CEO Summer Fellowship Program

Chief Evaluation Office Summer Fellowship Program

The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) hosts a summer fellowship program for current and recent Ph.D. candidates to gain skills evaluating federal labor policies, protections and programs. CEO Summer Fellows will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience, get exposure to the Department of Labor’s agencies, and complete and present a research project on a topic relevant to their dissertation. Fellows work with the Evaluation & Research or Data Analytics teams within the Chief Evaluation Office, learning from evaluation experts and supporting research activities.

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Fellow	Testimonial
Hannah Farkas is a Ph.D. student in the Sustainable Development program at Columbia University. Her research is in environmental economics, with a focus on how climate change and extreme weather events impact labor markets, consumer credit, and economic inequality, and how policies relating to natural disaster management can mitigate these effects.	The Chief Evaluation Office’s summer fellowship program served as a wonderful opportunity for me to work on my dissertation research in an extremely supportive and engaging environment. Through regular meetings with CEO’s staff, I received valuable feedback on my project from experts at the forefront of labor economics and policy. They fostered a collaborative and stimulating community among the fellows, which allowed us to learn from each other’s research methods and help each other further develop our dissertation projects. The staff further provided insight into the operations of CEO and the DOL more broadly by facilitating conversations and shadowing opportunities with staff researchers working on labor policy formulation, regulation, and data collection. Additionally, I was able to witness how academic research is translated into real-world policies and I had the opportunity to practice communicating my research findings to a wide audience. I highly recommend this experience to any PhD students looking to conduct policy-relevant work in a setting dedicated to helping them develop as researchers.
Lucas Greer is a Ph.D. candidate in policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. His research interests include education policy, educational technology, postsecondary education, and labor economics. His current research focuses on the labor market outcomes of online postsecondary education.	The DOL CEO Summer Fellowship was an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of DOL and connect with experts in labor policy research and evaluation. The CEO staff showed genuine interest in my career development by offering engaging shadowing opportunities and expanding my professional network. The highlight of the fellowship was presenting my independent research project to over one hundred DOL staff members. Thanks to the CEO’s mentorship, I felt fully prepared to complete my project, which significantly advanced my dissertation and honed my ability to communicate research effectively to a policy-oriented audience. I am grateful for my time at the CEO and highly recommend this summer fellowship to anyone who wants to explore labor-related topics beyond the academic setting.
Mary Milnamow is a Ph.D. student at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, where she is a Schomburg Fellow. Her research focuses on employment stability and the economic well-being of working family caregivers for older adults with a disability. She is conducting secondary data analysis applying an intersectionality lens to assess the relationship between flexible hours and work productivity.	It is nearly impossible to summarize the incredible experience I had as an Evaluation & Research Summer Fellow at the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) within the Department of Labor (DOL). The CEO team created a positive and collaborative learning environment to pursue my research agenda from providing insightful feedback to discussing how to translate my research findings to labor-related policy and practice. I had the opportunity to work closely on a CEO project and see how projects are developed and implemented. The fellowship also offered an opportunity to connect with researchers and policymakers in other DOL agencies to learn more about their work and to discuss my professional goals. As a social work researcher, I am grateful for the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the transdisciplinary teamwork occurring in CEO and across the Department of Labor. After observing the rigorous work, creativity, commitment, and collegial environment, I would recommend this fellowship to anyone interested in labor-related issues and advancing their research.
Oyinkansola Sodiya is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Management at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on exploring the receptiveness of technology augmentation in the workplace, with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence augmentation and Robotics Process Automation augmentation. She was honored with the 2024 Dwight David Eisenhower Achievement Award from the United States Department of Transportation.	The DOL Chief Evaluation Office provided an intellectually stimulating environment, surrounded by exceptionally smart and passionate researchers. This experience not only deepened my expertise but also underscored the importance of rigorous research in shaping policies at the national level. I presented my research on Artificial Intelligence Augmentation Receptiveness and engaged in thought-provoking conversations about its implications. It was a true honor to be selected among researchers nationwide, and the opportunity to collaborate with such amazing colleagues made the experience even more rewarding.
Tyler Q. Welch is a Ph.D. candidate in the Risk & Insurance department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business. Tyler is a Graduate Research Fellow at the Institute for Research on Poverty and an associate member of the National Academy of Social Insurance. His research focuses on how individuals interact with insurance markets, particularly on the topics of social insurance, health, longevity, and public policy.	The summer fellowship at the DOL’s Chief Evaluation Office was an incredible experience, both in terms of supporting my ongoing academic work and opening up new opportunities to see how policy-relevant research is used within the government. Whether one is a PhD student who wants to ultimately work in government, or one who wants to write papers that will impact governmental policy, this is really the ideal way to spend a summer in the PhD. I was able to be part of CEO’s CLEAR team and meet with people from various other DOL agencies, all of which will support my work in the future. CEO was incredibly receptive to my topic and provided great feedback throughout. The community among the fellows was also terrific, and each fellow provided something of value to me and my work.

Fellow	Testimonial
Suchitra Akmanchi is a Ph.D. candidate in the economics program at the University of Virginia, where she is also an IES pre-doctoral fellow. Her research focuses on student success in postsecondary education, with an emphasis on community college.	“The summer fellowship with the DOL CEO was a valuable complement to my research training as a PhD student. I sought out a summer opportunity where I could get a taste of research outside of academia, and I'm happy I landed at CEO. I can't speak highly enough about the supportive environment that the CEO staff cultivated for us fellows. Everyone I spoke to was enthusiastic about discussing my summer project, as well as talking about career development more generally. In addition to the knowledge I gained from the staff, I learned about research methods and DOL projects from the other summer fellows. As someone who works best as part of a team, being a CEO summer fellow was the perfect way to engage with labor policy and research.”
Kathryn Blanchard is a Ph.D. candidate in the economics program at George Washington University. Her research interests are in the economics of education and how education policy can improve student outcomes, with particular focus on labor market outcomes.	“The summer fellowship at the Chief Evaluation Office was a great opportunity for me to move my research forward with a policy focus. I was able to connect with individuals working across the DOL, as well as other government departments, to share results, receive feedback, and learn where my research fit in with the work of policymakers and researchers. CEO also fostered a strong community among the fellows, despite it being a remote fellowship, which allowed us to connect on research interests, job aspirations, and navigating the PhD. I felt valued as a part of the DOL CEO team this summer and was grateful to have the opportunity to learn about life working in the federal government.”
Jack Chapel is a Ph.D. candidate in the economics program at the University of Southern California. He is an applied microeconomist studying topics in health and labor economics. His current research projects focus on (1) estimating the impact of chronic diseases on the labor force status of older workers; (2) evaluating how geographically distant social networks influence local public benefit take-up; and (3) projecting future disparities in the health and economic well-being of Americans nearing retirement.	“I had a great summer experience at DOL. Working with the Chief Evaluation Office gave me the opportunity to see how program evaluation and rigorous data analysis play a role across a wide range of DOL topic areas, and connecting with some of the leading evaluation experts in the agency benefitted my own work and knowledge. I worked on an existing project of my own that had relevance to DOL and, working with agency staff, I was able to further tailor my project to address current information needs for a large DOL initiative. Seeing how my research could fit in and contribute to real world policy impacts was an inspiring experience. I would recommend the fellowship to anyone interested in evaluation and public service.”

Fellow	Testimonial
Sarah Bainn is a Ph.D. candidate in the economics program at North Carolina State University. She conducts research in labor, education, and health economics. Her long-term goal is to pursue research that seeks to understand the labor market and healthcare delivery challenges that beset countries.	”I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a summer fellow with CEO. I had the opportunity to work with an amazing team and learn a lot about the different DOL agencies. It was a great opportunity to apply data analytic skills I have learnt and also to get a sneak peek into what working with a governmental agency looks like. My most memorable part of this fellowship was working on a project I was really passionate about, getting to meet very knowledgeable individuals and attending seminars on interesting topics. The working environment at CEO is fantastic. Everyone is really helpful and committed to your success. I think this fellowship is very rewarding and any PhD student interested in labor related issues should apply.”
Layla Darougar is a Ph.D. candidate in the economics program at the University at Albany, SUNY, and her research interests lie in the field of labor economics. Her main research focus is on the impact of the Great Recession on labor market outcomes and workers’ well-being. Specifically, she is investigating the effects of employer provided benefits on wages, and how the Great Recession impacts the effect of each benefit on wages.	“My time as a fellow at the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) was a valuable experience that provided me with profound insights into working as a data analyst within a governmental agency. Working at CEO enriched my skills and knowledge. I found the office to be exceptionally accommodating and supportive of my learning and ideas. I was impressed by the team's dedication to fostering an environment of collaboration and learning. Moreover, working on projects that aligned closely with my research interests was a highlight of my fellowship. Overall, the CEO fellowship was truly a rewarding and enlightening experience.”
Nathaniel Flemming is a Ph.D. candidate in the political science and social data analytics programs at Penn State University. His current research focuses on metropolitan fragmentation and its relationship to inequality.	“I found the CEO Summer Fellowship to be a highly positive and rewarding experience. As a data analytics fellow I learned what it is like to work in government, performing a variety of tasks such as reviewing and writing briefs and conducting a major data project that culminated in a series of presentations to members of the DOL. During my time at the CEO I felt supported by my supervisor and the rest of the CEO staff, who made a real effort to integrate us into the agency and provide us with meaningful work. Throughout the summer I received guidance not only on the work I performed for the fellowship, but also on working in government in general. I recommend the CEO Summer Fellowship to anyone considering a career in the federal government.”

Fellow	Testimonial
Evan Murphy is a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Nevada, Reno’s Interdisciplinary Social Psychology program with interests in decision making, policy, and program evaluation research. He is a trained social psychologist with a background in applied research, and he has experience, knowledge, and skills in policy and program evaluation research.	“The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) Summer Fellowship Program provided me an opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to meaningful projects that will impact evaluation research at the DOL. Throughout the fellowship, I was able to develop research resources, present my work, attend seminars, learn about various DOL agencies, and work with an exceptional group of colleagues. The CEO fellowship was a remarkably rewarding experience that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in labor-related topics and/or evaluation research.”
Evgenia Kapousouz is a Ph.D. candidate in Survey Methodology at the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois Chicago. She is primarily interested in measurement error and cross-cultural analysis. Her dissertation examines social desirability bias as a questionnaire, personality, and cultural trait and whether it is associated with other response styles, i.e., acquiescence and extreme response style.	“CEO is an excellent place to work. As a CEO Summer Fellow, I was presented with numerous opportunities for personal development and continuous learning. Although the fellowship was only for ten weeks, everyone made an effort to make us feel welcomed. The leadership was always understanding and accommodating, ensuring the projects we worked on were meaningful and exciting for us. The organizational culture is one of the many CEO's assets. Overall, I believe it is a great place to work.”
Kendal Lowery is a Ph.D. candidate in the departments of Sociology and Demography at the Pennsylvania State University, where she is also an NIH T-32 trainee in Social Environments and Population Health. Her research is broadly focused on immigrants, their health, and their integration into the U.S. society. Currently, she is focusing on the intergenerational mobility and well-being of immigrants through observing different indicators of socioeconomic status.	“From day one, I felt the enthusiasm that the Chief Evaluation Office had to have me on board for the summer. Everyone was so inviting and willing to answer any questions I had. As a summer research fellow, I not only had the opportunity to engage in independent research on a labor-related topic but also got the chance to meet many of the Department of Labor’s wonderful employees, all of whom were happy to share their knowledge and expertise. This was truly an invaluable opportunity, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in seeing what it might be like to work within the federal government.”

Fellow	Testimonial
Meifeng Yang is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include labor, demography, education, and public finance. Prior to her Ph.D. program, she worked as a research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. She earned her bachelor's degree in economics from UC Berkeley.	“My experience with the DOL CEO this summer was great. I had the opportunity to work with the staff very closely and let the ideas sparkle. The culture was very supportive and innovative, and I can work independently yet received as much guidance as needed. My favorite part was that the team was able to exchange ideas freely, built up trust during corporation, and being frank with each other to provide the best feedback.”
Wenchen Wang is a Ph.D. candidate at Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Her experience is diverse: she was a data and policy analyst at the licensing and background studies divisions of the Office of the Inspector General in the Minnesota Department of Human Services; she worked with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to evaluate the economic effects of Humphrey-Hawkins Act, and she used to be a professional interpreter for a local government in China. At present, Wenchen’s research focus is on labor economics, to be more specific, how occupational licensing affects the labor market outcomes including wages, hours worked as well as employment.	“This summer at the CEO is probably one of my best working experiences. As a summer fellow at the data analytics team, I was able to work on a project that is closely related to my research interest. On this project, not only did the folks at the data analytics team offer me great direction and instruction as to how to kick off the project, but I was also given full autonomy as to what I want to accomplish for this project. Other than the fantastic working environment, I also appreciate the fact that I got exposure to the organizational structure at the federal government level, and everyone in CEO was trying their best to ensure we have the best experience. Overall, I think this is a very good program and I definitely think that more PhD students who are interested in labor-related topics should try to get involved in this summer program.”
Xue Wu is a Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Economics University at Albany, SUNY with an interest in health economics, industrial organization, development economics, and applied econometrics. The majority of her current research applies PSM-DID experiments to estimate the effect of losing access to hospital-based obstetric care in rural U.S. and the magnitudes of policy-relevant factors affecting rural mothers’ health outcomes.	“Thanks to CEO for giving me the opportunity to join Data Analytics team during this summer. This is a wonderful summer to work with you and other summer fellowships. It’s a great experience for Ph.D. students to practice the research skills and apply it to real situations. Different from academic environment, this summer fellowship opportunity provided me a better idea about what knowledge areas and skills I should attach more importance, and a much greater concept of what to expect in career after graduation. I’m really appreciative that I was chosen to the program, and this invaluable work experience will benefit me in the future.”