Matthew Notowidigdo appointed co-scientific director of J-PAL North America
J-PAL North America has introduced that Matthew “Matt” Notowidigdo ’03, MEng ’04, PhD ’10, professor of economics on the College of Chicago Sales space College of Enterprise, is becoming a member of Amy Finkelstein as co-scientific director of the group, changing Lawrence “Larry” Katz.
Katz is stepping down after almost 10 years of supporting the expansion and improvement of J-PAL North America, having labored carefully with Finkelstein to launch the regional workplace of J-PAL in 2013. He’ll proceed his position as a co-chair of J-PAL North America’s Employee Prosperity Initiative and as an lively affiliated researcher.
“Over the previous decade, J-PAL North America has had a serious impression in increasing the sphere’s capability to conduct randomized evaluations on key coverage points within the area,” says Katz. “I’m excited to go the baton to new management on the scientific director stage. Matt is a wonderful alternative to hitch Amy in guiding the group in its mission over the subsequent decade.”
“We really wouldn’t be the place we’re in the present day with out Larry’s efforts, together with serving to to launch the workplace, advising the launch of a number of analysis initiatives, reviewing over 100 proposals as a assessment board member, increasing our analysis community, supporting high-quality proof synthesis and coverage outreach, and contributing to main fundraising successes,” says Finkelstein. “I now stay up for collaborating with Matt in offering scientific path to the subsequent section of J-PAL North America’s work and driving ahead a brand new era of proof.”
Within the co-scientific director position, Notowidigdo, alongside Finkelstein, will help and information J-PAL North America in creating rigorous analysis on financial mobility and advise because the group builds a give attention to range, fairness, and inclusion and develops a analysis agenda for racial fairness.
“Matt holds a deep dedication to our mission, a historical past of public service at J-PAL, pleasure about randomized evaluations, and lots of concepts round learn how to strengthen our range, fairness, and inclusion work,” says Vincent Quan, co-executive director of J-PAL North America. “His thought management in these areas might be extraordinarily beneficial to the expansion of our group.”
A J-PAL affiliated researcher since 2015, Notowidigdo’s work spans labor market points, social safety insurance policies, and well being interventions. He has expertise conducting quite a few randomized evaluations and dealing successfully with each nonprofit and authorities companions. Highlights of his evaluations in partnership with J-PAL North America embody an influential examine on increasing SNAP take-up in Pennsylvania and an ongoing examine on managed care organizations with the South Carolina Division of Well being and Human Companies.
Notowidigdo additionally serves as a co-chair for the Employee Prosperity Initiative and has been an lively reviewer of proposals, a participant at J-PAL North America occasions, and a reviewer for the Invited Researcher Search Committee. He has supplied steering on J-PAL North America’s methods to construct a various economics pipeline, knowledgeable by his direct expertise in serving as a mentor for each the Russell Sage Basis’s Pipeline Grants Competitors and for junior economists with the Committee on the Standing of Girls within the Economics Career.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Matt on quite a few analysis tasks throughout his time as a J-PAL affiliate,” says Laura Feeney, co-executive director of J-PAL North America. “Along with the expertise he brings to his new position, I’m excited for the mentorship he’ll convey to our employees, his enthusiasm for the work, and his dedication to supporting economics students from all backgrounds.”
Notowidigdo holds a BS in economics, a BS in pc engineering, an MEng in pc science, and a PhD in economics from MIT. Along with his work with J-PAL, he has served as a co-editor of the American Financial Journal: Financial Coverage, a analysis affiliate on the Nationwide Bureau of Economics Analysis, and an affiliate editor on the Quarterly Journal of Economics.