Maria José is an Economist and Political Scientist with a master’s degree in economics from the University of Los Andes, Colombia, specializing in public policy with a focus on the refugee agenda. She has six years of experience in quantitative research, with expertise in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large datasets, building econometric models, and designing evidence-based strategies to address pressing policy challenges.

Since 2021, Maria José has worked at The World Bank, where her research centers on the socio-economic impacts of forced migration. This includes analyzing the effects of Rohingya refugee camps on host communities in Bangladesh, studying the integration of Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, and evaluating the long-term outcomes of refugee camps in Jordan. She has also examined how refugee integration affects voting behavior and social capital in Colombia and contributed to designing interventions aimed at increasing participation in refugee legalization programs.

Previously, Maria José worked as a research assistant at USC Marshall School of Business, where she built databases and conducted statistical analysis on conflict-affected regions such as Colombia, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Jordan. She has collaborated on several academic papers, including with Professor Sandra Rozo.