Jann Spiess
Associate Professor of Operations, Information & Technology
Center Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research
Associate Professor of Economics (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences
Business School Trust Faculty Scholar for 2024–2025
Academic Area:
Bio
Jann holds a PhD in economics from Harvard University. Previously, Jann obtained a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. His background is in mathematics with a focus on probability theory and combinatorics, which he studied at the University of Cambridge (Part III of the Mathematical Tripos) and the Technical University of Munich. Jann also studied and worked in Hangzhou, China and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Research Interests
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Machine Learning
- Econometrics
- Causal Inference
- Data Science
Stanford GSB Affiliations
- Faculty Affiliate Golub Capital Social Impact Lab
Academic Degrees
- PhD, Economics, Harvard University, 2018
- AM, Economics, Harvard University, 2015
- MPP, Public Policy, Harvard University, 2013
- MASt, Mathematics, University of Cambridge, 2011
- BSc, Mathematics, Technical University of Munich, 2010
Awards and Honors
- Philip F. Maritz Faculty Scholar, 2021–22
- David A. Wells Prize for best dissertation, Department of Economics, Harvard University, 2018
- Restud Tour, 2018
Research Statement
Jann works on integrating techniques and insights from machine learning into the econometric toolbox. His research brings together microeconometric methods, statistical decision theory, and mechanism design to clarify the use of flexible prediction algorithms in causal inference and data-driven decision-making. He is particularly interested in the role of human and machine decisions in replicable and robust inferences from big data.