Emily Zarate is an applied social policy researcher focusing on how public benefits and public policies affect the economic security and well-being of families with caregiving needs. She investigates family and formal caregiving, ranging from care for very young children to care for older adults. Emily takes an intergenerational approach, examining how caregiving impacts and involves family members across different life stages. She aims to build an empirical foundation for programs and policies that improve outcomes for families and allow them to make care decisions that align with their preferences. She grounds her work in a commitment to racial and economic equity, which guides both the questions she asks and how she investigates them. Emily conducts both quantitative and qualitative research.

Emily received her Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Welfare and A.M. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She also has a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from American University.