Peter G. Troyan

Peter G. Troyan is an Associate Professor of Economics and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Virginia, where he has served on the faculty since 2014. His research bridges theoretical and experimental economics with practical applications in market design, focusing on strategic behavior in matching systems and auction mechanisms.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Economics, Stanford University (2014)
• B.S. in Mathematics (with High Honors) and Physics, University of Michigan (2008)

Troyan's research centers on microeconomic theory with emphasis on game-theoretic foundations of market design. His work develops novel frameworks for matching under constraints, analyzes strategic manipulation in allocation mechanisms, and pioneers experimental validations of theoretical predictions. Key contributions include formalizing 'obvious strategyproofness' as a solution concept and designing ranking methods that improve welfare in competitive matching processes. His interdisciplinary approach integrates experimental economics to test theoretical models in real-world settings like school choice and labor markets.

His publication record reveals a consistent trajectory toward foundational contributions in mechanism design, with increasing focus on simplicity principles and behavioral realism. Recent work in Econometrica establishes theoretical limits of mechanism simplicity, while experimental studies in Games and Economic Behavior validate preference structures in matching markets. The recurring themes across his publications demonstrate how theoretical insights can be operationalized to solve allocation problems with distributional constraints.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Paper Award and Exemplary Theory Paper Award at ACM Conference on Economics and Computation (EC19)
• UVA Quantitative Collaborative (2022) and Arts & Sciences Research Grant (2022)
• Roger Sherman Fellowship (2019-2020) and multiple university research grants
• Stanford and University of Michigan fellowships during graduate training

Troyan directs the Economics Department's graduate program while securing continuous research funding, including five consecutive Bankard Fund grants (2017-2024) supporting his theoretical and experimental work. His service includes editorial roles at the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics and extensive peer review for top economics journals. As an active conference participant, he regularly presents at the ACM Conference on Economics and Computation and Econometric Society meetings, contributing to the market design research community through the University of Virginia Bankard Workshop in Economic Theory.

His leadership extends to mentoring graduate students in economic theory research and collaborating with international scholars like Marek Pycia and Thayer Morrill. Current projects explore desirable ranking methodologies and the boundaries of strategyproof allocation mechanisms, positioning his work at the forefront of market design theory.