UEA Research
The UEA Research Committee is the newest addition to the Undergraduate Economics Association. Our teams develop their own economic research across various fields in the discipline. Through seminars and workshops, we also develop our members' skills in econometrics, statistical tools such as Excel and R, and academic writing. At the end of the semester, each team will have finalized an original piece of research to be published on the UEA website and potentially in economic journals.
Our committee splits its members into smaller research teams led by a research lead. Throughout the semester, UEA Research will work to complete original economics research and equip its members with the tools to participate more actively in the discipline.
This semester, UEA Research is being built from the ground up. Thus, applying to UEA Research will provide you with the opportunity to participate in student-driven economics research and build a thriving UEA Research community.
Meet the Directors
These are the Directors of the Research Committee for Fall 2026.
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.
Explore
Our Research Topics
Research Presentation #1: Crypto and Systemic Risk
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Research Presentation #2: Effect on China's cryptocurrency Mining Ban
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Research Presentation #3: The Impact on Teachers Unions on Student Outcomes
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Research Presentation #4: The decline of education and the communities most impacted by it
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