Join us in congratulating Rohen Shah for being selected as a 2025 grant recipient of the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy for his dissertation work. The Horowitz Foundation awards grants annually to support outstanding doctoral research in the social sciences that addresses contemporary issues in social policy.
His research work, "When the Student Becomes the Master: A Field Experiment on Learning by Teaching", was chosen from 501 applications, with only 20 scholars (less than 4% of applicants) receiving awards this year. We're proud to see Rohen's innovative research receiving this prestigious recognition!
PhD Student Noah Haoxuan Li Awarded Two Grants
We're excited to announce that Haoxuan Li has received two prestigious research grants for his work on educational equity among disadvantaged youth.
Milgrom Student Research Initiative Grant: The Hymen Milgrom Supporting Organization has approved Noah's proposal "When Studying Hurts: Peer Stigma and Underinvestment in Education Among Economically Disadvantaged Youth," recognizing its innovative approach and alignment with their mission.
2025 Thaler-Tversky Research Grant: Noah was also selected as one of three recipients of the Thaler-Tversky Independent Research Grant from the Roman Family Center for Decision Research. This grant, supported by Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler, provides up to $2,500 for emerging scholars' behavioral science research.
Congratulations to Noah on these outstanding achievements!
2025 Harris Accolades : Susan E. Mayer Award for Excellence in Field Research
Congratulations to our 2025 Susan E. Mayer Award for Excellence in Field Research winners! We are thrilled to recognize Harris School of Public Policy graduates Alberto Saldarriaga Villavicencio and Cristian Bancayan Navarro, along with University of Chicago College student Yazeed Abayazid.
These outstanding students have made exceptional contributions to our field research projects over the past year. The Susan E. Mayer Award honors their dedication, innovative thinking, and commitment to rigorous research that makes a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
THRIVE Conference in London
Michelle Michelini, our Executive Director, recently attended the inaugural Thrive Child Evidence conference in London. This important gathering brought together research, program implementation, and policy leaders focused on designing and scaling early child development programs in low- and middle-income countries.
The conference addressed the complex challenge of moving from evidence-based research to real-world implementation, with the ultimate goal of successful program scaling. Participants discussed collaborative approaches to supporting child development globally during a time of significant adversity facing children worldwide.
MEET OUR SUMMER TEAM
MPP/MBA '26
Summer Market Research Intern
Erica Choi
Erica Choi is a second-year Master of Public Policy and Master of Business Administration dual-degree candidate at University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Booth School of Business, where she is an Edwardson Civic Scholar, Knas Scholar, and Leopold Schepp Scholar. Passionate about combatting intergenerational poverty, she spent four years working at a community-based nonprofit in East Harlem, where she first worked on the development team and later ran an academic intervention program for students failing school. At the BIP Lab, Erica will help focus on supporting the development of Chat2Learn.
MS/MBA '26
Summer Market Research Intern
Minh Phan
Minh Phan is a Master’s student in Applied Data Science at the University of Chicago's Data Science Institute with a background in marketing, consulting, and strategy. In roles across media and advertising, he focused on building brand strategy and using data to inform marketing decisions. Now, he’s expanding that foundation through hands-on study in data visualization, machine learning, product strategy aimed at optimizing and simplifying real-world systems. At the BIP Lab, Minh supports the product development and marketing of Chat2Learn.
University of Chicago '28
Summer Research Assistant
Allison Yu
Allison Yu is a rising second-year student in the College, studying Economics and Mathematics. She began her work at the BIP Lab through the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics in the summer of 2025. This summer, she will be working with the data team, creating data visualizations and conducting literature reviews.
University of Chicago '27
Summer Research Assistant
Anna Hatchikian
Anna Hatchikian is a rising third year at the College, studying Psychology, Economics and Comparative Human Development. She began her work at the BIP Lab during the Summer of 2025, supporting field work for the ShowUp2GrowUp and Chat2Learn projects. Outside of the lab, Anna also works as a Tour Guide for the Office of College Admissions, a tutor for the Neighborhood Schools Program, and is involved in the campus Model United Nations Club. In her free time, Anna loves to explore cafes and restaurants across Chicago, watch tv shows with her friends, and maximize her time outside whenever Chicago weather allows it.
University of Chicago Alumna '25
Summer Research Assistant
Dana Herrera
Dana Herrera recently graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She first got involved in research in 2023 at the Development of Social Cognition Lab, where she worked on studies examining how children develop social cognition and make sense of constructs including authority, race, and social status. Her broader interests center on how children and adolescents absorb messages from media, whether through television, social media platforms, or newer technologies, and how digital spaces can be designed to support self-esteem, identity formation, and critical thinking. Dana is joining the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab in the summer of 2025. She is excited to take an interdisciplinary approach that draws on research, education, and policy to help parents support their children’s growth, learning, and wellbeing.
University of Chicago, '27
Summer Research Assistant
Sarah Simons
Sarah Simons is a rising third year in the College studying Public Policy and Business Economics. She began to work in the BIP Lab during the summer of 2025, working as a Research Assistant for the Lab’s implementation programs of Chat2Learn and ShowUp2Grow Up. Outside of the BIP Lab, Sarah is involved in Splash!, Neighborhood Schools Program, and the Rural Student Alliance. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and funky cardigans.
