Harneet Kaur

I am a policy researcher working at the intersection of education, health, and social policy. My research uses linked administrative data and quasi-experimental methods to study how public programs and policies shape health, educational, and economic outcomes, with a particular focus on children and young people.

In my current postdoctoral work, I examine universal free school meals and Medicaid spending, mental health care and school discipline, and the role of school environments in student physical activity. I earned my Ph.D. in Social Science (Policy and Economics concentration) from Syracuse University in May 2025. View my research.

Previously, I earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University and worked as a Senior Business Analyst at TCS.

News

Aug 5, 2026	Our paper, “Universal Free School Meals and Medicaid Spending,” is now published in Health Affairs Scholar! Read the article. 🎉
Jun 16, 2026	I joined the College of Public Health at UAMS as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where I study education and health policy using linked statewide administrative and claims data.
May 9, 2025	I received my Ph.D. in Social Science (Policy and Economics concentration) from Syracuse University and was honored with the university’s Doctoral Prize and Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. Read more. 🎓
Nov 11, 2024	My paper is now available in the EdWorkingPaper Series! Check it out, and cite

selected publications

Published

Universal Free School Meals and Medicaid Spending: Evidence from Linked Education and Claims Data in Arkansas

Joe Sundell, Harneet Kaur, Gwendolyn M. Lawson, and 5 more authors

Health Affairs Scholar 2026

Bib HTML

@article{sundell2026universal,
  title = {Universal Free School Meals and Medicaid Spending: Evidence from Linked Education and Claims Data in Arkansas},
  author = {Sundell, Joe and Kaur, Harneet and Lawson, Gwendolyn M. and Ma, Xueying and Martin, Bradley C. and Tilford, J. Mick and Thompson, Joseph W. and Thomsen, Michael R.},
  journal = {Health Affairs Scholar},
  volume = {4},
  number = {8},
  pages = {qxag196},
  year = {2026},
  annotation = {Published}
}

Published

Central Adiposity Versus Body Mass Index in Assessment of Adiposity-Related Differences in Physical Activity Among Schoolchildren Aged 5–12 Years in High-Risk Neighborhoods

Matthew J. Barenie, Michael R. Thomsen, Harneet Kaur, and 3 more authors

Sports 2026

Bib HTML

@article{barenie2026central,
  title = {Central Adiposity Versus Body Mass Index in Assessment of Adiposity-Related Differences in Physical Activity Among Schoolchildren Aged 5--12 Years in High-Risk Neighborhoods},
  author = {Barenie, Matthew J. and Thomsen, Michael R. and Kaur, Harneet and Howie, Erin K. and Murphy, Christopher M. and Weber, Kari A.},
  journal = {Sports},
  volume = {14},
  number = {9},
  pages = {394},
  year = {2026},
  annotation = {Published}
}

R&R

A Pre-Post Evaluation of Clinic-Based Produce Prescriptions for Patients with Cancer

Peter DelNero, Harneet Kaur, Amber Kaufman, and 8 more authors

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Revise and resubmit

Bib

@article{delnero2026hope,
  title = {A Pre-Post Evaluation of Clinic-Based Produce Prescriptions for Patients with Cancer},
  author = {DelNero, Peter and Kaur, Harneet and Kaufman, Amber and Frisby, Alyssa and Shack, Jeanette and Bentley, Tess and Jenkins, Ciara and Farley, Harriet and Morse, Anne Marie and Drobena, Gina and Thomsen, Michael R.},
  journal = {Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics},
  year = {Revise and resubmit},
  annotation = {Revise and resubmit}
}