Last year, the Mack Institute kicked off our Predoctoral Fellowship Program, in which talented recent graduates come to Wharton to work closely with faculty for a period of two years. Our “predocs” provide much-needed research assistance to their faculty mentors while learning new skills to prepare them for PhD programs.
These students come from academic institutions all over the world and assist on innovation-focused projects on subjects ranging from green technology to start-up patents. We asked Michelle Borges, a predoctoral fellow from Brazil working with Profs. Lindsey Cameron and Leandro Pongeluppe, to share her story, including why she’s passionate about studying issues that affect women and how her work intersects with the future of work and sustainable development.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
I am from the countryside of Brazil, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in economics at Universidade Franciscana. I’ve always dreamed of studying abroad, but as a first-generation college student, navigating higher education was a big challenge—no one in my family had attended university, let alone studied abroad. Despite these obstacles, I dreamed of pursuing an international education and was determined to make it a reality.
My academic and professional interests center on addressing inequalities and promoting sustainable development, with a particular focus on gender disparities and public policies aimed at fostering equality. I’m passionate about understanding how economic policies can make the world more inclusive and sustainable. This passion is what inspired me to apply to master’s programs in applied economics—I wanted to deepen my understanding of these critical issues and learn how to develop practical, solutions-driven approaches to address them.
I was thrilled to be accepted to the University of Massachusetts Boston but getting there wasn’t straightforward. Higher education in the U.S. is very expensive and coming from a low-middle-income background, I simply couldn’t afford the costs. Determined not to let this stop me, I launched a fundraising campaign. For four months, I dedicated myself to selling street raffles and reaching out to as many people as possible. In the end, nearly 1,000 people rallied behind me, contributing amounts ranging from just R$ 1 ($0.20) to R$ 1,000 ($200). I raised around R$ 60,000 ($15,000 at that time). With this incredible support, combined with help from my family, I was finally able to cover the initial costs and take the first step toward achieving my dream.
Fortunately, after navigating the financial uncertainties of my first semester, I was awarded a graduate assistantship in the Economics Department at the University of Massachusetts Boston. This opportunity not only allowed me to support my stay in the United States but also helped me develop additional teaching and research skills, further enriching my academic and professional journey.
Q: In addition to your academic background, you’ve had diverse work experiences. Tell us about some of that.
Since the beginning of my undergraduate studies, I have actively pursued opportunities to gain practical experience and enhance my academic knowledge. I participated in extension projects, such as the Santa Maria Cost of Living Index, and was a teaching assistant for Econometrics I & II. My first internship was at The Coca-Cola Company, where I worked in the Business Intelligence department and had my first exposure to quantitative methods.
One of the most impactful internship experiences during my undergraduate was at the UNESCO Chair on Women, Development, and Cultures at the University of Vic, Spain, where I contributed to a project analyzing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal healthcare services in Catalonia. This experience highlighted the unique challenges faced by women during the pandemic and deepened my understanding of public policy and gender inequalities.
During my master’s program, I was a teaching assistant for Introduction to Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses and worked as a research assistant at the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy. There, I conducted data analysis for demographic reports, providing data-driven insights to inform Massachusetts policymakers about critical issues affecting the state’s growing Latino community.
I also took a summer internship at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, where I contributed to a project sponsored by UN Women in Mexico. My work involved conducting in-depth data analysis to evaluate the potential impacts of universal, high-quality childcare, extended school days for children, and universal elder care on women’s labor force participation, time allocation, and poverty dynamics. Additionally, I had the opportunity to conduct a research visit at the University of Barcelona, where I worked on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) project. This project aimed to investigate the impact of targeted interventions during early adolescence in low-resource settings, focusing on enhancing development through improved parenting practices and interactions.
Q: You currently work with Professors Cameron and Pongeluppe as a predoctoral research fellow. What are you working on now?
As a predoctoral research fellow, my role involves various research-related tasks. I assist with data collection and analysis, including extracting and organizing data from several sources, conducting literature reviews, and supporting the development of academic studies.
Professor Cameron’s research focuses on how algorithmic management and artificial intelligence transform the modern workplace, particularly within the gig economy. I am currently assisting her with various projects, including a very interesting study that examines the challenges faced by ride-hailing app drivers in the Global South compared to those in the Global North.
Professor Pongeluppe’s work focuses on stakeholder management and socioeconomic development. His research examines how organizational design and governance influence the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Recently, I’ve been involved in an exciting project analyzing the top U.S. companies’ annual reports to identify instances of “pinkwashing” and “BLM washing.” This consists of organizing textual data alongside ESG scores and conducting image analyses to determine whether companies’ images—such as featuring diverse individuals—suggesting a commitment to diversity without substantive actions.
The experience of being a predoctoral research fellow is providing me with a solid academic foundation, further developing quantitative and qualitative research skills, and preparing me for a potential PhD program while contributing meaningfully to high-impact research alongside distinguished Wharton faculty.
Q: You’re passionate about studying gender issues. What draws you to this topic?
My passion for studying gender issues stems from personal experiences. In Brazil, the field of economics is predominantly male-dominated, and I was often the only woman in my classes, facing sexism and challenges that underscored the need for greater gender equity. Additionally, observing my mother navigate the complexities of single parenthood highlighted the systemic obstacles women face. These experiences have inspired me to advocate for gender equality and be interested in researching labor market disparities, such as wage gaps and occupational segregation.
Q: Are you interested in focusing on Brazil or taking a more global perspective?
I am deeply interested in adopting a global perspective on gender equity. Comparing gender equity dynamics across different countries is insightful, as some nations have made greater progress than others. Examining gender equity across diverse cultural and economic contexts allows for a comprehensive understanding of universal challenges. By examining the differences in policy interventions across nations, we can identify and develop more effective strategies to promote gender equality worldwide.