Tell us about your career since leaving ODID

I held a fellowship sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Brazil, and thereafter carried out a consultancy for the World Bank in Rome as part of the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) team within the Development Data Group. I am currently still part of the LSMS team and completing a PhD in Development Economics at the United Nations University - MERIT in the Netherlands.

And your current position?

For my PhD, I am closely collaborating with the LSMS team within the World Bank to improve the versatility and richness of household survey data. In my day-to-day work with and for the World Bank, I collect and use microdata from large household surveys as well as experimental data to investigate questions centering around poverty, resilience building in low- and middle-income countries, and innovation in the measurement of key development indicators.

Why did you choose ODID/your course?

I chose the course because it combines economics with a specialisation in low- and middle-income countries, it has an excellent reputation and offered a stimulating environment.

What did you particularly value about your course?

For me, the MSc has built the technical skills my professional career (at the UN and World Bank) is based on, encouraged the inquisitive mindset that makes me want to learn something new every day, and fostered the desire to use this knowledge for a good cause. Apart from that, being surrounded by such a diverse group of classmates that are all great in their own unique ways was an experience I would not have wanted to miss.

And what did you particularly value about ODID? 

While academic economics is infamous for being a rather harsh environment, ODID did not at all fulfil this stereotype. Quite the contrary: the warm atmosphere and dedication from all staff involved - teaching and administrative - made ODID a real academic home. And I am increasingly certain Doug [Gollin] is simply the nicest person to ever exist in academia.