Meet our new PhD student Mohammad Atif Haidry
Mohammad Atif Haidry is one of five new PhD students joining the department this autumn. Originally from India, his path to research has taken him from studies in India and Paris to empirical research in the US, driven by a curiosity about differences in development and economic and social outcomes.
Mohammad Atif Haidry is originally from India. Before joining the University of Gothenburg, he worked as an Empirical Research Associate at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in the US. He has a Bachelor of Sciences from India, followed by a Research Master’s in Economics from Sciences Po in Paris.
What sparked your interest in pursuing research?
"My interest in research was a journey that developed gradually through my academic and professional experiences. Coming from Bihar, a developing state in India, I was always curious about the differences in development and the economic and social outcomes. Studying economics during my undergrad and later pursuing a Research Master’s in Economics at Sciences Po strengthened this curiosity. My subsequent research experiences, particularly working on applied projects in development, gender, labor, and financial inclusion, showed me how empirical research can help us understand these differences and inform policy. This ultimately sparked my interest in pursuing research as a career, particularly in development and applied microeconomics."
"I see the world as a platform with ever evolving problems, issues, and concerns and I believe that research in economics and the social sciences broadly give us the tools to observe, identify, and navigate a direction in solving these problems."
What are you hoping to learn or develop during your time as a PhD student?
"My research interests are broadly in applied microeconomics, particularly development, public, political, and gender economics. I look forward to exploring these fields further during my PhD and seeing where my research interests take me! I hope to gain deep insights that can help me solve issues and become a policy economist targeting improvements into the lives and livelihoods of people."
What made you choose to apply to the University of Gothenburg?
"Choosing the University of Gothenburg was a culmination of several factors. In particular, the School of Business, Economics and Law has a strong group of applied microeconomists, with faculty whose research interests closely align with mine and who I believe can provide excellent guidance throughout my PhD. I was also drawn to the opportunity to experience life in Scandinavia and its unique culture, lifestyle, and academic environment."