Alumni Club Study Group: Causal Inference
Summer 2026
Jul 23, 2026
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Aug 20, 2026
Th 11:00am - 12:00pm ET
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Session 1
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Registration Deadlines
Jul 22, 2026
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Erdős Institute Alumni Club Members
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Category
Advance, Alumni Club Study Group
Overview
This course introduces the core methods for identifying causal effects from observational and experimental data. Students will study the Rubin Causal Model and directed acyclic graphs as frameworks for reasoning about identification, then apply them across key research designs: matching, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, panel/fixed effects models, difference-in-differences, and synthetic control methods.
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Organizers, Instructors, and Advisors
Steven Gubkin, PhD
Lead Instructor
Office Hours:
By appointment
Email:
Preferred Contact:
Slack
Please feel free to message me on Slack with any questions!
Objectives
1. Learn the foundations of causal inference: the Rubin Causal Model, directed acyclic graphs, and the assumptions needed to move from correlation to causation
2. Gain fluency with core identification strategies (matching, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, fixed effects, difference-in-differences, synthetic control) and know when each is appropriate
3. Understand how to implement these methods in Python, using libraries such as statsmodels, linearmodels, and DoWhy
4. Critically evaluate the identifying assumptions behind published empirical work, and formalize causal arguments from one's own research questions
The overall goal is to prepare participants to design credible identification strategies and carry out original causal analyses in their own areas of research.
First Steps/Prerequisites
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Program Content
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Course materials are available on github through the following link:
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Textbook/Notes
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Meeting 1 (Chapter 1 and 2)
Meetings
Discussed prob/stats review chapter, including generalizations of some results from the chapter and a geometric proof of FWL.
Meeting 2 (Chapters 3 and 4)
Meetings
A bit of an unfocused meeting, decided to switch books next time.
Project/Homework Instructions
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Schedule
Click on any date for more details
Orientation & Setup
Phase 1: Instruction and Project Completion
Project Review & Judging
Phase 2: Intense Interview Prep & Career Connections
Session 1
Jul 23, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC
EVENT
Session 4
Aug 13, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC
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Session 2
Jul 30, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC
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Session 5
Aug 20, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC
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Session 3
Aug 6, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC
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Project/Homework Deadlines