PhD Spotlight: Kishan Narayan

Exploring school choices and outcomes

My doctoral research examines how information gaps, institutional design, and unequal access to strategic support shape educational choices and long-term outcomes in high-stakes settings. I study complex admissions and school-choice systems using large administrative data, and conduct field experiments to test how targeted information and policy interventions affect decision-making and student welfare—particularly for students facing structural disadvantages. I was drawn to the Policy School for its emphasis on rigorous empirical research with clear policy relevance. Northeastern’s applied, interdisciplinary environment allows me to integrate economics, public policy, and data science to generate evidence that can directly inform the design of more equitable education systems.

“Observing how individuals navigated complex systems with uneven support sparked my interest in understanding how policy design and information environments influence real-world decision-making.”

Leveling the playing field

I grew up in East Champaran, Bihar, where educational and economic opportunities were shaped less by ability than by institutional capacity, social structure, and access to information. Observing how individuals navigated complex systems with uneven support sparked my interest in understanding how policy design and information environments influence real-world decision-making. This perspective continues to motivate my research, which is grounded in the idea that carefully designed, evidence-based interventions can help individuals navigate constrained systems and improve outcomes.

Expanding opportunities for all

Looking ahead, I aim to deepen and extend my work at the intersection of empirical research and field experimentation to inform the design of education and social policy. My goal is to produce evidence that shapes how policies and institutions are designed, particularly in settings where small changes in information or rules can generate large welfare gains. I aspire to pursue an academic and policy-oriented career, working closely with governments, research institutions, and international organizations to translate research into scalable, evidence-based reforms that expand opportunity and reduce inequality.

Learn more about my work here