About Jonathan Hersh
Jonathan Hersh, PhD is a tenured Associate Professor of Economics and Management Science at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics. He is an economist and machine learning scientist studying how artificial intelligence reshapes work, productivity, and market competition, and serves as an expert witness in technology litigation.
Biography
Jonathan Hersh is an Associate Professor of Economics and Management Science at the Argyros School of Business at Chapman University. His research focuses on how artificial intelligence is transforming business, labor, and society, with particular emphasis on workforce dynamics and managerial decision-making. He applies machine learning to unstructured data—such as text, images, and satellite imagery—to develop predictive and causal models that inform strategy and policy in data-scarce environments.
Professor Hersh has worked as a machine learning scientist at Workhelix, a Series A startup focused on AI workforce strategy, and as a data scientist for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. His research has been published in leading journals including Management Science, MIS Quarterly, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and NeurIPS.
In 2023, he received the BBVA Foundation Award for Best Contribution from Statistics and Operations Research Using Data Science and Big Data for his work using AI to estimate war-related infrastructure damage. He has been featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition, Bloomberg, and The Economist.
He is the author of the forthcoming book AI-Proof Jobs: Future-Proof Your Career with Skills AI Can’t Replace and writes the newsletter Artificially Optimistic. Professor Hersh holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University, and degrees from the University of Chicago and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He teaches machine learning and data science courses to undergraduate and MBA students, and previously taught at MIT and Wellesley College.
Education
| PhD, Economics | Boston University |
|---|---|
| Graduate study | University of Chicago |
| Undergraduate study | The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania |
Appointments & experience
Associate Professor of Economics & Management Science
Argyros School of Business and Economics, Chapman University
Tenured faculty. Teaches machine learning and data science to undergraduate and MBA students.
Machine Learning Scientist
Workhelix
Series A startup focused on AI workforce strategy.
Data Scientist
The World Bank
Applied machine learning and economic measurement for development programs.
Data Scientist
Inter-American Development Bank
Economic measurement and predictive modeling in data-scarce environments.
Previously taught at
MIT and Wellesley College
Economics and applied data science instruction.
Recognition
- 2023 BBVA Foundation Award for Best Contribution from Statistics and Operations Research Using Data Science and Big Data, for work using AI to estimate war-related infrastructure damage
- Peer-reviewed publications in Management Science, PNAS, MIS Quarterly, and NeurIPS
- Research and commentary featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition, Bloomberg, and The Economist
Research areas
- AI Strategy and Societal Impacts
- Human-AI Collaboration & Decision Support
- Platform Economics
- API and Technology Strategy
- AI for Social Good & Development
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Jonathan Hersh study?
He holds a PhD in Economics from Boston University. He also studied at the University of Chicago and at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Where does Jonathan Hersh teach?
He is a tenured Associate Professor of Economics and Management Science at the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University in Orange, California, where he teaches machine learning and data science to undergraduate and MBA students. He previously taught at MIT and Wellesley College.
What awards has Jonathan Hersh received?
In 2023 he received the BBVA Foundation Award for Best Contribution from Statistics and Operations Research Using Data Science and Big Data, recognizing his work using machine learning and satellite imagery to estimate war-related infrastructure damage. That research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
What industry experience does Jonathan Hersh have?
He has worked as a machine learning scientist at Workhelix, a Series A startup focused on AI workforce strategy, and as a data scientist for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. This applied work informs his expert witness practice, where technical questions about models and data are often central.
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