jdl7851

Has anyone heard for Iowa State?

So I am interested in macro theory and poverty, and there are several professors in my department in this field. My interests align more with two professors, but another one has a substantially better publication record (though it's primarily in housing, which I do not find interesting). This third professor also coauthors with more people from other institutions (Top 30 schools, Fed, etc), and has being published several times in top 5 journals in the last 2 years or so. Is it worth trying to work with him even if my research interests don't totally align with him? I'm guessing I would learn how to do better research from him and have a more recognized advisor when entering the job market. What should I do? Is there overlap between these areas?

There's two issues there (at least from what I see, so hopefully these aren't actually problems?) 1. The department I'm at is lower on faculty than they were before and so they only offer concentrations in macro, econometrics, and applied micro. Is it a problem that they do not offer public econ or something else closer political economy? 2. Does it matter who I choose as my chair?

So I have just finished my first year of my Ph.D. program and have hit a stuck point. I initially expressed interest in studying macroeconomics but have found that I am more interested in political economics (particularly voter behavior and the formation of public opinion). I especially like the idea of looking at the overlap between politically economy and poverty in the United States (especially Appalachia). There is a professor in my department whose specialty is political economics and has also spent time on the Joint Center for Poverty Research at University of Chicago. Unfortunately, he is also the department chair. I believe he has advised Ph.D. students before, but I am concerned I will not get as much advising and I would from other professors in the department. I do not mean that as any slight to him, but simply from a pragmatic standpoint. The other faculty members I am considering are in macroeconomics (which is the department's strength). I know one professor who is very invested in the student's success and whose research has a more theoretical bent, which I prefer. Another (who's relatively new) who has an especially strong overall research track record (regarding number of publications, journals they are published in, and other institutions he is affiliated with. This second professor is also the sole author of an article on political polarization that was published in a Fed Journal (though most of his research in in real estate macroeconomics). My question is would I be better off going with the department chair and make best of the fact that I will probably not get as much attention as I would otherwise, or should I go with one of the macro professors? Also, it there a way to overlap political economy and macroeconomics (even if I leave poverty out - since that's not my only interest and I can come back to that later on in my career).

How would I start this? Do I go to the program director of my current program or contact those of the few universities I'm considering?

So I am finishing my first year at a PhD program. I chose this school largely to work with a particular professor who is leaving to work at the Fed at the end of this school year. I am interested also in poverty which no one at my school does. I was interviewed and waitlisted at my favorite program, and have wished I applied to several others focussed on policy and poverty. Is it worth considering moving programs and if so, how would I go about this?

I am currently a 1st year at Mizzou. This is the first year with a new PhD program director and he seems to be reforming various aspects of the program (the biggest ones were removing a professor from the micro sequence and putting everyone in my cohort on fellowship). The funding is pretty good, and if you pass quals on the first round the fellowship will continue into the summer (and it seems that we will be on fellowship until we start teaching in our 3rd or 4th year - I believe 4th). The program is definitely focussed on macro. The macro courses are taught in quarters by 4 different macro faculty. I know that quite a few professors (especially macro and econometrics) routinely coauthor papers with students. One professor I am considering working with has coauthored 2 papers with (different) students that were published in Journal of Econometrics (in 2019 and 2021). One thing to note is that because they are somewhat low on faculty, the program currently offer Macroeconomics, Econometrics, and Quantitative Microeconomic Policy Analysis. They used to offer others, but do not currently have enough faculty to teach the other fields (though they did teach a Public Econ sequence this year and said they may teach it again in 22/23 school year). Again, macro and econometric are their thing here. For what it's worth, the two macro professors we have had this semester have both served on the Council of Economic Advisers and are research fellows with the St. Louis Fed. One has done a lot of work with developing policies, and the other has a strong publication record for macro (at least according to RePEc). He is ranked higher for macro than any of the professors at WUSTL (I simply used that as a measure since I am from Missouri and because WUSTL was the highest ranked school I applied to). But again, if you are not interested in macro or econometrics, then you may want to consider Riverside (although I know nothing of that program specifically).

So, I have one particular school in mind (Tulane). How would you recommend I go about this? Also, do you know how often/realistic it is to learn enough to do research in poverty if I were to simply concentrate in macro/public/monetary at my current school?

In response to startz Right now I’m in my first year (I know, I have a bad habit of thinking too much about the future…) I am afraid about not getting an academic/research position because almost all the placements for my program are non-academic. I have done independent research in undergrad and my master’s program and loved it. Part of the reason why I am asking about a second PhD is that I want to maximize my chances at getting a career in research (and frankly, the majority of a PhD program is itself research). The reason I would actually take interest in another field is that I have two fields that I would especially like to study. The school I’m at is strongest at macro, which is what I plan to focus on here. The other field that I have become increasingly interested in is poverty (which no one at my school seems to have any experience in). I have been looking a RePEc and have found that many Public Policy Schools (and top Business Schools) produce a lot of research on poverty and economic policy. So it’s partly to build a stronger skillset for doing research, being able to specialize in both fields, and have a degree from a school with a stronger reputation and network. The major weak part of my application was my undergraduate grades, which I’m guessing would count a lot less against after successfully completing a PhD program.

So this may be an odd question, but I figure I may as well go for it. So I am currently in a PhD program at a 50-70 school (I was waitlisted at two Top 40-50 schools, but didn't get in). I am wondering if it is realistic to get into a PhD program for business, public policy, statistics, or applied math upon the completion of my current Econ PhD program in order to get a job at a research school? How likely to a Top ~20 program accept someone with a Econ PhD (especially for business or policy)? Or would I be better off doing a postdoc instead?

I am on a Fellowship for this school year at least, and have been given a specific fellowship for summer 2021 and 2022 that is only given to particular students. Can I put both of these on my CV and if so, how?

What about the likelihood of international students not being able to attend? I was on a small waitlist - do you think they would reach out / is it worth reaching out to them?

I was wondering if anyone (especially econ professors) have any idea how COVID-19 may impact the number of accepted students being able to actually attend next fall? If international students cannot attend (e.g. are not able to come into the US next year) is there a chance a school may reach out to formerly waitlisted students? Is it worth me reaching out to such a school (I was rejected off the waitlist for my favorite)? Also, what are the odds that we would have to do online learning this fall? Thanks again for all the advice!