In this entry of the Places You’ll Go series, we follow Maksim Smirnov, a CERGE-EI PhD student, to MIT for a spring research stay shaped by one goal: sharpening a job market paper in the right intellectual home. Drawn by MIT’s strength in instrumental variable models and an unusually welcoming econometrics community, the visit became both a research accelerant and a crash course in academic connection.

Can you describe how you chose where you wanted to go, and why?

Before my 5^th year, I was thinking hard about my job market paper: I was trying to come up with a good idea and also develop some of other ideas I had back then. I thought that spending spring at one of the top US departments would be great for my job market preparation, but I wasn’t sure which one would be the best fit – it is best to visit a place with the expertise in or close to my own work. After talking to my advisors, we agreed that MIT would be a great fit for my research profile – they have a very strong group working on instrumental variable models, which is the main focus of my research agenda.

What was the process from the initial idea to actually landing in the US?

My supervisor, Stanislav Anatolyev, contacted his coauthor, Anna Mikusheva, who is an MIT professor, and Anna was extremely kind to host me. Then there was a pretty smooth administrative process, both at CERGE-EI and MIT, which we had to conduct in a rather short time – we started in September, and I was to be in Boston in February. Finally, I got my visa just a week before the flight, and left for the US.

What expectations did you have before arriving to the US, and which ones were challenged the most?

I expected to find a vibrant and stimulating academic atmosphere, which I did. It was especially nice that the atmosphere was also very welcoming and extremely friendly. Indeed, the community was one of my strongest impressions at MIT.

“When students from different backgrounds come together, new ideas are born and old ideas receive a new perspective.”

How did the approach to teaching economics differ from what you were used to at CERGE-EI?

I was in 5^th year, so I decided to focus on my own research and I took only one class, “Topics in Econometrics”. It was more technical than the majority of classes at CERGE-EI, and at the same time, it paid a lot of attention to applied problems and empirical relevance of discussed methods. Another very important feature, which is also common at CERGE-EI, was an emphasis on providing the big picture – where a particular paper or method fits within the broader literature, which is very important for formulating research problems and coming up with the best possible technique.

 Which courses and professors most significantly shaped your economic thinking?

The “Topics in Econometrics” class definitely expanded my horizons and taught me some new concepts that I was unaware of but that turned out to be useful for my research. Most importantly though, my host, Anna Mikusheva, has immensely influenced my thinking. I was lucky to meet with her regularly, and her support and help during this stay were irreplaceable. I am very proud and happy to have had this chance to learn from her – not only about the research itself but also about the profession more broadly.

 Which economic theories or methods did you engage with most intensively during your studies?

During my studies, I learnt a lot about machine learning and nonparametric estimation, for which MIT is famous. Also, in my own research I engaged with concepts of causal inference and policy analysis, trying to develop new statistical methods that can be used in practice and may prove useful for answering important empirical questions.

Why empirical relevance matters even for theory

How strong was the emphasis on empirical research and data analysis in your coursework?

Even though I do econometric theory and not empirical research, it is very important to have applications in mind. An important part of my stay was understanding the interplay between the properties and structure of real data on the one hand, and theoretical concepts on the other hand. In particular, in my job market paper I extensively use the empirical setting of returns to education, and this is something that I have discussed extensively with multiple people during my stay.

Was there anything about the university environment that suited you personally better than at CERGE-EI, and why?

At MIT there are multiple excellent faculty members and a lot of PhD students who work in the same field as me, i.e. Econometrics. At CERGE-EI, by contrast, we are a very small group. When doing research, it is extremely important to communicate with multiple people who are both interested in and skilled in my field. Indeed, having this communication and being a part of the bigger community was hugely beneficial for me.

“I am now even more excited about doing my research and enjoying it. I spent the semester surrounded by a community of high achievers, and it brought out the best in me.”

How did interactions with fellow students from diverse backgrounds enrich your understanding of economics?

It is impossible to learn every theory, study every tool, and read every research paper out there. When students from different backgrounds come together, new ideas are born and old ideas receive a new perspective. This is particularly true in Econometrics, which is deeply connected with statistics and mathematics – diversity there really pushes the boundaries and drives innovation.

Were you involved in any research projects, seminars, or policy discussions outside regular classes?

Outside classes I participated in regular workshops, reading groups, and seminars. Workshops give PhD students an opportunity to present their work in front of professors and fellow students and get valuable feedback. I myself presented in one such workshop.

“In some sense, my stay was a crash course, in which I learnt a lot in a short time.”

Reading groups are important for students and faculty to gather and learn something new by discussing papers – usually far from everyone’s own research. Finally, seminars feature cutting-edge research by top professionals.

Bringing it back: renewed excitement for academic life

Which skills, both academic and personal, did you develop most during your time in the US?

In some sense, my stay was a crash course, in which I learnt a lot in a short time. If I had to name a few skills, it would definitely be networking, communication, and the ability to maintain existing contacts. It is especially difficult when you feel overwhelmed; but if you manage, then you can really become a part of the community, which is one of the best things about academia.

 How have your study-stay experiences influenced your future academic or career goals?

I am now even more excited about doing my research and enjoying it. I spent the semester surrounded by a community of high achievers, and it brought out the best in me. Now, in my job market year, I am even more enthusiastic about moving forward, growing professionally, and achieving more in the future.

“My research was greatly shaped by this stay: not only in the topics I study, but also in my workflow and approach to research.”

How would you like to apply what you learned during your study stay?

I am planning to continue my career in academia and further develop some of the projects I started during my stay. My research was greatly shaped by this stay: not only in the topics I study, but also in my workflow and approach to research. Now I have a better idea what I want to do, how I should do it, and why I should do it.

What advice would you give to younger CERGE-EI students when considering where to apply for a study stay?

Try to find a department that is a good fit for your research profile, and have a clear idea of what you want – whether it is to share your paper and get feedback on it or to come up with a new research idea within the faculty’s areas of expertise. Also remember that learning is fun, but ultimately what matters in academia is writing papers. So, try to study what is useful for your agenda, and focus on developing your own projects instead of taking all possible classes.