Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Nadia Ali, I am a PhD student at Columbia University, from Tunis.
What led you to the field of research you are pursuing now?
I took a research seminar in development economics as an undergraduate at Harvard and was fascinated by the way in which applied micro-tools can help us identify causal relationships in the messy world around us. Having many questions about why some countries are poor, why frictions exist in labor markets in developing countries, and the link between the two, it seemed natural to me that a career in applied microeconomics/development research would help me pursue these questions in a disciplined and data-driven way.
Can you talk about the transition from a PGIF researcher to a Columbia PhD student?
My field research experience in Tunisia, and the support I received as a PGIF researcher, allowed me to learn firsthand about the intricate workings of the local economy, at least when it comes to firms and trade. My conversations with firms, local researchers, policy analysts, and civil servants helped me understand the context better and inform my research agenda as a PhD student.
What opportunities or benefits has Columbia University provided you?
Being a PhD student has been a wonderful opportunity to explore the questions that fascinate me the most, to exchange ideas with researchers with different backgrounds and interests, and to receive advice from leading minds in my field. The campus, at the heart of New York, is also an exciting place to make new friends!
Could you describe your experience as a Tunisian student at Columbia University?
I have been very fortunate as a Tunisian student/researcher with local projects to have access to the Columbia Global Center in Tunis. The center has been instrumental in connecting me with funding, local academics, and students, and in helping me gain the contextual knowledge needed to inform my research. It has also provided me with a space in vibrant downtown Tunis, making work not feel like work at all!
What advice would you give to Tunisians who aspire to pursue a PhD at Columbia University?
Get some research experience! Work as a research assistant for a Professor and learn about the tools and also about your own interests. The PhD is a long journey but it is exciting if you love what you do!
