معرفی
Ben Ost is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the Department of Economics within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD from Cornell University (2011) and a BA from Grinnell College (2006). His research focuses on labor economics and the economics of education, with specific interests in teacher quality, higher education outcomes, and applied econometric methodologies.
Educationally, Ost has contributed to understanding how academic policies like probation systems and honors programs affect student performance and earnings. He has examined generational differences in teacher effectiveness, employer connections in college networks, and omitted variable bias in statistical models. His work frequently employs regression discontinuity designs and value-added modeling to assess educational interventions and labor market dynamics.
- Key Research Themes: Teacher development, college access policies, human capital formation, and peer effects.
- Grant Funding: Principal Investigator for $47,000 Spencer Foundation grant and $3,894 OSSR grant.
- Teaching: Award-winning instructor in graduate microeconometrics, labor economics, and education economics courses.
Recognized with the UIC TRP Award (2011-2016), Ost has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students, serving as committee chair or member for over 20 advisees. His professional service includes peer-review roles for top journals like the Quarterly Journal of Economics and American Economic Review, alongside NSF grant reviewing.
