Maria Adelaida Martinez

Maria Adelaida Martinez is an assistant professor of economics at Bentley University and a visiting scholar at the Center for International Development (CID). Her research interests lie in development economics, migration, and education. She earned her PhD in public policy studies from The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy in 2023, where she also completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Development Innovation Lab under the mentorship of Professor Michael Kremer.

Before pursuing her PhD, Maria Adelaida worked in the social sector at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Her current research focuses on the factors driving school sorting and their effects on children’s educational outcomes. Additionally, she is investigating the impact of school-based mental health interventions on students and the efficacy of cost waivers and other low-cost interventions in expanding access to math Olympiads.

Originally from Colombia, Maria Adelaida holds both a BA and an MA in economics from Universidad de los Andes.