Bio

At the Complexity Science Hub Vienna (CSH), I lead the Science of Cities research program. Before joining CSH, I served as the Research Director of the Growth Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School. My research focuses on economic transformation and growth and connects to a number of topics, such as structural transformation and new growth paths in regional economies, economic complexity, division of labor and teams, the consequences of job displacement and the future of work.

CV

Current position

Since 2021: Group Leader Science of Cities program, Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Austria.

Previous positions

2017-2021: Research Director Growth Lab at Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Leading interdisciplinary research team of about 10 postdoctoral researchers and 5 visiting scholars. Cambridge MA, USA.
2012-2017: Postdoctoral Researcher at Growth Lab at Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Cambridge MA, USA.
2009-2012: Assistant Professor Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Research visits

2011: MIT Media Laboratory (Boston, USA)
2011: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität (Jena, Germany)
2011: Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB, Saarbrücken, Germany)
2010: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität (Jena, Germany)
2010: IAB (Saarbrücken, Germany)
2004-2008: Lund University (Lund, Sweden, multiple visits)

Education

2004-2009: PhD student Utrecht University, Department of Economic Geography. Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Title thesis: Productive Places: The influence of technological change and relatedness on agglomeration externalities
- Supervisors: Ron Boschma and Koen Frenken
- Grade: Cum Laude (highest distinction in the Netherlands)
2000-2004: MA Philosophy (Cum Laude), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1997-2004: BA + MSc Econometrics (Cum Laude), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Teaching

Economic Development Policy, with Ljubica Nedelkoska, Central European University (2024)
Development Policy Strategy, with Ricardo Hausmann, Harvard Kennedy School (2015, 2016, 2017)
Knowledge & Industrial Dynamics, Erasmus University Rotterdam (2010, 2011, 2012)
Seminar Topics in Organization and Strategy, Erasmus University Rotterdam (2011)
Seminar Dynamics and Entrepreneurship, Erasmus University Rotterdam (2010)
Capita Selecta: Entrepreneurship, Erasmus University Rotterdam (2009)
Introduction to Economic Geography, Utrecht University (2005, 2006, 2007)
Economic Growth and Regional Dynamics, Utrecht University (2005)

Awards

Best paper award DRUID conference (2023)
Best Young Scholar Paper Award (DIME Final Conference 2011)
RSAI Dissertation Award 2010 (award for doctoral thesis in Regional Science)
First Prize Early Career Poster Competition (sponsored by RSA and European Commission, DG Regional Policy)
Van der Knaap Prijs 2010 (Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen, triennial award for doctoral theses in the fields of human and economic geography and regional economics)
CBS president’s award for most imaginative paper (DRUID conference 2010)
EMAEE best Ph. D. paper award (2009)