This experience supported my career goals by exposing me to the types of economic models that produce quantitative estimates on the impacts of policies. The outputs from these models are critical in the decision to enact various regulations. Understanding and contributing to these models therefore gives me a better understanding of the policy-making process. This experience also enables me to use these models themselves in the future. As a side project, I worked on data collection for a suite of statistical models known as Rugby Vision which were developed by Niven Winchester. This data was used to make predictions about the results of the Olympic Rugby Sevens tournament. Niven published an article outlining these predictions, noting my contribution to the project. So far, the article has been picked up by outlets like The Conversation, Yahoo News, and RNZ.
Jensen's story
Economics major Jensen Fiskin gained a new perspective on work and his career trajectory after a summer at Auckland University of Technology working under Niven Winchester, professor of economics at AUT—learning the GAMS software to run computable general equilibrium (CGE) macroeconomic models.
My MISTI experience had a profound impact on my goals and career trajectory. In fact, upon returning to MIT I will have a UROP thanks in part to a connection I made while in New Zealand. I contributed to a meaningful project analyzing environmental policies and learned what skills I should develop to make more of an impact."Jensen Fiskin '27
Major & Class Year
Economics '27
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
MISTI Program
Internship
MISTI Host
Auckland University of Technology