwide on urban policy innovation.

Katharina LennerView profile

Lecturer

• Migration Governance
• Refugee Studies
• Social Protection
• +2 more

Dr. Katharina Lenner is a Lecturer in Social and Policy Sciences at the University of Bath and Director of Studies for BSc International Development with Economics. Her research focuses on the politics of development, social protection, and migration governance, particularly in Jordan and the Middle East. Research examines: Refugee labor integration policies Gender and economic participation Humanitarian-development policy interfaces Evaluation of poverty alleviation programs

Daniel FriendView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Implementation Science
• Program Evaluation
• Family Well-being
• +7 more

Daniel Friend, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago's School of Public Health. He is also a Principal Researcher at Mathematica, where he leads implementation studies and rapid-cycle evaluations for human services programs serving children and families in poverty. His research interests focus on improving program effectiveness through evidence-based implementation. Key areas include: Implementation Science and the Learn, Innovate, Improve (LI Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education programs Responsible Fatherhood initiatives Two-generation (2-Gen) service models integrating education, employment, and social support Family violence prevention and treatment Technical assistance and stakeholder engagement in public health Dr. Friend's work bridges clinical practice and policy research, emphasizing real-world impact in underserved communities. Although no specific publications are listed, his project leadership suggests a strong focus on applied public health research, evaluation methodology, and social determinants of health. His scientific contributions are recognized through active project leadership rather than formal awards listed here. Dr. Friend provides mentorship and academic guidance as part of his adjunct role. He contributes to research grants and projects such as the Strengthening the Implementation of Healthy Marriage and Relationship Programs and the Agape 2-Gen Program Evaluation, which involve multi-agency collaboration, data collection, analysis, and technical assistance. These projects reflect substantial grant-supported work in social and public health policy. He is involved in research teams at Mathematica and collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and foundations to improve program delivery and outcomes for vulnerable populations.

• Public Policy
• Political Analysis
• Education Policy
• +3 more

Eugénia Gambôa is an Invited Assistant Professor at the Institute for Political Studies, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (since 2005) and Universidade Católica da Beira in Mozambique (since 2010). She holds a degree in International Relations from Universidade Lusíada, and an M.A. and PhD in Political Science from the Institute for Political Studies at UCP. Her expertise lies in public policy, political analysis, and education policy. She has served as Coordinator for the B.A. in Political Science and International Relations (2000–2011) and managed advanced training programs (2002–2011). Currently, she advises the Social Democratic Party in Portugal’s Parliament on education and science policy. Previously, she was Deputy and Political Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science (2011–2015). Her research focuses on public policies, family dynamics, and social issues. Key publications include Família e Políticas Públicas (2004) and articles in Nova Cidadania . She contributed to political discourse as a columnist in i (2008–2009) and appeared frequently as a media analyst (2010–2011). Her work bridges academic research with practical governance, emphasizing policy impact and societal challenges. Her advisory roles reflect her commitment to applying academic insights to real-world policy-making, particularly in education and science sectors. She remains active in both academia and political spheres, advocating for evidence-based approaches to public issues.

Mark Alan HughesView profile

Professor

• Urban Policy
• Energy Policy
• Sustainability
• +4 more

Mark Alan Hughes is a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design and serves as the Faculty Director of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. He holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Political Science. His work bridges academia and public policy, focusing on energy policy, urban sustainability, and regional development. Dr. Hughes earned his BA from Swarthmore College (1981) and PhD in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania (1986). Research & Roles: Hughes leads initiatives such as the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and advises federal agencies on energy transitions. His research emphasizes climate policy, urban energy systems, and equitable development. He previously served as Chief Policy Adviser to Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, designing the city's Greenworks sustainability plan and managing $159 million in federal energy grants. Awards: National Planning Award (1992) for Urban Employment Growth Patterns in Nine Large Metropolitan Areas . Key Projects: Philadelphia's Recovery Strategy under the 2009 ARRA, the Transitional Work Corporation welfare-to-work program, and the National Bridges-to-Work Demonstration. His academic affiliations include the Penn Institute for Urban Research, Wharton's Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership, and the Fox Leadership Program. Hughes has held senior roles at Brookings Institution and the Ford Foundation, advising on urban policy, equity, and regional governance.

Sandra Susan SmithView profile

Professor

• Urban Poverty
• Joblessness
• Social Capital
• +5 more

Sandra Susan Smith is the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Professor of Criminal Justice at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), a Professor of Sociology at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), and the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Radcliffe Institute. She serves as Faculty Director of the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management (PCJ) at HKS. Her research focuses on urban poverty, joblessness, social networks, and criminal justice system reforms, with a focus on racial disparities and pretrial detention impacts. Smith holds a B.A. in History-Sociology from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. She has held visiting roles at Stanford’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and the Russell Sage Foundation. Her recent work analyzes racial disparities in law enforcement experiences (e.g., Boston residents’ distrust in policing), pretrial detention effects on employment, and the social costs of electronic monitoring. She advises numerous organizations, including Arnold Ventures, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and the Misdemeanor Justice Project. Smith has also contributed to policy briefs on bail reform, ban-the-box legislation, and workforce development. Her service includes leadership roles in the American Sociological Association (ASA), editorial roles at journals like the American Sociological Review, and advisory positions for initiatives like the Executive Session on Community Corrections.

• British Education Policy
• Welfare State in England
• Citizenship Education
• +7 more

Anne Beauvallet is a Lecturer at the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS), University of Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, where she teaches British civilization and economic civilization. Her academic work centers on education policy and social issues in the United Kingdom, particularly England. Research Interests: Her research spans British education policy across multiple political eras, including Thatcherism, the Major and Brown governments, and the Con-Lib coalition. She investigates citizenship education, teachers' unions, school meals, truancy, anti-social behavior, and the socio-political dimensions of education. Her work often compares policy developments across the UK’s four nations and analyzes historical continuities and shifts in educational governance. Publication Trends: Her publications from 2009 to 2024 reflect a sustained focus on the political and social dimensions of British education. Recent work emphasizes contemporary challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on education and current debates over relationships education and educational inequality. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges history, political science, and educational studies, frequently published in French journals on British society. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: The provided texts do not mention any students, advising roles, or research grants. Research Environment: She is affiliated with the Centre for Anglophone Studies (CAS), a research unit at the University of Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, which supports interdisciplinary research on English-speaking countries. She collaborates with scholars across France and participates in national and international academic discussions on British studies.