Harneet Kaur

College of Public Health

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Little Rock, AR

I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. I earned my Ph.D. in Social Science (Policy and Economics concentration) from Syracuse University in May 2025.

My research examines how education, nutrition, and health policies shape student well-being and opportunity. Current projects focus on universal free meals, mental health, school discipline, Medicaid spending, and student physical activity outcomes.

I work with linked education and health records and use causal inference methods—including difference-in-differences, fixed effects, and event studies—to identify policy impacts and disparities across student populations. 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

Jul 23, 2026	Our paper, “Universal Free School Meals and Medicaid Spending,” is forthcoming in Health Affairs Scholar! 🎉
Jun 16, 2025	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 Job Market Paper is now available in the EdWorkingPaper Series! Check it out, and cite

selected publications

Forthcoming

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

Joe Sundell, Harneet Kaur, Gwendolyn Lawson, and 4 more authors

Health Affairs Scholar Forthcoming

Bib

@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 and Martin, Bradley and Tilford, Mick and Thompson, Joseph W. and Thomsen, Michael R.},
  journal = {Health Affairs Scholar},
  year = {Forthcoming},
  annotation = {Forthcoming}
}

R&R

A Clinic-Based Approach to Food Insecurity and Cancer: The HOPE for Cancer Study

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 Clinic-Based Approach to Food Insecurity and Cancer: The HOPE for Cancer Study},
  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}
}