About

I am a PhD candidate in Public Policy at the University of Washington with over a decade of experience in policy research and data analysis.  My journey has equipped me with a collaborative mindset, a robust quantitative skill set, experience with qualitative methods, subject matter expertise in the labor market, education, and social safety net policies, and an ability to speak to policymaker audiences.   I am seeking a role where I can apply my skills in a non-academic setting because I am passionate about conducting research to inform equitable policy decisions that drive meaningful change.

I’ve worked in academic, government, and private sector contexts. Prior to joining the Evans School of Public Policy, I worked as an Economic Policy Analysis Specialist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. There, I developed a microsimulation model (the Policy Rules Database),  a labor force participation analysis tool, and a wage growth metric (the Wage Growth Tracker). I also contributed to numerous Federal Reserve Bank discussion papers and related blogs. 

My research interests center around policies that promote economic mobility and economic stability. My dissertation focuses on policies that promote higher education for students hailing from low-income backgrounds. I also have substantive interests in public assistance and tax policy and have done several research projects and papers reflecting this interest.  For example, I co-authored a research paper using difference-in-differences methodology to examine the effect of free pre-kindergarten on maternal labor supply. This paper has impacted policy research, receiving 16 citations to date.

My expertise spans quantitative and qualitative analysis. My dissertation includes descriptive techniques like structural equation modeling and causal inference techniques such as difference-in-differences and instrumental variables. I have used qualitative methods in several research projects, which I feel are useful for providing a nuanced understanding of research questions and uncovering mechanisms. Last, I have experience running experiments, conducting surveys, and evaluating programs.

I am passionate about making evidence-based research valuable for policymakers, including translating complex findings into actionable insights. For this reason,  I am currently on the PhD job market and seeking roles with policy-oriented research firms and think tanks. I thrive in environments where collaboration, innovation, and critical thinking shape the solutions to pressing public issues. 

You can contact me at ellieaterry@gmail.com.