Heather Schofield

Heather Schofield is an Assistant Professor at the SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, with a research focus on development, health, and behavioral economics. Her work bridges economic theory and global health practice, primarily through field experiments in India and Bangladesh.

Her research centers on health human capital—including nutrition, sleep, and pain management—and how these factors influence economic productivity, cognitive function, and decision-making. She also investigates how financial and social incentives can promote healthier behaviors among disadvantaged populations. Dr. Schofield’s work is deeply policy-relevant, aiming to address structural barriers to economic mobility such as loneliness among migrant workers and the physiological toll of income instability.

The two most recent publications highlight her interdisciplinary approach: one in Science on informing sleep policy via field experiments, and another in the American Economic Review on the psychological burdens of poverty. Together, these works reflect a consistent theme—understanding the invisible psychological and physiological costs of poverty to design scalable, evidence-based interventions.

Dr. Schofield earned her PhD in Business Economics, MS in Global Health and Population, and BA in Economics, all from Harvard University. She leads impactful global health research projects, including randomized controlled trials examining social isolation among migrant garment workers in India and the health impacts of income volatility in Bangladesh. These projects integrate economic modeling with biomarker analysis and mental health assessments.

She is actively involved with the Center for Global Health, contributing to research mentorship and global health training programs. Her work has significant implications for public health policy, economic development, and social welfare programs in low- and middle-income countries.