PhD in Economics

Gareth Markel, 2025

I'm completing my PhD in economics, where I researched topics at the intersection of genomic methods, healthcare, and econometric methods. George Mason has afforded me the opportunity to work closely with faculty, use unique data in my research, and the flexibility complement the core economics curriculum with material tailored to my personal research interests. 

What was your specific area of study and how did you choose it?

I studied genetics and economics. During my master’s degree, I (through a scheduling mix-up) took the PhD econometrics class, and discovered I really enjoyed working with data and quantitative methods. Genetics is deeply quantitative and has a mutually complementary relationship to econometrics and health economics. For my research, I use big data and methods from econometrics and statistical genetics to explore topics related to labor economics, health-care decision making, and genetic risk prediction.

For my dissertation, I studied the effects of adding genetic risk predictions to clinical risk prediction models used by the NHS; genetic disparities in the impact of in-utero economic shocks on late-life health outcomes; and calculated the heritability of a wide range of traits using data on the genetic relatedness of roughly 80,000 pairs of siblings.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

CHHS provided excellent student support, including funding, computing resources, the opportunity to work with students, and the opportunity to work on research with faculty from very early on in the PhD program.

Which accomplishments during your time at George Mason are you most proud of?

My whole dissertation hinges on the statistical analysis of genetic data. While I had quite a bit of experience with economics and econometrics, I hadn't taken a biology course since high school, so developing a separate research toolkit in another field felt like a really fun and unique challenge.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your George Mason career?

I'd like to thank several faculty and staff who made a positive difference during my George Mason career. Professor Jonathan Beauchamp introduced me to research with genetic data and spent several years working with me to develop productive research skills in that field, as well as generally guiding me through the PhD program. Professor Garett Jones and Professor Jonathan Schulz both provided invaluable advice on my dissertation research and ultimately served on my committee. Professor Daniel Houser did an incredible amount of work behind (and in) the scenes to make the economics program rewarding for all students, as well as facilitating the funding and acquisition of the genetic datasets required for my research.

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?

Early on, read broadly within and outside of economics. There's tremendous opportunity for interdisciplinary work in economics. There's a constant stream of new statistical methods, newly collected data, and new computing capabilities that make old papers relevant and open paths past researchers had closed--eventually, you'll find a vertical you like.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

Long term, I want to apply the technical and statistical toolkit from my economics degree to the decision-making problems firms face "on the ground."