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Gavel and scales of justice on a green-felted desk in front of bookshelves.
Feature: How U.S. Courts Privilege Conservative Policy Outcomes

Maya Sen assesses the institutional and compositional features of U.S. federal courts that tend to bias them toward conservative policy outcomes.

Map of the united states with a pin in the midwest.
Feature: The U.S. Place-Based Policy Supply Chain

Dani Rodrik and Gordon Hanson document how vertical policy supply chains distribute resources from federal and state governments to recipients at the local level.

Political leader speaks into a microphone at a podium with an advisor standing behind her.
Feature: How Does Shaming Human Rights Violators Abroad Shape Attitudes at Home?

Lotem Bassan-Nygate theorizes that by shaming human rights violators abroad, governments can improve their image at home but may encourage tolerance toward certain domestic violations.

Two people sit at a desk in front of a laptop with rows of filing cabinets behind them.
Feature: Thinking (about Peace Science) in Time

Erica Chenoweth speaks to colleagues in the peace science community, reflecting on the world events that have shaped their scholarship and how researchers might think about the current geopolitical moment.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Faculty Publications

Digital phenotyping in bipolar disorder: Using longitudinal Fitbit data and personalized machine learning to predict mood symptomatology

Lipschitz, Jessica M., Sidian Lin, Soroush Saghafian, Chelsea K. Pike, and Katherine E. Burdick. "Digital phenotyping in bipolar disorder: Using longitudinal Fitbit data and personalized machine learning to predict mood symptomatology." Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 151.3 (March 2025): 434-447.

Ambiguous Dynamic Treatment Regimes: A Reinforcement Learning Approach

Saghafian, Soroush. "Ambiguous Dynamic Treatment Regimes: A Reinforcement Learning Approach." Management Science 70.9 (September 2024): 5667-5690.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic: Human-Based Versus Algorithmic-Based Perceptions, Treatments, and Guidelines

Boloori, Alireza, Soroush Saghafian, and Stephen J. Traub. "Understanding the Opioid Epidemic: Human-Based Versus Algorithmic-Based Perceptions, Treatments, and Guidelines." ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP22-026, December 2022.

Algorithm, Human, or the Centaur: How to Enhance Clinical Care?

Orfanoudaki, Agni, Soroush Saghafian, Karen Song, Harini A. Chakkera, and Curtiss B. Cook. "Algorithm, Human, or the Centaur: How to Enhance Clinical Care?" ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP22-027, December 2022.

Ambiguous Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes: Structural Results and Applications

Saghafian, Soroush. "Ambiguous Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes: Structural Results and Applications." Journal of Economic Theory 178 (November 2018): 1-35.

Who is an Efficient and Effective Physician? Evidence from Emergence Medicine

Saghafian, Soroush, Raha Imanirad, and Stephen J. Traub. "Who is an Efficient and Effective Physician? Evidence from Emergence Medicine." ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP18-029, September 2018.

Robust Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes

Rasouli, Mohammad, and Soroush Saghafian. "Robust Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes." ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP18-027, September 2018.

Physician in Triage Versus Rotational Patient Assignment

Traub, Stephen J., Adam C. Bartley, Vernon D. Smith, Roshanak Didehban, Christopher A. Lipinski, and Soroush Saghafian. "Physician in Triage Versus Rotational Patient Assignment." The Journal of Emergency Medicine 50.5 (May 2016): 784-790.

Emergency Department Rotational Patient Assignment

Traub, Stephen J., Christopher F. Stewart, Roshanak Didehban, Adam C. Bartley, Soroush Saghafian, Vernon D. Smith, Scott M. Silvers, Ryan LeCheminant, and Christopher A. Lipinski. "Emergency Department Rotational Patient Assignment." Annals of Emergency Medicine 67.2 (February 2016): 206-215.

The Newsvendor under Demand Ambiguity: Combining Data with Moment and Tail
Information

Saghafian, Soroush, and Brian Tomlin. "The Newsvendor under Demand Ambiguity: Combining Data with Moment and Tail Information." Operations Research 64.1 (January-February 2016): 167-185.

Emergency Department Rapid Medical Assessment: Overall Effect and Mechanistic Considerations

Traub, Stephen J., Joseph P. Wood, James Kelley, David M. Nestler, Yu-Hui Chang, Soroush Saghafian, and Christopher A. Lipinski. "Emergency Department Rapid Medical Assessment: Overall Effect and Mechanistic Considerations." Journal of Emergency Medicine 48.5 (May 2015): 620-627.