Professor Huffman received his Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley. He has worked at IZA, a research institute in Bonn, Germany; as an assistant and associate professor at Swarthmore College; as an associate professor at University of Oxford; and as full professor at University of Pittsburgh since 2015. His research has had two main strands. One is basic research in behavioral economics, which seeks to understand human nature and the determinants of individual economic decision making. The second strand is more applied, focused mainly on questions in labor economics, and involving partnering with private sector firms. A particular focus of his research in this area has been studying psychological aspects of how employees respond to workplace incentives. Professor Huffman teaches the Capstone Course in the MQE program. The course gives student teams the opportunity to work on projects defined by client organizations, including firms in various sectors of the economy, and public sector organizations. Professor Huffman advises the teams as they gain experience working for a client, and applying the tools they have learned in their MQE courses to real world problems.
Q: What courses do you teach in the MQE program?
“I am fortunate to teach the capstone course for the MQE program. Every year is different, in terms of the organizations our student teams work for, but every year is similar in that it is a fantastic learning experience for the students, and a powerful addition to their resumes.”
Q: What do you love most about teaching in the MQE program?
“I love seeing the students taking the tools they have learned in a more abstract way in their coursework, from statistics, to communication skills, and learning these at a deeper level through the process of applying them to a capstone project.”
Q: What is the biggest takeaway you hope students will gain from your class?
“I hope that the students take away a new sense of confidence, and understanding of their great potential, by experiencing how they were able to overcome the challenges of the capstone and provide value as an economic analyst.”