Ken Lin ’25, who majored in economics at Haverford and mathematics at Bryn Mawr, with a concentration in scientific computing, is heading to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to work as a predoctoral research fellow in the school’s economics department. For the next two years, he’ll support Professor Amy Finkelstein’s research on healthcare spending and the design of optimal healthcare policy.
After his fellowship, Lin plans to pursue a Ph.D. in economics, a path defined by an academic pivot in his early days at the College. He originally intended to major in anthropology or archaeology, but once he took Analytical Methods for Economics, he found himself drawn to the field for “its powerful tools to identify causal relationships in a complex world and to study questions that touch nearly every aspect of human life.”
Additional courses in economic theory, including Advanced Microeconomics, Advanced Econometrics, and Political Economy, helped build his analytical skills. He says he also found inspiration in applied coursework and advanced mathematics classes, “especially the late-night hours spent working through challenging problem sets,” he says.
At Haverford, Lin found constant sources of support in Professors Giri Parameswaran and Mike Levere and inspiration from economists David Card and Daron Acemoglu, whose work he encountered through the department’s Comanor Lecture Series. Card and Acemoglu’s work and research focus on important topics such as immigration, automation, and the minimum wage. Additionally, summer experiences at Econsult Solutions and Analysis Group showed him the real-world impact of economic research on public policy and business.
Equally meaningful, he says, is what he gained from a liberal arts education. His Haverford experience trained him to question long-standing ideas through evidence-based research. He also learned to seek out support from others, recognizing that doing so is an essential part of the learning experience. “I learned that using available resources and asking for help are not signs of weakness, but essential parts of learning, problem-solving, and growth,” he says.
At MIT, Lin looks forward to exploring various subfields in economics and expanding his professional network. Outside of research, he’s training for a full marathon, returning to table tennis through the MIT club, and hoping to contribute to community service.
“I hope that my fellow Haverford peers and I can remain true to the principles and values we’ve come to cherish so deeply at Haverford,” he says, “even as we navigate an ever-changing and complex world.”