From tenure-track positions to top government appointments, Notre Dame's Department of Economics has established a strong track record of job placements for its Ph.D. students.
Recent graduate students have been added to the faculty at the U.S. Military Academy, Miami University of Ohio, University of Louisville, DePaul University, and others. The program has also helped students find success in the workforce, with jobs at the the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the U.S. Census Bureau, Freddie Mac, the Bank of Canada, and the Center for Naval Analysis.
Below, two 2015 Ph.D. graduates highlight how Notre Dame prepared them for the job market, how experiences in the program now benefit them as a faculty member, and more.
"We are very proud of Rob and Kathryn," said Daniel Hungerman, Stepan Family Associate Professor of Economics and the director of graduate studies. "They are fantastic examples of the success our graduates are having across the board--in academia, in business, and in the public sector, too. The department has a truly outstanding record of job placement for graduating students."
Kathryn Wagner
Kathryn Wagner, Ph.D. '15
Assistant Professor of Economics
Marquette University
How did you choose Notre Dame's Ph.D. program in economics?
Notre Dame offered a smaller program with an intensive research environment. When I came to campus for a visit as a prospective student, I could tell that the program was collegial and that the faculty were really going to take an interest in me and my research. It was a huge draw for me.
How did the program prepare you for the job market?
Notre Dame’s program gave me a strong foundation on which to develop my research. The advanced courses I took in my research areas really stimulated my interest and helped me develop my own ideas. Research seminars gave me the opportunity to present these ideas to students and faculty and receive feedback. I felt confident going into the job market that I could explain and connect my research with other academics.
What research are you working on now?
I am currently researching the societal impacts of health insurance and mental health care. This builds on work from my dissertation while I was at Notre Dame that investigated the effects of Medicaid expansions for individuals with disabilities.
What about your graduate experience at Notre Dame has been most beneficial in your role as a faculty member?
The best part of Notre Dame’s program is the support both during and after grad school. While I was a student, faculty were so generous with their time either to talk about class materials, current research projects, or even just to bounce research ideas off of. Now that I’m a faculty member in my own right, I still feel that support and that I was amply prepared to take on the challenges of being a professor.
Rob Lester
Rob Lester, Ph.D. '15
Assistant Professor of Economics
Colby College
How did you choose Notre Dame's Ph.D. program in economics?
In talking with the students at visitation day, I got the impression that the Notre Dame professors were deeply involved with the mentoring of students. That swayed me.
How did the program prepare you for the job market?
I think this is the absolute best part of the program (and there are many good parts). We presented our work at brown-bag lunches, received funding to present at conferences, Notre Dame faculty members had mock interviews in their offices, and students from previous years gave us the layout of the hiring process. All of this preparation and experience presenting helped immensely on the job market.
What research are you working on now?
Over the last year I've mostly been working on topics related to monetary policy. Julio Garin (a former ND student), Eric Sims (the Michael P. Grace II Associate Professor of Economics), and I have been working to understand how the economy is affected by changes in productivity when nominal interest rates are zero, as had been the case in the U.S. until recently. This is quite separate from my dissertation.
What about your graduate experience at Notre Dame has been most beneficial in your role as a faculty member?
Teaching university-level classes was hugely beneficial to me given that I now work at a liberal arts college. I had the opportunity to design two independent courses and that prepared me to be a faculty member after graduation.