Jess is an applied social science researcher dedicated to addressing the critical challenges of poor educational outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), persistent gender disparities in education and the labour market, and its impact on global poverty. Inspired by her work with the Girls Education and Empowerment (GEE) team at J-PAL Africa and the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE), Jess is particularly interested in addressing gender-related barriers to education and labour market participation for girls and women in LMICs. Jess holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Economics and Psychology and a Master’s in Applied Economics from the University of Cape Town. Before starting the DPhil in Public Policy, Jess worked as a policy intern for the GEE team at J-PAL Africa, a research assistant with the Mind and Behaviour Research Group, and a pre-doctoral research fellow on the Outcomes Fund Study at the WWHGE. Jess is a Clarendon scholar.