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Maria Brackin

Researcher

Maria is a Researcher at the Innovation Growth Lab (IGL).

Her role focuses on designing and executing experimental, quasi-experimental, and data science methodologies. Across her work at IGL, she has evaluated UK business support programmes, tested an entrepreneurship training course in a pilot experiment, built automated AI data pipelines to track innovation funding, and measured the impact of open-source code quality and availability on academic research.

Prior to joining IGL, Maria conducted research about the role of social cognition in credit use and adoption of financial technologies, consulted for a J-PAL team running a microcredit randomised controlled trial in Morocco, and designed a program evaluation framework for an impact investment company. She has also worked as an investment administrator for VCT fund managers Amati Global Investors, and as a visiting lecturer teaching programming, statistics and experimental design.

Maria holds a PhD in cognitive science from the École Normale Supérieure (PSL) and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, an MPP from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt, an MSc in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh, and a BA in Philosophy from Northwestern University.