Matthew B. Ross is an Associate Professor at Northeastern University, with joint appointments in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and the Department of Economics. Trained as an applied microeconomist, his research adopts an interdisciplinary approach to explore critical issues at the nexus of urban, public, and labor economics. He specializes in the empirical analysis of disparate treatment and the assessment of workforce development initiatives, including skills acquisition and training programs. In recent years, his research has increasingly concentrated on these topics within the domains of policing and the criminal justice system.

Much of Dr. Ross’s work involves direct collaboration with public sector entities, resulting in research and reports that are publicly accessible and policy-relevant. He has served as an advisor and subject matter expert for the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Science Foundation, and a range of state and local government agencies, including those in Connecticut, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and the Justice Center at the Council of State Governments. His policy-oriented research primarily supports the development and evaluation of public programs aimed at identifying and addressing disparities across social and economic institutions.

Dr. Ross’s scholarship and public-sector collaborations are guided by the conviction that rigorous empirical analysis holds the potential to inform public policy and advance individual and societal well-being. His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, the Journal of Human Resources, Criminology & Public Policy, and the Industrial and Labor Relations Review. His work has received support from various esteemed funding organizations, including the National Science Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, Arnold Ventures, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.