Yubraj Acharya

I am an associate professor of Health Policy & Administration, and Demography at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States. 

I received a Ph.D. in Health Services Organization & Policy (Health Economics track) from the University of Michigan in 2017, a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in 2008, and a B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Swarthmore College in 2005. 

My research focuses on understanding ways to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).  As a global health economist, I primarily use randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs to evaluate programs, policies, and interventions in LMICs. The interventions I have designed and tested focus on modifying individual health behavior, particularly the prevention and timely diagnosis of non-communicable health conditions. I have also evaluated policies on a number of other areas relevant to LMIC populations, including family planning, nutrition, and social protection. 

At Penn State, I teach a doctoral course on basic statistics and an upper-level undergraduate course on the economics of health in LMICs. 

I am a citizen of Nepal. I have previously worked as an associate economist at Moody's Analytics, as an economist at the Asian Development Bank, and as a visiting lecturer at the Kathmandu University School of Management. I have also provided consulting services to the World Bank (Kathmandu & Washington, D.C.), CARE-International, and the African Population and Health Research Center.