Nick Graetz

Nick Graetz received his Ph.D. in Demography and Sociology from Penn in 2021. His work is centered on applying theory-driven quantitative methods to real-world problems in a way that is transparent, reproducible, and motivated by a need to address the fundamental causes of social and health inequity in the United States. His dissertation work uses causal methods for observational data, especially causal mediation techniques, to elucidate not only the total effects of complex social exposures but the relative magnitudes of mediating mechanisms. These projects focus on the connected processes of structural racism and the production of place-based (dis)advantage in the United States, examining the mediating and racialized effects of poverty, education, and housing on health and wealth outcomes using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Add Health, and Fragile Families cohorts. Another branch of work involves small area estimation using Bayesian hierarchical models and spatial microsimulation with the American Community Survey to describe local patterns of stratification. This work informs applied policy projects with the Socio-Spatial Climate Collaborative.