Together with my colleagues at the UBSE and the UB Economics PhD Program, we design a PhD Training Framework–fully demand-driven efforts to create the training we always wanted to receive.
Below are some activities (within this framework) I am proud of as an initiator and organizer. They have been crucial support for both my peers and myself. Happy to share my organizational experience; feel free to reach out.
All for a better community!!
1. BESTEPS (Barcelona Essential Skills Training for Economics PhD Students)
Fig. BESTEPS Opening Lecture
Through expert-led lectures, BESTEPS offers PhD students necessary guidance to take "best steps" in different key stages of a research project. (UBSE News on the Launch of BESTEPS)
BESTEPS is financed by a EDUB-funded project for which I am the grant recipient, running during academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26. This program is a joint effort with my amazing colleagues.
BESTEPS consists of 7 Lectures taught by renowned scholars:
New! We have put together the BESTESP Guide (click to access) as a public good, based on lecture notes of these lectures.
2. Research Ideas Coffee Talk
Fig. PhD Ideas Coffee Session
The Ideas Coffees are biweekly sessions for PhD students and Postdocs to discuss newly-formed research ideas in a safe and friendly environment before starting a project. We also host occasional special sessions (e.g., to share data info).
This is an innovative series for junior Economists at UBSE, which I initiated with my PhD colleagues. It has received great support from the PhD in Economics Program. I am in charge of the series for AY 2023/24 and 2024/25. (See: Our recent event post)
3. Job Market Preperation Process Improvement Plan
The plan aims to better support and prepare PhD candidates for the Job Market via a comprehensive agenda featuring information sessions, practical toolkits, personalized planning meetings, package tutoring, mock interviews, mock job market talks, etc, throughout the JM season.
It was developed with invaluable input from JM candidates ahead of me, Marie Beigelman, Abhinav Khemka, Marianna Magagnoli, Alex Izquierdo, among others. The plan was approved by the PhD Academic Committee, and has been implemented since the academic year 2024/25.
4. Applied Econ Methods Reading Group
Fig. Applied Econ Reading Group
The reading group discuss useful newly-developed causal inference methods not yet commonly covered in standard graduate-level econometrics. It is planed and organized by Sergio Blanco, Cristina Aranzana, Cecilia Ramirez, and myself, and supported by the Department of Public Economics and the IEB.
