Her research applies state-of-the-art empirical methods to identify governmental constraints on redistributive capacities and how targeted interventions can shape the life trajectories of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds
UCLA Social Sciences
UCLA Department of economics faculty member, Juliana Londoño-Vélez, joins three UCLA faculty, among the 126 scientists and scholars from 44 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada to receive 2026 Sloan Research Fellowships announced Feb 17.
The Sloan Fellowships are among the most competitive and prestigious awards available to early-career researchers in the fields of economics, chemistry, computer science, Earth system science, mathematics, neuroscience and physics. They are considered both a recognition of existing accomplishments and a stepping stone to world-changing leadership and discovery, with many fellows going on to earn Nobel Prizes (59), National Medals of Science (72) and Fields Medals in Mathematics (17).
Fellows receive a two-year, $75,000 award, which can be used flexibly to advance their research.
An applied microeconomist, Londoño-Vélez uses administrative data and innovative experimental design, to investigate how tax and social policies can reduce poverty and inequality and promote upward mobility in Latin America. Her research applies state-of-the-art empirical methods to identify constraints on governments’ redistributive capacity and to evaluate how targeted interventions can shape the life trajectories of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In her recent research, Londoño-Vélez found that Ser Pilo Paga, a financial aid program in Colombia, significantly increased enrollment in higher education, leading to lasting gains in earnings and upward mobility and narrowing socioeconomic disparities. With support from the Sloan Fellowship, she plans to advance her research in two areas: examining how higher education positively benefits the lives of people in non-monetary ways and explore the effects of reproductive health care policy on women’s physical and mental health.
“The Sloan Research Fellows are among the most promising early-career researchers in the U.S. and Canada, already driving meaningful progress in their respective disciplines,” said Stacie Bloom, president and chief executive officer of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.”We look forward to seeing how these exceptional scholars continue to unlock new scientific advancements, redefine their fields, and foster the well-being and knowledge of all.”
Londoño-Vélez received a Ph.D. in economics from the UC Berkeley in 2019 and joined UCLA in 2020 as an assistant professor. She teaches undergraduate and graduate public economics courses.
Londoño-Vélez joins nine previous Sloan fellows in UCLA’s Department of Economics: Yotam Shem-Tov (2025), David Baqaee (2022), Natalie Bau (2022), Denis Chetverikov (2019), Pablo Fajgelbaum (2017), Jonathan Vogel (2012), Dora Costa (1999), Lee Ohanian (1998) and Andrew Atkeson (1995).
UCLA Newsroom’s story announcing Londoño-Vélez Sloan Research Fellowship is available here: The home of next-gen genius: 3 UCLA professors named Sloan Research Fellows.