Joanna joined the Young Lives team as a Quantitative Research Assistant in November 2024. She holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Manchester and a BSc in Economics from the University of Sheffield. Her MSc dissertation explored the impact of household microfinance programme participation on child educational outcomes in rural Bangladesh, reflecting her interest in evidence-based development interventions. Overall, her research interests lie in effective interventions to improve the economic and social well-being of disadvantaged communities, promote sustainable development, and reduce poverty.

Before joining Young Lives, Joanna worked as a Data Analyst Intern with the Resilience Analysis for Action (RESA) team at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). There, she conducted cross-country analyses utilising diverse project datasets, with a primary focus on food security and enhancing resilient livelihoods.