Zhuoer Lin

I am an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health. I am also a Faculty Affiliate at the University of Illinois–Institute of Government and Public Affairs. I earned my Ph.D. in Health Policy and Management (Economics Track) from Yale University, where my dissertation received Distinction from the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and was awarded the PhD Research Prize for outstanding dissertation research in 2024. 

My research focuses on understanding the life course social determinants of (cognitive) aging and how public policy can address racial, ethnic, sociodemographic, and geographic disparities in (cognitive) health and healthcare. I also assess the consequences of (cognitive) aging on health decision-making, behaviors and well-being. Additionally, I study the health impacts of long-term care and social security programs for older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment or dementia (e.g., ADRD). My interests extend to various other topics on economics and public policy, such as education policy.

My research makes use of both nationally representative survey data and administrative data from developed (e.g., US, England, Europe) and developing countries (e.g., China, Mexico, Africa) to understand the pressing policy issues around the world. My work has been funded by the National Institute on Aging and has been published in leading policy, economics, science, and medical journals. It has also been recognized with multiple awards from national and international institutions.