Dr. Hiren Nisar is a seasoned Social Policy Economist and Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Exeter. With over 18 years of experience, he has extensively evaluated economic programs and policies aimed at enhancing the social and economic well-being of diverse populations, including children, youth, families, and workers. His expertise spans various sectors such as nutrition assistance, health, education, labor, and employment training, with a particular focus on the distributional impact of U.S. social policies.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nisar has collaborated with several U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the National Science Foundation. His leadership in economic research and social policy projects encompasses education, labor, housing, and nutrition.

During his tenure as Director of Analytics and Senior Economist at 2M Research, Dr. Nisar managed over 20 HUD projects related to homelessness and the housing sector. He served as Principal Investigator on multiple multidisciplinary research projects, notably leading significant studies such as:

• Landlord Participation Study

• Assessment of Economic Opportunity Metrics for HUD-Assisted Renters

• Housing Search Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities

• Implementation and Early Results of Housing Choice Vouchers for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities

• Market Predictors of Homelessness

• Implementing Innovative Approaches to Address Unsheltered Homelessness

Additionally, he has spearheaded HUD's Housing Discrimination Study Innovative Methodology Project, Evaluation of the PHA CARES Act Waivers, and Evaluation of the Eviction Protection Grant Programs.

Before his role at 2M Research, Dr. Nisar was a Senior Analyst and Economist at Abt Associates for over six years. There, he significantly contributed to education and labor policy research, including national randomized control trials of job training programs and the What Works Clearinghouse contracts for the Department of Education. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a Master’s in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Mumbai University.

Dr. Nisar's extensive experience and research have significantly advanced the field of U.S. social policy, providing invaluable insights and fostering improvements in various socio-economic domains.