Thea S. Zöllner
Economist
I am a PhD Candidate in Economics focusing on one simple question: How can institutions help young people maximize their best educational and labor market opportunities?
My research focuses on one simple question: How can institutions help young people maximize their best educational and labor market opportunities? This question remains pressing given persistent labor market disparities, including gender gaps, and the rapid transformations created by emerging technologies such as AI, whose effects on career choices and inequalities are still uncertain. Situated at the intersection of labor economics, education economics, and personnel economics, my current work focuses on understanding how existing labor market disparities and new factors such as AI shape occupational opportunities and inequality. My research emphasizes primary data collection and rigorous causal inference.
My publications and a peek into what I am working on
Work in Progress

Backlash from Gender Equality, joint with  A. Brenøe, M. Carlana, and S. Wolter.
(Status: Draft coming soon.)

AEA RCT Registry

Fringe Benefits and Occupational Choice, joint with C. Schilter
(Status: Draft coming soon.)

AEA RCT Registry

Students' Occupational Preferences in the Era of Automation and Generative AI, joint with C. Gschwendt, M. Viarengo.
(Status: Draft coming soon.)

AEA RCT Registry

The willingness to pay for school quality, joint with M. Cattaneo, S. C. Wolter.
(Status: Analysis in progress).

AEA RCT Registry
Take a closer look at my skills

Attitude and Mindset

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Highly self-motivated, adaptable, solution-oriented, and results-driven

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Proactive and willing to take on responsibilities

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Embrace challenges and thrive in new environments using a global and future-oriented mindset

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Team-oriented for finding better solutions in heterogeneous teams, dedicated to supporting team members through shared learning and experience

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Loyal and trustworthy, fostering a safe and supportive environment that enables high-quality results

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Strong emphasis on fair and respectful collaboration

International & National Project Management

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Demonstrated ability to co-lead, coordinate, and execute several projects simultaneously, involving diverse stakeholders

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Thrive in multicultural teams, bringing strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills

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Experienced in building and supervising a research team (research assistants) to execute projects

Experience

During my doctoral studies, I coordinate up to four ongoing research projects simultaneously, ensuring the timely completion of project milestones. Among other projects, I was responsible for the data collection of a large-scale randomized field experiment involving 3,000 students, examining factors that influence career choices over a three-year period. This included coordinating with schools, companies, IT and legal teams, and research partners; managing the project timeline; and supervising a team of nine research assistants over three years (with a maximum of six at a time). Previous collaborative experiences include my role as a working student at Integral Logistics (Dortmund), where I coordinated tasks among multiple asynchronously working students and implemented a documentation system to track progress and ensure seamless handovers. I have worked in various teams throughout my doctoral research as well as during my studies.

Research Expertise

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Ability to identify problems, gather and evaluate evidence

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Strong background in quantitative research with a focus on micro-econometric methods (causal inference); experienced in designing, validating, and implementing online surveys and field experiments targeting diverse populations (e.g. high school students, adults, firms)

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Worked with qualitative methods, i.e. qualitative interviews

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Experienced in data collection and document management

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Proficient in data analysis and visualizing survey and administrative data

Education

Master's in Economics with a focus on applied microeconomic methods. Currently, I am a PhD student at the University of Bern. I have been at the University of Zurich and Stanford University as a visiting student.

Experience:

During my doctoral studies, I am working on six empirical projects using quantitative methods. I have co-designed and implemented four survey experiments on topics related to education, in collaboration with survey institutes and my research division. During my Bachelor’s and Master’s studies, I temporarily worked at the Chair of Empirical Economics (Prof. Dr. T. Bauer) at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and interned at DIW Econ in Berlin, where I supported the research team in analysing data for several projects.

Academic and Public speaking skills

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Hands-on experience in target-oriented communication to convey complex information to diverse audiences

Experience

Co-authored 2 working papers (4 in progress). Delivered multiple oral presentations at conferences, workshops, and seminars. Recipient of the “María Jesús San Segundo Award for Young Researchers” for best paper

Technology

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Microsoft office, Stata (data analysis and visualisation); Qualtrics (survey coding); Latex; some skills in Java and Python

Experience

Several projects conducted during my doctoral studies, as well as during internships at DIW Econ and my role as a working student at Integral Logistics, and the Chair of Empirical Economics (Prof. Dr. T. Bauer) at Ruhr-Universität Bochum.

Engagement and Stakeholder Management

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Skilled in fostering and managing cross-sector collaboration to properly answer research questions relevant to academia, politics, industry, and society.

Experience

During my dissertation, I was responsible for managing multiple stakeholders across sectors as part of a large-scale research project. This involved coordinating partnerships with two companies and several schools. I worked closely with the legal team to ensure compliance with data protection regulations, guided the media team in producing research-related video content, and collaborated with the IT team to optimize data collection—successfully reducing data loss and manual workload. Additionally, I oversaw nine research assistants supporting the field experiment, including managing coordination with HR for payroll and contract administration.

Fast uptake of new skills and content:

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Through my doctoral studies, Master degrees in Germany and the UK, and research stays at Stanford and the University of Zurich, I have developed the ability to quickly and thoroughly acquire new subject knowledge and quickly adapt to new environments and teams.

Languages

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German (native)

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English (fluent)

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French (intermediate and committed to mastering the French language fluently)