Ini U
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Expertise
Microeconomics topics (like education, labor markets, etc), data analysis for social science research, public policy analysis
Bio
Hello! I am currently a PhD Candidate in the economics program at the University of California, Berkeley. My research focuses on education and labor market topics (like measuring the impact of getting a college degree or increases to the minimum wage). I have also taken an interest in using machine learning techniques in my research. I have several years of experience with data analysis for social science research, being an economics tutor, and mentor. One of my main hobbies is learning Japanese, and I'm planning on visiting Japan after I graduate from my PhD program. I also enjoy hiking, practicing drawing/painting, and playing video games from time to time.Project ideas
What is the value of alternatives to traditional college education?
Traditional 4-year college degrees have become increasingly expensive over recent years. This raises questions about the role that cheaper alternatives to traditional education (like coding bootcamps, apprenticeship programs) can play in the education ecosystem. Some questions we could answer together include: How do the labor market outcomes (like employment rate and salary) of those who completed non-traditional education programs compare to those who attended traditional college? Do the benefits of non-traditional programs differ by the type of program and/or student characteristics? Through this project a student can learn how to write an essay based on existing research, and how to find and analyze data to create original research on the topic.