John Creamer

Dr John Creamer
PhD in Economics (2018)

What made you choose to study at Heriot-Watt?
I was exposed to Heriot-Watt economics lecturers during my MSc studies in Edinburgh. I enjoyed their lectures and was fortunate that they served as mentors during my dissertation period. The opportunity to continue working with them for my future studies and research was a key factor in me choosing Heriot-Watt to pursue my PhD.

Why were you thinking about a PhD in Economics in particular?
I enjoyed studying economics in high school and into college because it allowed me to apply theories to how I was observing the world was operating. I knew from my undergraduate studies in the US that I wanted to conduct research as a career in some capacity, and having a PhD is essential to do that.

What's your favourite or most memorable memory of your time as a Heriot-Watt student?
It will sound weird after saying positive things about Heriot-Watt, but graduation day!
I finished my PhD in October 2017 but missed out on the deadline for winter graduations. The summer graduation was the first time that I had returned to Edinburgh since I had finished in October. It was a great culmination to my studies to spend time and celebrate with the people that helped me along the way in my three years at Heriot-Watt. I also got to graduate with some of my students that I had taught during that period and it was special for me that tables had turned a little and I had returned to being a student just like them.

How would you summarise your time studying in the Economics Department of the Edinburgh Business School?
Mostly good! Obviously, there were hard parts during the journey, but I was fortunate to have a strong support team between my PhD supervisors and my fellow PhD candidates that helped me through. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with the department on a daily basis, attend the weekly seminars, and work with the undergraduate students in their introductory economics courses.

Please provide a brief summary of your career, including your roles at the U.S. Census Bureau and World Bank Group.
As I gained more experience, I knew that I wanted to work in a more professional setting, rather than staying in academia. I was fortunate that the Economics faculty were willing to help me with connections to different researchers and projects. This is how I ended up with a short-term role at the World Bank, where I was able to use a range of data to identify areas to distribute food aid in response to a drought.

After finishing my PhD, I was hired by the U.S. Census Bureau to work in the Poverty Statistics Branch. Our team is responsible for releasing key poverty estimates for the United States annually, and conducting research to inform the public on the different aspects of poverty and studying how to improve measurement from our survey data.

How has your Heriot-Watt University education contributed to your success?
My Heriot-Watt education has been essential to my success. I found the environment at Heriot-Watt to be very collegial, and I was able to learn from faculty and the other PhD candidates on a daily basis. I appreciated their feedback on research projects and their advice on different things that I should be doing to help advance my research skills and career.

Heriot-Watt also took me out of my comfort zone. I was exposed to an international environment, and met people from all over the world while I was attending. These experiences were important as I advance in my career, as they made me able to relate to people from different cultures and backgrounds.

What would you like to achieve in your current role at the U.S. Census Bureau?
The Census Bureau collects a ton of data through household surveys, so my primary goal is use this data to conduct research that paints an accurate picture of the economic wellbeing of individuals in the United States, as well as studying ways we can use our data more effectively and accurately in our research.

What advice would you give to your past self when you were a student?
Spend less time worrying about the future and focus more on what is directly in front of you.

What advice do you have for current students?
Take a deep breath! It's a challenging time right now with the pandemic, especially for students with uncertainty over how their lectures will be delivered, how the economy will be when they finish university, and most importantly, the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones. You just have to take each day as it comes and focus as best you can on what you can control.

What is your lasting impression of Heriot-Watt University?
Positive! I enjoyed my three years at Heriot-Watt and learned so much about myself and research while I was there.

What are your aspirations for the future?
(a) For your career?
I think the dream is to be an impactful member of the research and policy community where my work can directly lead to better outcomes for people so they can live their lives free of economic stress.
(b) For your local and wider community?
I want to be an active citizen in my local community, who contributes time and effort to the things that make my neighbourhood in Washington, D.C. tick, and be a good example as someone who respects their neighbours and cares.

Can you tell us a little about your own background away from work, family, other interests etc.
As could probably be gathered from me working at the Census Bureau, I am an American (so the UK was a nice adventure for me!). I am from the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine, Florida, where my family still lives. Currently, I live in Washington, D.C. When I am not counting people, you can find me running on one of the many trails in D.C., at a baseball game (in non-pandemic times), and spending time with my friends in the city.