Research Co-Director

Benjamin Furagganan

Benjamin is a sophomore at UC Berkeley majoring in Operations Research & Management Science (ORMS) and Applied Mathematics. He currently serves as Research Director for the Undergraduate Economics Association, after previously contributing to the Research Committee, where he worked on projects investigating cryptocurrency and financial market volatility. Outside of UEA, Benjamin is an intern at Berkeley SkyDeck and at Skillsvest, where he focuses on machine learning and risk optimization. He is also a strategy analyst with CalSol, UC Berkeley’s Solar Vehicle Team, where he designs data-driven optimization models and dashboards to support race performance and energy management. Benjamin’s academic and professional interests center on prediction markets, fintech, and finance. Beyond his studies, he enjoys scooters, gaming, music, hiking, and camping. He’s looking forward to attending UEA’s retreat this semester, and his ideal weekend includes gaming with friends and exploring new places on his scooter. 

Research Advisor

Ayden Chi

Ayden is a junior at UC Berkeley double majoring in Economics and Political Economy. He currently serves as Research Director for the Undergraduate Economics Association, where he leads student-driven projects and helps connect members with opportunities to apply economics beyond the classroom. Previously, he has worked as a Research Assistant to Professors Barry Eichengreen and Ulrike Malmendier, contributing to projects in economic history, financial policy, and behavioral economics. He has also assisted Dr. Mary Shi on political economy research and previously interned at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.. His academic and professional interests lie in financial policy and regulation, with a particular focus on the ways economic frameworks can shape governance. Outside of research, Ayden enjoys connecting with peers through UEA, and one of his favorite memories so far has been building community through research team collaborations.