Because undergraduate research opportunities transformed this Temple grad’s career trajectory.

阿尔瓦罗·桑切斯 CLA的17, conducts qualitative and quantitative studies that inspire inclusive social policy and strengthen equitable economic development. If it wasn’t for his participation in undergraduate research projects, he may have never discovered his passion for applying data analysis to helping the underserved.

作为路线图的研究

Sánchez’s interest in research and data analysis was sparked early, 当萨克斯演奏时, former music education major undertook a study with the Department of Psychology’s Robert Weisberg about cognitive processes, 创造力和爵士乐. 由于他的努力，他赢得了一份荣誉 钻石研究学者计划 奖, which provided him with a stipend to support his research and came in handy during what he described as a financially rough time. 

One of his most transformational experiences was the opportunity to assist Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology Laurence Steinberg on a study investigating the long-term consequences of formal and informal processing on first-time juvenile offenders.

分析不平等

In his current role with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Sánchez is tasked with analyzing the economic impact of “benefit cliffs”—when families lose public assistance due to a career advancement, which actually causes them to be financially worse off than they were before.

在接受亚特兰大的职位之前, 他在2022年1月开始的, Sánchez applied his skills at the Federal Reserve Bank of 费城, where he produced applied economics papers on topics spanning equity, 基础设施, 创造就业和发展劳动力. 

That’s where he conducted his most significant research to date—关于宽带接入的研究 and how it is limited for rural and low- and moderate-income communities, 特别是在宾夕法尼亚州. The first paper related to the research was published in early March 2020, 随着大流行的临近, 它变得更加重要 获得媒体关注.

推动他的工作, 桑切斯说, are the issues that surround “easily forgotten” low- and moderate-income communities. 

“I am trying to solve the pervasive inequities related to poverty and economic insecurity, 简而言之,他说.

城市孵化器

后殿, Sánchez completed his master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Staying in 费城 for graduate school was important to Sánchez, 就像在这里开始他的职业生涯一样.

“I almost feel indebted to this city that’s given me so much,Sánchez说, referring to the internships he held at the 费城 Mayor’s Office, the Economy League of Greater 费城 and the Chamber of Commerce, and adding that one of the best reasons to go to Temple is its location in 费城.

“费城 provides so many opportunities outside the classroom to apply the knowledge that you’re learning in the classroom,他说.

费城唯一的公共研究机构

作为一个大的, 公立研究型大学, exploration and discovery of new information is embedded into all disciplines. Temple students can experience research in many ways through coursework, 教授指导和独立项目.