Welcome!

My research is motivated by two questions. First, why has the international community failed to deliver durable solutions for refugees in protracted situations? Second, which policies and interventions are most effective in improving outcomes for refugees today? I use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including design-based causal inference, randomized control trials (RCTs), survey and archival data, and field-based interviews. I focus on the Global South, particularly East Africa. You can find out more about me and my research in this article from the Stanford King Center on Global Development.

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At Stanford, I am a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and a Graduate Fellow at the Immigration Policy Lab, a group of researchers that evaluate and design policies surrounding the integration of immigrants and refugees worldwide. In 2024, I was awarded the Ric Weiland Graduate Fellowship, which recognizes innovation and excellence among 20 Ph.D. students across Stanford’s School of Humanities & Sciences. My research has been generously supported by J-PAL/IPA Displaced Livelihoods Initiative, King Center on Global Development, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), among others.

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Before beginning my doctoral studies, I worked with refugee organizations in Greece and the UK through Movement on the Ground, CalAid, and The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network. I also worked as a researcher at YouGov, where I conducted mixed-methods research for the UK government and public sector. I hold a B.A. (Double First Class) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.

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If you’re a prospective applicant to the Stanford Political Science Ph.D. program, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, or the PPE program at Oxford, feel free to reach out for advice. You can contact me at maemac [at] stanford [dot] edu.