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Manudeep Bhuller, who is a professor at the Department of Economics at the University of Oslo, receives the Fridtjof Nansen Award for Young Researchers in the category of humanities and social sciences. The prize consists of 75,000 kroner and a diploma, and is awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
"It means a lot to me to receive such recognition. It is not often in the world of research that one receives this kind of attention. The journey as a researcher can be a solitary endeavor, so it is all the more gratifying to know that others appreciate the work you have done," says the award recipient.
A bridge builder
"Manudeep Bhuller is an economist who has conducted outstanding applied research in labor market economics, a field in which he recently received a prestigious ERC Starting Grant. According to RePec, Bhuller is the Norwegian economist under 40 with the highest production in high-quality journals.”, the award justification states. And further:
“Bhuller has also promoted interdisciplinarity by applying methods from his field to important societal areas such as the education system, the legal system, and mass media. Some of these areas have traditionally been outside the domain of economists, but the research of Bhuller and co-authors helps build bridges by showing how economic theory and quantitative methods can provide new insights across disciplines."
As a researcher, Manudeep Bhuller is particularly concerned with interdisciplinarity.
"From early in my career while working on my doctorate at Statistics Norway, I have been interested in various societal areas such as the labor market, education, mass media, and crime. These are topics that are studies not only by economists. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to discuss my research with other social scientists and researchers within law and criminology. I believe that economic research can make important contributions to these fields, while also having much to build upon and learn from other academic traditions," he says.
Committees as a form of further education
The award winner has also participated in numerous public committees, such as the Low-Wage Committee and expert groups for social mobility and youth crime.
"It has felt natural for me to contribute to society by participating in public committees. I can contribute my expertise to committees in fields I have done research on. I have also learned a lot from knowledgeable people who participate in such committees, so it also serves as a form of further education, if I may use that term. Unlike being active on social media or writing sharp opinion pieces, I have prioritized contributing through public committees. It suits my personality better. I am a proponent of slow thinking," says the award recipient.
"What does the academic environment at the Department of Economics mean for what you have achieved?"
"Without support and inspiration from mentors, co-authors, and colleagues, I wouldn't be where I am today. The academic environment at the Department of Economics means a lot to me. I particularly appreciate the stimulating discussions with young, very talented colleagues! We have many new hires, and I believe the Department of Economics will continue to be among the best places to study economics in the future."
"What is the most important work you are doing right now?"
"Mostly, I am working on the ERC project about labor market flexibility and collaborating with young researchers and doctoral students. The report from an expert group on measures against serious crime among children and adolescents, which I have contributed to, will also be published soon. It's an important work that I have spent some time on in recent months," says Manudeep Bhuller.
An international capacity
The head of the Department of Economics, Karen Helene Ulltveit-Moe, is very pleased that Manudeep Bhuller is receiving the Fridtjof Nansen Award for Young Researchers.
"This is a great recognition of one of our talented researchers and also a recognition of the Department of Economics as an internationally leading research environment," she says, and particularly highlights Bhuller's position as an international expert in labor economics.
"Manudeep Bhuller has also promoted interdisciplinarity by applying methods from his field to important societal areas such as the education system, the legal system, and mass media. Some of these areas have traditionally been outside the domain of economists, but the research by Bhuller and co-authors shows how economic theory and quantitative methods can provide new insights across disciplines," says Ulltveit-Moe.