Sarene Shaked

Research manager and methodology expert in behavioral economics & social psychology, with publications in their applicability to international development

About

Sarene Shaked is a highly educated and experienced professional in the field of psychology and behavioral economics. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cornell University in 2018, where she gained a strong foundation in the fundamentals of human behavior and cognition and wrote a masters thesis in moral decision making. After completing her studies, Sarene went on to gain valuable experience in the field of research and evaluation. She worked as a Senior Research Associate at Innovations for Poverty Action, where she conducted impact evaluations of social programs in developing countries. Following this, Sarene served as a Methods Advisor at Behavioral Insights Team, where she utilized her knowledge of behavioral science to design and implement interventions aimed at improving social outcomes. Sarene also has experience working in the education sector, having served as a Monitoring and Evaluations Fellow at Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, a boarding school for at-risk youth in Rwanda. She also worked as a Senior Research Assistant at the David Pizarro Lab and a Research Assistant at the Tom Gilovich Lab, both at Cornell University. With her strong academic background, research experience, and passion for social impact, Sarene is a valuable asset to any organization looking to make a positive change in the world.

Publications

Vaccine hesitancy in low- and middle-income countries: potential implications for the COVID-19 response

Archives of Disease in Childhood

2020

Reducing Child Mortality in the Last Mile: Experimental Evidence on Community Health Promoters in Uganda

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

2019

When more is less: Self-control strategies are seen as less indicative of self-control than just willpower

Unknown Venue

2023

Education

Cornell University

Bachelors, Psychology / July, 2018

Ithaca, New York, United States of America

Experience

Innovations for Poverty Action

Senior Research Associate / December, 2019 — January, 2022

Managed a $2 million endline evaluation of a 6-year Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) on an entrepreneurial model of Ugandan community health work, spanning 500 stratified sample villages aimed at reducing infant mortality. Directed a team of 6 Field Managers and oversaw recruitment, training, and management of 150 researchers across 15 districts, ensuring seamless project execution. Developed and implemented strategic operational plans to optimize project outcomes. Cultivated strong relationships with project donors, partners, primary investigators and IPA team members. Designed and programmed six comprehensive surveys and implemented daily high-frequency data checks to ensure robust data quality, managing over 350 incoming surveys and addressing logic errors in ongoing code. Produced monthly progress reports including budget projections and performance metrics, ensuring transparency and accountability in project management.

Behavioral Insights Team

Methods Advisor / November, 2021 — July, 2024

Provide strategic guidance to US state and city governments on applying methodological research practice and behavioral science to optimize public policy initiatives. Manage diverse donor and client relationships, overseeing budgets ranging from $100k - $3million. Lead high-profile consultancy projects, such as redesigning Wisconsin's unemployment insurance program, supporting local microfinancing efforts in rural Uganda, and developing technological solutions to enhance reporting of roadside corruption in Nigeria. Supervise 1-3 Associate Advisors per project, coordinating work plans, KPIs, budgets, and critical strategic decisions to ensure project success. Coach governmental institutions in establishing sustainable project frameworks, including capacity building and evaluation structures. Collaborate closely with the methods team to design and implement robust research methodologies and analysis frameworks for project evaluations.

Agahozo Shalom Youth Village

Monitoring and Evaluations Fellow / December, 2018 — December, 2019

Managed comprehensive data collection efforts and developed Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) protocols to enhance program effectiveness at ASYV, a village and school supporting 550 vulnerable orphaned youth. Supervised M&E initiatives to evaluate program impact and constructed detailed reports and presentations for donors and the board, helping inform strategic and financial decision-making. Developed and implemented a Business Plan Competition aimed at fostering economic opportunities in participants' home villages, mentoring six teams throughout the process. Researched demographic factors (e.g., gender, orphan status, socio-economic status) impacting academic success, health outcomes, and post-graduation placements including university attendance and occupation status. Provided pastoral support and counseling to a family unit of 20 girls, collaborating closely with care providers and social workers to create a supportive environment fostering healing and growth from past trauma.

David Pizarro Lab

Senior Research Assistant / August, 2015 — December, 2019

Conducted social psychology experiments investigating ethical decision-making, trust behavior, and the impact of emotion on judgment to advance understanding of social conviction and political beliefs. Designed and implemented experimental methodologies, meticulously processed statistical data, and explored practical applications of research findings. Developed a final APA manuscript synthesizing experimental outcomes for defense and submission to academic journals, contributing to the dissemination of scholarly knowledge. Analyzed research data, collaborated towards potential solutions, and facilitated relationships among students and professors.

Tom Gilovich Lab

Research Assistant / August, 2017 — 2018

Conducted experiments in behavioral economics, critical thinking, social behavior & decision-making. Generated original research ideas, developed experiments for testing hypotheses and analyzed results to inform future research projects and applications to the community.

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