Austin Tucker

Econometrics, taught through health

The methods that answer health policy questions — instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity — are usually taught in the abstract. I teach them the other way around: start with a health problem someone actually needs to solve, and build the econometrics students need to solve it. Four years of Harvard teaching, from doctoral methods cores to a 600-student undergraduate lecture course.

Econometrics for Health Policy — Interactive Modules

A module series that teaches econometrics through health problems — OLS, standard errors and clustering, inference, omitted variable bias, and panel data — with graded R exercises that run directly in the browser. No installation, no setup: open a module and start estimating.

Health System Control Knobs

An interactive teaching tool built around the 'control knobs' framework from Getting Health Reform Right: turn the dials of financing, payment, organization, regulation, and behavior, and watch how health system outcomes respond. Built to give students an intuition that static slides can't.

GHP 525

Econometrics for Health Policy

Teaching Fellow · Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health · 2021–2023

The core econometrics sequence for health policy students — regression, causal inference, and applied methods taught through health applications. I built and ran the R labs, wrote problem sets and exam materials, and translated the theory into code students could actually run.

  • R lab series: from R introduction through instrumental variables and regression discontinuity
  • Problem sets with worked solutions (including synthetic control methods)
  • Clustered standard errors simulation — why and when clustering matters, shown by simulation
  • Midterm and exam materials with elaborated solutions

Selected materials available on request — samples coming to this page soon.

PHS 2000B

Quantitative Methods for Population Health Sciences

Teaching Fellow · Harvard University (doctoral core) · 2022–2024

The doctoral methods core for population health PhD students. I taught the causal inference toolkit — instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, and interrupted time series — through hands-on labs.

  • Instrumental variables lab (R Markdown walkthrough)
  • Regression discontinuity problem set with solutions
  • Difference-in-differences and interrupted time series labs

Selected materials available on request — samples coming to this page soon.

GENED 1063

World Health: Challenges and Opportunities

Teaching Fellow → TF hiring & coordination · Harvard College (Sue Goldie) · 2022–2024

Harvard College's flagship global health course. I led discussion sections — including case studies like tuberculosis control in China — built section guides and teaching scripts, and later coordinated TF recruitment and hiring for the course.

  • Section guides and slide decks (e.g., tuberculosis in China case study)
  • Health systems video teaching script
  • TF onboarding and hiring materials

Selected materials available on request — samples coming to this page soon.

  • Certificates of Distinction in Teaching, 2022, 2023, and 2024
  • Media & Design Fellow, Derek Bok Center (2024–25)
  • Pedagogy Fellow (2023–24)
  • ID 100: Foundations for Public Health (~600 students)