Michelle Yin, Ph.D.
Economist · Global Partnership Builder · Keynote Speaker · Social Impact Strategist
Research at the nexus of technology, education, labor economics & social policy
Director and Professor at Northwestern University, Founder of the RISEI Lab. Leading a $50M+ research portfolio advancing social and economic inclusion for marginalized populations.
The work in action
Featured Research
Latest publications and ongoing projects
How (un)Stable Are LLM Occupational Exposure Scores?
Yin, M., Vu, H., & Persico, C. (2026). RISEI Working Paper, Northwestern University.
AI exposure scores vary 3.6-fold across frontier models on identical tasks. Worst-case agreement is 57%. County-level employment estimates flip sign depending on which AI is asked. The policies built on these scores are unstable. We propose the Adaptive Precision Framework.
Whole-School Inclusion Programs and Student Academic and Behavioral Outcomes
Yin, M., Siwach, G., & Orellana, A. (2025). AERA Open, 11.
Using 11 years of student-level data from North Carolina, this study finds the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program improves academic outcomes and reduces absenteeism and suspensions for all students.
Universal by Design: Unveiling the Effectiveness of Accommodations and Universal Design Features
Ogut, B., Yin, M., Vu, H., Hicks, J., & Circi, R. (2025). Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 44(4), 18-32.
Using NAEP process data, finds that extended time significantly improves performance for students with disabilities, while text-to-speech and equation editors show mixed results.
VR Services and Labor Market Outcomes for Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities
Yin, M., Siwach, G. and Lin, D. (2022). Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.
Causal analysis of how vocational rehabilitation services affect employment and earnings for young adults with disabilities during the transition from school to work, using Maine administrative data.
A Hidden Market: The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults With Disabilities
Yin, M., Shaewitz, D., Overton, C., & Smith, D. (2018). American Institutes for Research.
Quantifies the purchasing power and market size represented by working-age adults with disabilities in the U.S. Makes the case that the disability community represents a significant and underserved consumer market.
An Uneven Playing Field: The Lack of Equal Pay for People With Disabilities
Yin, M., Shaewitz, D., & Megra, M. (2014). American Institutes for Research.
Quantifies the pay gap between workers with and without disabilities using national data. Examines how the income gap varies by educational attainment and disability type.
Is It Live or Is It Internet? Experimental Estimates of Online Instruction on Student Learning
Figlio, D., Rush, M., & Yin, L. (2013). Journal of Labor Economics, 31(4), 763-784.
Pioneering randomized controlled trial comparing live and online instruction at a major research university. Findings show online instruction can match in-person learning outcomes.
Leveraging NAEP Process Data to Understand Student Problem-Solving and Accessibility
Ogut, B., Circi, R., Huo, H., Hicks, J., & Yin, M. (2025). Intl. Electronic J. of Elementary Education, 17(2).
Ogut, B., Webb, B., Hicks, J., Circi, R. & Yin, M. (2024). Computers in the Schools.
Using large-scale NAEP log data and process mining to understand how students solve math problems and identify who benefits from extended time accommodations in digital assessments.
Stronger Together: How Interagency Collaboration Transforms Youth Transitions
Yin, M. (2025). RISEI Lab, Northwestern University.
Youth receiving coordinated multi-agency services are twice as likely to be employed within two years of leaving high school. Features Maine's P2P initiative as a model for interagency collaboration.
Something EPIC is Happening in Virginia: Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment
Yin, M., Seo, R., Vu, H., Shaewitz, D., Nadzam, J., & Ford, J. (2024). Northwestern University & Third Sight.
Examines the Virginia DARS model project transitioning workers from subminimum wage to competitive integrated employment. Over 120,000 workers were paid ~$3.50/hr under 14(c) certificates, with only 5% transitioning.
Focus Areas
Bridging research, policy, and practice for social and economic inclusion
Education, Transitions & Global Learning Systems
Examining educational pathways, human capital development, and international learning systems through rigorous econometric analysis
Technology, AI & Future of Work
Analyzing labor market impacts of automation and AI using causal inference methods to understand employment dynamics and wage effects
Global Partnerships & Creative Program Design
Building cross-border collaborations and evidence-based program models that advance economic opportunity and social mobility
Disability Policy & Employment
Applying labor economics frameworks to study workplace inclusion, vocational rehabilitation, and policy interventions for workers with disabilities
RISEI Lab
Founded in 2021, the Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion Lab conducts rigorous, data-driven studies at the intersection of technology, workforce, education, and social policy. The lab partners with government agencies, nonprofits, and international organizations.
riseilab.org is the dedicated lab site — ideal for sharing with sponsors and external partners.
News & Updates
New Publication in Labour Economics
April 9, 2026
Our paper "The labor market effects of subminimum wage elimination: Evidence from a national analysis" is now published. The first national quasi-experimental study finds no aggregate job loss for workers with disabilities following Section 14(c) elimination, with a 12.4% decline in welfare dependence.
Read the Paper → Dashboards & Briefs →
RISEI Publication News
October 2, 2025
Latest research publications and findings from RISEI Lab advancing knowledge in disability employment, educational equity, and labor economics.
Read More →
The Economic Imperative of Vocational Rehabilitation
May 29, 2025
New research demonstrating the economic returns and societal benefits of investing in vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities.
Read More →
New Research on Digital Assessment Accessibility Unveiled
July 16, 2024
Education researchers present groundbreaking findings on how accessibility features in digital assessments impact student performance, particularly for students with disabilities.
Read More →Impact & Recognition
Translating research into policy and practice
$50M+ Research Portfolio
Director of a research portfolio exceeding $50 million in lifetime external funding, with approximately $4 million in active support advancing equity and inclusion.
Policy Leadership
Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Labor, delivering Capitol Hill briefings and advising federal and state governments on disability, workforce, and education policy.
Global Reach
Designed evaluation frameworks used by 170+ countries through Special Olympics International. Keynote addresses across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Media & Publications
Research featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Hill. Publications in Journal of Labor Economics, Labour Economics, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, and AERA Open.