Research Discipline/Bio
Mariel Bedoya is a Ph.D. candidate in Economics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research sits at the intersection of labor economics, education, and public policy, focusing on how early-career service shapes professionals’ long-term decisions. Her job market paper studies the causal effects of Peru’s mandatory rural health service program on the geographic and sectoral choices of psychology graduates. Using administrative data and a lottery-based design, she finds lasting impacts on public sector retention and rural service. Her broader work examines barriers to equitable delivery of health and education programs, the influence of gender representation in curricula on learning outcomes, and the effects of environmental shocks on education in Latin America. She specializes in impact evaluation, utilizing experimental and quasi-experimental methods, and has collaborated with organizations such as UNESCO, IPA, and J-PAL.
Educational Background
Ph.D. Candidate in Economics and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, expected 2026.
Master of Economics and Finance, Barcelona School of Economics, 2018.
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Universidad de Piura (UDEP), 2013.
Honors/Awards
Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics, 2025; J-PAL Governance Initiative Research Grant, 2023; CDEP Student Research Grant Program, 2023–2025; Doctoral Research Fellowship, Columbia University, Teachers College, 2021
Publications/Exhibitions
Velasco, T., Bedoya, M., Fink, J., Jenkins, D., & LaViolet, T. (2024). Tracking transfer: Community college and four-year institutional effectiveness in broadening bachelor’s degree attainment. Community College Research Center.
Velasco, T., Bedoya, M., Fink, J., & Jenkins, D. (2024). Tracking transfer: Four-year institutional effectiveness in broadening bachelor’s degree attainment. Community College Research Center.
Velasco, T., Bedoya, M., Fink, J., & Jenkins, D. (2024). The postsecondary outcomes of high school dual enrollment students: A national and state-by-state analysis. Community College Research Center.
Espinoza, K., Bedoya, M., & Sánchez, A. (2020). Alcohol-induced physical intimate partner violence and child development in Peru. Oxford Development Studies, 48(3), 271–286.
Last Updated: Jul 12, 2025