Isaac M. Mbiti is a Professor of Poverty and Education at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Scientific Director of J-PAL Africa. His research interests are in economic development, labor economics, and demography. Prior to his appointment at the University of Notre Dame, Isaac was an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the FrankBatten School of Leadership and Public Policy and prior to that, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Southern Methodist University. Isaac also served as a Martin Luther King Visiting Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  

His research has focused broadly on African economic development with particular interests in examining the role of education policies such as free primary education and teacher performance pay programs, as well as the potential for new technologies (especially mobile phones) to spur the development process.

His ongoing research projects in East and West Africa evaluate various policies that aim to improve the livelihoods of African youth through training programs.

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