Aakaash Raja ‘28

Aakaash Raja is a first-year student at the University of Notre Dame majoring in Economics with a supplementary major in Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics and a minor in the Glynn Family Honors Program. Aakaash is interested in the intersection between qualitative and quantitative methods in policy formulation and analysis, particularly the use of mathematical models to analyze the economic effects and trends of legislation. Previously, Aakaash has worked with the local government in Greenburgh, New York to research environmental policy. More recently, he has worked with the Pulte Institute to assist with organizing research on education development programs, and he volunteers at Our Lady of the Road helping make and serve food. Through the Notre Dame Federal and Fiscal Challenge Team, Aakaash has worked on researching methods to improve political engagement as part of a submission to the Up to Us Challenge and currently focuses on researching policy for US national debt reduction. He has beginner experience with Python, financial modeling (in Excel), and writing annotated bibliographies.