Economics Alumnus Jonatas Prates: From Georgia State to Stanford University

ATLANTA — Jonatas T. Prates' (B.S. ’20, M.A. ’22) journey in academia began when he moved to the United States from Curitiba, Brazil, for his senior year of high school and an Advanced Placement microeconomics class sparked his interest in economics. With this newfound interest, he enrolled in the international economics and modern languages program at Georgia State University.

However, his desire for a more theoretical and mathematical background quickly steered him toward the Bachelor of Science in Economics.

Prates found inspiration in foundational classes that solidified his decision to pursue the university’s STEM-designated Master of Science in Economics. He particularly remembers the classes of Andrew Young School of Policy Studies economics faculty members Professor Rusty Tchernis and Grace Eau, then a clinical assistant professor, who both encouraged and guided him toward graduate studies. The STEM designation enables international students to work in the United States for a longer period following their studies.

Prates’ academic journey at Georgia State was supported by a scholarship which covered his tuition costs, a crucial factor for his success as an international student.

“I highlight the generosity of Georgia State every time I can,” he said, acknowledging the university’s financial support.

To prepare for graduate school and teaching positions, Prates worked as a lab assistant in the Physics Department and for the university’s Office of Supplemental Instruction, teaching the principles of microeconomics. In his final year as a master’s student, he added to his experience as a public finance fellow at the Center for State and Local Finance (CSLF).

Soon after graduating in 2022, Prates received an offer to work as a predoctoral research fellow at Stanford University. This full-time assistantship provided him with training in cutting-edge economic research. After two years in the role, Prates applied for and was accepted into Stanford’s Ph.D. program in health policy, where he focuses on applying economic frameworks to inform healthcare-related decisions and policies.

Prates aspires to become a professor, crediting his passion for teaching to mentors like Jim Marton, chair of the Economics Department, and economics faculty Pierre Nguimkeu, Stefano Carattini and Tchernis. He advises all students to build a relationship with their mentors and professors, using as an example the foundation he built at Georgia State and the way it launched him into roles at one of the nation’s top-ranked universities for economics.

He also encourages students to think creatively about applying economics to other fields, such as health, and to use the resources offered by the Andrew Young School, such as the graduate assistantships provided in its academic and research centers like the Public Finance Research Cluster, where the CSLF is housed.

As Prates advances in his career, he attributes much of his growth to the reciprocal relationship between Georgia State and its students.

“The Economics Department was pivotal in my current trajectory,” he said. “They provide you with the tools, mentorship and resources, and then guide you along the way in applying what you want to do with these tools.”

To learn more about all of the top ranked in-person and online economics degree programs available at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, visit aysps.gsu.edu/economics and follow the school on LinkedIn.

— By AYSPS Graduate Student Assistant Ayomidotun Olugbenle (M.A. in Political Science ’24)