VLab | site

Welcome to VLab!

The mosaic above mostly features Spelman students that have worked with me as research and/or teaching assistants under the umbrella of the virtual lab, VLab.

Also featured are some graduate students at other institutions who have worked as senior research assistants and VLab managers.

All research assistants must obtain Institutional Review Board certification and conduct a wide range

of tasks including:

literature reviews (e.g., journal articles)

programming (e.g., surveys)

data collection (e.g., field experiments)

data analysis (mainly using Stata)

preparing (poster) presentations

traveling (e.g., to collect data or visit other campuses)

presenting at/attending conferences (including Spelman Research Day)

participating in VLab meetings and coding sessions.

Student assistants evaluate their experiences using this anonymous survey.

I periodically also tweet about research assistant experiences.

Interested in working at VLab?

Read this document and watch this video or this video first.

Then, contact me here or here for more info.

RESOURCES

Pre-college or in college?

Check out: aea resources

Need general research assistant advice? nsf intern, jpal, doleac, viceisza

Are you coding in econ? twitter moment, shapiro, dur, stata, princeton, r, jones, kasy

Wondering about, going to, or in grad school?

Check out: aea video

Applying to grad school? fisk-vandy, kudamatsu, nsf grfp, gasman, leadership alliance (la)

Going to or in grad school? blattner, siegel's math camp, e ble

Participate in programs such as spelman-sloan, aea stp, la, icpsr, harvard, phd excellence, stanford

Look at conferences/initiatives such as sadie collective, williams, berkeley, cornell

Consider research assistantships or prep programs such as fed, brookings, ifpri, urban, predoc, haspere, also see

Already have a Ph.D. in econ or plan to soon?

Check out: select research, tenure letters, journal stuff, doleac

Applying to NSF SBE? viceisza, this workshop

Other

Check out: csmgep, nea, cswep, ashe, aea task force

Report any broken links via this form

Brooklyn Momon Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: Economics and Dance (C'2025) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2022-pres. Career Interests: MBA	Jillian Mays Hometown: St. Louis, MO Major: Economics (C'2025) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2021-pres. Career Interests: Business; Financial banking Twitter: @jillianmays_
Amaia Calhoun Hometown: Cleveland, OH Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: Sloan Scholar, 2020-pres.; VLab RA, 2021-pres. Career Interests: Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Financial Services	Melanie De La Rosa Hometown: Honolulu, HI Major: Economics (C'2024) Spelman Position: Sloan Scholar, 2020-21; VLab RA, 2021-present Career Interests: Entrepreneurship; Consulting Twitter: @Melanie49343641
Gabrielle Strawn Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2021-22 Career Interests: Law; Policy; Real Estate; Financial Services	Gabriella Lee Hometown: Pikesville, MD Major: Psychology (C'2025) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2021-22 Career Interests: Graduate School in Psychology; Behavioral Analyst
Alexa Mason Hometown: Charlottesville, VA Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2020-22 Career Interests: Graduate School in Economics; Statistician; Data Analyst	Markala Hall Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: Economics (C'2022) Spelman Position: VLab RA, Summer 2021 Career Interests: Research in Health Economics; Business Consultant
Ariel Haygood Hometown: Southfield, MI Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2020-21 Career Interests: Consulting; MBA Twitter: @ArielHaygood	Kaylie Kenebrew Hometown: Houston, TX Major: Economics and Comparative Women's Studies (C'2022) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2020-21 Career Interests: Law; Public Policy Twitter: @KaylieKenebrew
Mercy Chebet Rono Hometown: Kenya Major: Economics (C' 2021) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2018-21; Sloan Scholar, Summer 2020 Other Position(s): Predoc at MIT Sloan, since 2021; AEA Summer Program, 2020 Career Interests: Graduate School In Economics Twitter: @Mercy7Rono	Taylor Brown Hometown: Sarasota, FL Major: Economics (C'2021) Spelman Position: VLab RA, Summer 2020 Career Interests: Data Science Twitter: @tjanetbrown
Alexis Porter Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Economics (C'2021) Spelman Position: VLab RA, May-June 2020 Career Interests: Consulting	Christina Flakes Hometown: Dallas TX Major: Economics (C' 2020) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2017-20 Other Position(s): JPMorgan Chase; UCSD-STARS, Summer 2018 Career Interests: Data Analytics; Consulting Twitter: @cflakes44
Jala Abner Hometown: Inglewood, CA Major: Economics (C'2020) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2019-20 Other Position(s): Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, since 2020; AEA Summer Program, 2020; UCSD-STARS, Summer 2019 Career Interests: Economist; Statistician; Data Analyst Twitter: @AbnerJala	Shelby Pauling Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Economics (C’ 2020) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2017-19 Other Position(s): Goldman Sachs; UCSD-STARS, Summer 2018 Career Interests: Financial Services; MBA
Kendra Brown Hometown: Norfolk VA Major: Economics (C' 2019) Spelman Position: RA for "Media influences on E&I", 2017-18 Other Position(s): Accenture Career Interests: Consulting; Entrepreneurship	Elioenai Rufen-Blanchette Hometown: New York Major: Economics (C' 2019) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2017 Career Interests: Graduate School in Economics
Shantreez Burris Hometown: Louisiana Major: Economics (C' 2019) Spelman Position: RA for "Broadening Participation: Grants Application & Management", 2017 Other Position(s): Accenture Career Interests: Consulting; MBA/JD	Camille Black Hometown: Houston TX Major: Economics (C' 2018) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2016-17 Other Position(s): Newell Brands; FDIC Career Interests: Government
MoNeka Young Hometown: Flint MI Major: Economics (C' 2018) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2016-17 Other Position(s): Ford Motor Company; Charles Steward Mott Foundation Career Interests: Graduate School in Taxation; Tax Attorney	Easlynn Lee Hometown: Houston TX Major: Economics (C' 2017) Spelman Position: RA for "Bite me! ...", 2016-17 Other Position(s): Dropbox Career Interests: JD/MBA
Kadija Yilla Hometown: Ewing NJ Major: Economics (C' 2018, Domestic Exchange Student from Pomona College) Spelman Position: RA for "Bite me! ...", 2016 Other Position(s): Brookings Institution; Goldman Sachs Career Interests: Consulting; Financial Services; Ph.D.	Kendyl Curry Hometown: Durham NC Major: Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: RA for "Portfolios of the Atlanta Poor", 2013-15 Other Position(s): MBA Student, Columbia Business School; Delta Air Lines Career Interests: Graduate School in Business; Entrepreneurship; Fashion/Apparel
Rayna Thornton Hometown: Waldorf MD Major: Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: RA for "Portfolios of the Atlanta Poor", 2013-15 Other Position(s): Mathematica Policy Research Career Interests: Graduate School in Criminology; Policy Research	Jasmine Payne Hometown: Taunton MA Major: English (C' 2015) Spelman Position: Social Justice & Thesis Advisee, 2013-15 Other Position(s): CARE; Master of Public Administration, GA State; Atlanta Community Food Bank Career Interests: Executive Leadership at agencies combatting poverty
Ama Yates-Ekong Hometown: Saint Louis MO Major: Sociology (C' 2015) Spelman Position: Social Justice Advisee, 2013-14 Other Position(s): Cotiviti Healthcare Career Interests: Health Inquities; Social Entrepreneurship; Philanthropy	Amber O'Donoghue Hometown: Chicago IL Major Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: TA for MGT 320 Principles of Financial Management, 2015 Other Position(s): Newell Brands Career Interests: Marketing; Brand Management & Activation; Strategy
Rae'Johne Smith Hometown: Tuskegee AL Major Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: TA for MGT 320 Principles of Financial Management, 2013-14 Other Position(s): Wells Fargo Securities; Level II Candidate in the CFA program Career Interests: Finance; Banking	Luísa Nazareno Hometown: Brazil Major: Ph.D. in Public Policy, Georgia State University Spelman Position: Senior RA and VLab Manager, 2021-pres. Career Interests: Academic Research
Adan Griffith Hometown: Lithonia, GA VLab Position: Research Intern Other Position: Incoming Freshman, Arabia Mountain High School Career Interests: Business/Law Firm

Welcome to VLab!

Brooklyn Momon

Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: Economics and Dance (C'2025) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2022-pres. Career Interests: MBA

Jillian Mays

Hometown: St. Louis, MO Major: Economics (C'2025) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2021-pres. Career Interests: Business; Financial banking Twitter: @jillianmays_

Amaia Calhoun

Hometown: Cleveland, OH Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: Sloan Scholar, 2020-pres.; VLab RA, 2021-pres. Career Interests: Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Financial Services

Melanie De La Rosa

Hometown: Honolulu, HI Major: Economics (C'2024) Spelman Position: Sloan Scholar, 2020-21; VLab RA, 2021-present Career Interests: Entrepreneurship; Consulting Twitter: @Melanie49343641

Gabrielle Strawn

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2021-22 Career Interests: Law; Policy; Real Estate; Financial Services

Gabriella Lee

Hometown: Pikesville, MD Major: Psychology (C'2025) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2021-22 Career Interests: Graduate School in Psychology; Behavioral Analyst

Alexa Mason

Hometown: Charlottesville, VA Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2020-22 Career Interests: Graduate School in Economics; Statistician; Data Analyst

Markala Hall

Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: Economics (C'2022) Spelman Position: VLab RA, Summer 2021 Career Interests: Research in Health Economics; Business Consultant

Ariel Haygood

Hometown: Southfield, MI Major: Economics (C'2023) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2020-21 Career Interests: Consulting; MBA Twitter: @ArielHaygood

Kaylie Kenebrew

Hometown: Houston, TX Major: Economics and Comparative Women's Studies (C'2022) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2020-21 Career Interests: Law; Public Policy Twitter: @KaylieKenebrew

Mercy Chebet Rono

Hometown: Kenya Major: Economics (C' 2021) Spelman Position: VLab RA, 2018-21; Sloan Scholar, Summer 2020 Other Position(s): Predoc at MIT Sloan, since 2021; AEA Summer Program, 2020 Career Interests: Graduate School In Economics Twitter: @Mercy7Rono

Taylor Brown

Hometown: Sarasota, FL Major: Economics (C'2021) Spelman Position: VLab RA, Summer 2020 Career Interests: Data Science Twitter: @tjanetbrown

Alexis Porter

Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Economics (C'2021) Spelman Position: VLab RA, May-June 2020 Career Interests: Consulting

Christina Flakes

Hometown: Dallas TX Major: Economics (C' 2020) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2017-20 Other Position(s): JPMorgan Chase; UCSD-STARS, Summer 2018 Career Interests: Data Analytics; Consulting Twitter: @cflakes44

Jala Abner

Shelby Pauling

Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Economics (C’ 2020) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2017-19 Other Position(s): Goldman Sachs; UCSD-STARS, Summer 2018 Career Interests: Financial Services; MBA

Kendra Brown

Hometown: Norfolk VA Major: Economics (C' 2019) Spelman Position: RA for "Media influences on E&I", 2017-18 Other Position(s): Accenture Career Interests: Consulting; Entrepreneurship

Elioenai Rufen-Blanchette

Hometown: New York Major: Economics (C' 2019) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2017 Career Interests: Graduate School in Economics

Shantreez Burris

Hometown: Louisiana Major: Economics (C' 2019) Spelman Position: RA for "Broadening Participation: Grants Application & Management", 2017 Other Position(s): Accenture Career Interests: Consulting; MBA/JD

Camille Black

Hometown: Houston TX Major: Economics (C' 2018) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2016-17 Other Position(s): Newell Brands; FDIC Career Interests: Government

MoNeka Young

Hometown: Flint MI Major: Economics (C' 2018) Spelman Position: RA for "Remittances and Eye-tracking", 2016-17 Other Position(s): Ford Motor Company; Charles Steward Mott Foundation Career Interests: Graduate School in Taxation; Tax Attorney

Easlynn Lee

Hometown: Houston TX Major: Economics (C' 2017) Spelman Position: RA for "Bite me! ...", 2016-17 Other Position(s): Dropbox Career Interests: JD/MBA

Kadija Yilla

Hometown: Ewing NJ Major: Economics (C' 2018, Domestic Exchange Student from Pomona College) Spelman Position: RA for "Bite me! ...", 2016 Other Position(s): Brookings Institution; Goldman Sachs Career Interests: Consulting; Financial Services; Ph.D.

Kendyl Curry

Hometown: Durham NC Major: Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: RA for "Portfolios of the Atlanta Poor", 2013-15 Other Position(s): MBA Student, Columbia Business School; Delta Air Lines Career Interests: Graduate School in Business; Entrepreneurship; Fashion/Apparel

Rayna Thornton

Hometown: Waldorf MD Major: Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: RA for "Portfolios of the Atlanta Poor", 2013-15 Other Position(s): Mathematica Policy Research Career Interests: Graduate School in Criminology; Policy Research

Jasmine Payne

Hometown: Taunton MA Major: English (C' 2015) Spelman Position: Social Justice & Thesis Advisee, 2013-15 Other Position(s): CARE; Master of Public Administration, GA State; Atlanta Community Food Bank Career Interests: Executive Leadership at agencies combatting poverty

Ama Yates-Ekong

Hometown: Saint Louis MO Major: Sociology (C' 2015) Spelman Position: Social Justice Advisee, 2013-14 Other Position(s): Cotiviti Healthcare Career Interests: Health Inquities; Social Entrepreneurship; Philanthropy

Amber O'Donoghue

Hometown: Chicago IL Major Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: TA for MGT 320 Principles of Financial Management, 2015 Other Position(s): Newell Brands Career Interests: Marketing; Brand Management & Activation; Strategy

Rae'Johne Smith

Hometown: Tuskegee AL Major Economics (C' 2015) Spelman Position: TA for MGT 320 Principles of Financial Management, 2013-14 Other Position(s): Wells Fargo Securities; Level II Candidate in the CFA program Career Interests: Finance; Banking

Luísa Nazareno

Hometown: Brazil Major: Ph.D. in Public Policy, Georgia State University Spelman Position: Senior RA and VLab Manager, 2021-pres. Career Interests: Academic Research

Adan Griffith

Hometown: Lithonia, GA VLab Position: Research Intern Other Position: Incoming Freshman, Arabia Mountain High School Career Interests: Business/Law Firm