PER Pre-Doctoral Mini Conference

Friday, May 29, 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM — International Affairs Building, Room 1027
Hybrid Conference (in-person & Zoom Options)
RSVP HERE

Agenda 

9:00 – 10:00 AM — Registration and Breakfast (provided)
10:00 – 10:15 AM — Welcome and Opening Remarks (Special Faculty Guest) 

Session 1: Predoc Perspectives — Skills, Research & Contributions

10:15 – 10:45 AM — [Title Forthcoming] Andrea Scalenghe (Current PER predoc; entering the PhD program in Business Economics at MIT, Fall 2027)
10:45 – 11:15 AM — “Lessons From My Predoc: What I Contributed and What I Will Take With Me” Maximus Saenz (Current GSB predoc; entering industry, Fall 2027)

11:15 – 11:30 AM — Break

11:30 – 12:00 PM — “Research in International Economics: Trade, Prices, and Historical Evidence” Hriday Karnani (Current PER predoc; entering the PhD program in Economics at                Harvard University, Fall 2027)
12:00 – 12:30 PM — Leonardo de Campos Gomez (Current PER predoc, 2025–2027 cohort)

12:30 – 12:45 PM — Lunch

1:45 – 2:30 PM — Predoc Panel Q&A, featuring all conference presenters (Moderated by Chantel Hover, PER Predoctoral Program Supervisor)

Session 2: Academic Presentations by Predocs

2:30 – 3:10 PM — “Do Diplomas Deliver? Bureaucrat Education and Public Service Outcomes” Arya G. Gadage (Current PER predoc, 2025–2027 cohort)
3:11 – 3:50 PM — [Title Forthcoming]  Francine Aoi Montecinos (Current PER predoc; entering the PhD program in Economics at Columbia University, Fall 2027)

3:50 – 4:05 PM — Break

4:05 – 4:45 PM — [Title Forthcoming] Theo Camille Burden (Current PER predoc; entering the Columbia University–London School of Economics Double MPA Program, Fall 2027)

4:45 – 5:00 PM — Closing Remarks (Special Faculty Guest)

6:00 PM — Dinner (Invitation-Only)