Sonia Jaffe

Sonia Jaffe is a Researcher in the Economics and Computation group at Microsoft Research, where she focuses on applied theory, health economics, matching theory, public finance, and industrial organization. Prior to joining Microsoft, she held academic positions as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago (2015–2018). Her work also extends to analyzing the impact of large language models on work practices through Microsoft's New Future of Work initiative.

• Education:
  • B.A. with honors in Economics, University of Chicago (2008)
  • Ph.D. in Economics, Harvard University (2015)

Her research bridges theoretical economics with practical applications in public policy, healthcare, and technology-driven labor dynamics. She co-organized the Segregation: Measurement, Causes, and Effects conference in 2013 and has been affiliated with institutions like the Institute for Quantitative Social Science and John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics, and Business at Harvard. At Microsoft, she transitioned from the Office of the Chief Economist (2018–2022) to lead research on remote/hybrid work and AI's influence on professional workflows.

• Scientific Awards
  • Harvard University Presidential Scholar Fellowship
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

She maintains affiliations with academic networks, including the Inequality: Measurement, Interpretation, and Policy group, and has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across Microsoft. Non-professional interests include acroyoga and board games.