Mica Chua

Michaela Chua is a Policy Associate at J-PAL North America where she supports the criminal justice initiative and racial equity team to create a more inclusive research network. She also works on the Initiatives Funded Projects (IFP) and the Affiliate and Invited Researcher Services (AIRS) teams where she helps manage request for proposals cycles. 

Prior to joining J-PAL in 2024, she interned at state based think tanks where she served as the primary researcher for a study assessing the accessibility of Suboxone, a life saving medication for people with opioid use disorder. She also worked on several research projects focused on low income housing, community economic development, and urban politics.

Michaela graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in public policy studies and philosophy. She received departmental honors from the College of Arts and Sciences, and her undergraduate thesis, which investigated the decision making process behind the interstate highway system, received highest honors in public policy. She was also awarded the Berry Undergraduate Prize for Excellence in Philosophy which is awarded yearly to an outstanding graduating senior.