The #2023APPAM Fall Research Conference will feature some fantastic sponsors from across the policy research spectrum. Today we're shining a spotlight on Mathematica.
What is the mission of your organization?
Mathematica is dedicated to improving public well-being by bringing the highest standards of quality, objectivity, and excellence to bear on the provision of information collection and analysis to our clients.
What are your strongest areas of work?
At Mathematica, we use data, analytics, and technology to address pressing social challenges, from the effects of climate change on communities around the world to disparities in health care, education, and employment across the U.S. We’re an employee-owned and mission-driven company, with a deep bench of expertise in both data and social science. Because we are employee-owners, we take pride in our work, and our partners know that we share not only their commitment, but also a stake in the outcome. The wide range of organizations that rely on Mathematica count on us to deliver evidence-based solutions that improve programs, refine strategies, and deepen understanding.
In the past year, what has been the most influential work from your researchers?
Mathematica’s ability to influence and impact the world around us is driven by who we are and where we want to go. Over the last year, we have partnered with clients to navigate the increasingly complex policy, practice, and data landscapes, helping decision-makers around the world understand when they need more evidence and when the have enough information to act. Together, we:
• Demonstrated how federal waivers helped more children receive safe, nutritious foods despite disruptions during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Released a five-year impact evaluation of the largest cross-agency initiative aimed at helping youth with disabilities achieve economic security as they transition to adulthood.
• Launched ClimaWATCH , a new tool that uses advanced synthesis of Medicaid claims, local weather metrics, and social and environmental vulnerability data to help communities focus
resources their resources to address heat-related health impacts and inequities.
• Published results from one of the largest studies of the transformation of primary care in America.
• Conducted numerous studies of the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on education, including work with our partners in Pennsylvania which found a substantial reduction in academic proficiency.
What makes your organization a great place to work?
Mathematica hires energetic, talented individuals and provides an environment for them to help steer their work and their careers. Employees at all levels are selected for their superior experience, education, and training. Being an independent, employee-owned firm gives all of our colleagues a voice in defining and advancing our mission and vision; it also enhances our quality, accountability, and financial strength. Our staff aren’t just employees—they are owners working together to improve public well-being, and each one of them directly contributes to the company’s growth and success.
How many early career professionals do you employ?
Nearly ten percent of our staff are early career professionals with one to three years of experience.
What is your employee breakdown in terms of highest degree achieved?
Thirty percent of our colleagues hold an undergraduate degree; 48 percent hold master’s degrees; and 18 percent hold doctorate degrees. Our experts’ fields of specialty include economics, sociology, survey research, public policy analysis, demography, education, and computer technology, among many others.
Where do you see your organization in 50 years?
Mathematica is shaping an equitable and just world where evidence drives decisions for global impact. We work in ecosystems of mission-driven, issue-focused clients and partners to uncover ideas and insights that catalyze solutions. As we forge ahead into the future, Mathematica will continue to be at the forefront of assessing and improving policies and programs to increase individual, family, community, and global well-being.
What is something unique about your organization?
Mathematica offers flexible work environments that empower colleagues to work in locations that are best for them. Our 1,800 employee-owners work nationwide and around the world, bringing many talents, backgrounds, and perspectives—and we thrive because of it. Mathematica is headquartered in Princeton, NJ, and has numerous offices across the United States; our subsidiary, EDI Global, has offices in the United Kingdom and East Africa.