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People Spotlights

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Axel Niemeyer headshot
  • Assistant Professor of Economics

Axel Niemeyer

I specialize in mechanism design, the science of economic rule-making. Economics is usually concerned with analyzing existing economic institutions. Mechanism design flips the direction of inquiry: how should institutions be designed to best attain a given set of social or economic goals?"

Christopher Hitchcock
  • J. O. and Juliette Koepfli Professor of Philosophy

Christopher Hitchcock

I like to engage students at the point where science meets philosophy, to examine the implications of contemporary science for age-old philosophical questions, and to help them gain new perspectives on their chosen scientific fields."

Pawel Janas crop
  • Assistant Professor of Economics

Pawel Janas

I study how financial systems and public policy shape economic outcomes. At Caltech, collaboration among economists, historians, and data scientists helps uncover how institutions influence economic growth over time."

Camila Farres with Baxter building in the background
  • Social Sciences Graduate Student

Camila Farrés

The faculty really commit to the students here at Caltech. All of them are so open to talking to you. You have all of the institution behind you, helping you and pushing you to be a researcher."

Visualization headshot for Marina Agranov
  • Rea A. and Lela G. Axline Professor of Economics

Marina Agranov

There are good reasons to do experiments. Applying theories in the real world before testing them, and ruining someone’s real life, seems too high a cost."

Cong Cao headshot
  • Postdoctoral Scholar Teaching Fellow in Science, Society, and Public Policy (2023–2025)

Cong Cao

At Caltech, I’ve found an environment that challenges convention and encourages bold, interdisciplinary thinking. As a researcher and instructor in health economics and policy, I’ve been able to integrate data science, AI, and causal inference into questions that directly impact public well-being.