Polsky Research Fellow, 2026
Marcus is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Economics and Mathematics. This summer, he worked as a research assistant at Professor Michael Kremer’s Development Innovation Lab. He contributed to a project evaluating the expected benefit of installing portable air purifiers in public schools in Bogota, Colombia. Previous work has established the benefits to cognition and health of cleaner air; the project specifically focuses on if a light-touch intervention remains cost-effective. He was specifically responsible for data work and researching the statistical methodology used in the analysis.
“This year, I will be applying to PhD programs in economics. This summer’s experience is no doubt one reason that I am able to apply directly to graduate school after my undergraduate studies, rather than doing a standard 2-year research assistantship (predoc) before applying. The research project has informed my research interests and provided me with practical research experience that will be helpful as I begin to conduct my own work.”