Experimentation. Failure. Grow.

Dr Eugen Dimant began his academic career in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in economics at the Paderborn University. This was followed by two Master's degrees in International Economics and Business Administration and a doctorate at the Chair of Institutional Economics and Economic Policy. Today, he is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the eight Ivy League universities in the USA. In 2022, he also had the unique opportunity to work in the White House under the Biden administration. Eugen's path shows that you can make it to the top as a Paderborn student with a lot of ambition and drive.

Daring to make new beginnings

Eugen's story begins with many challenges. Born and raised near the Chernobyl disaster in Moldova, he experienced the political and economic upheavals of the early 1990s as a child. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, his family fled to Germany in 1991. This experience still shapes him today: "Leaving everything behind and daring to make a completely new start was challenging. But my parents managed to build a new life in a new country. As refugees, they didn't let all the adversity they faced stop them. Their unwavering determination taught me to see challenges as opportunities. That's why they are still my greatest role models today."

Things didn't always go smoothly at school: at Ratsgymnasium in Bielefeld, he was about to be left behind in year 10 and only passed his A-levels with average grades. But this setback turned out to be a turning point for him. In 2006, he began studying economics in Paderborn. Here, too, the start was bumpy until he happened to work as a research assistant at the chair of Prof Sureth-Sloane: "Suddenly a fire was lit! My interest grew, my grades improved - and for the first time in my life I was even labelled a nerd, which I was quite pleased about to be honest! I finally felt like I'd found something that really grabbed me."

Eugen's path into research

After his average Bachelor's degree, his career took off. Within two years, Eugen completed two Master's programmes in economics and business administration at UPB in 2012 as the best student in both years. He completes his doctorate after just three years on the topic of "Economics of Corruption and Crime - Interdisciplinary Approach to Behavioural Ethics" and is awarded the prize for the best experimental research paper in Germany (2015/2016). During his doctorate, he also spent time as a doctoral candidate at Harvard University.

After completing his doctorate, he moved to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) as a postdoctoral researcher. He has been Professor of Behavioural and Decision Sciences there since 2020. Penn is one of the eight Ivy League universities in the USA and enjoys a reputation as one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

"Researching and teaching at an elite university like Penn is an extraordinary experience. The academic culture is strongly orientated towards innovation and international networking. There is more freedom for your own research and a lot of exchange with practitioners - collaborations with companies and political institutions are part of everyday life. This open and dynamic environment has opened up many new opportunities for me, be it through large research projects, collaborations with leading academics or access to resources that make it possible to investigate really ambitious questions."

Behavioural economics and corruption

The research of the American by choice is wide-ranging: He mainly conducts research in the field of experimental behavioural economics and ethics. For example, he investigates how social norms and incentives can influence self-interested beliefs and actions. In one of his latest works, he is analysing the political polarisation caused by US President Donald Trump, among other things.

The young researcher is also personally interested in the interplay between corruption, terrorism and migration. "As a Moldovan refugee, I experienced these issues myself. I want to better understand why people migrate or are forced to do so and what impact these movements have," explains Eugen.

The appointment to the White House

A highlight of his career followed in 2022: under the Biden administration, he became part of the White House Behavioural Science Team, which had already been set up under President Obama to provide scientific support for presidential decisions. He worked there on topics including opioid abuse among veterans and refugee policy. Eugen looks back very favourably on his work in the White House: "Working in the White House was unique - the direct link to policymakers, the close integration of science and policy and the feeling of being involved in finding solutions to one of the country's biggest health crises was impressive."

Eugen's five lessons for success after graduation

Eugen Dimant's life is an amazing example of what you can achieve with effort and perseverance as a Paderborn student. As a keynote speaker at the Day of Economics 2024, Eugen motivated our graduates to never give up on their dreams. Eugen gave five key tips for success after graduation:

• "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Dare to make new beginnings, these can be the breeding ground for something great.
• Experiment a lot and often: failure and growing from it is an integral part of life. But also recognise when it's time to stop.
• Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you. Seek an environment that challenges you and pushes you forward.
• Being successful is not the same as being perfect. Stay persistent and don't be afraid to take risks.
• Even the successful often fail: the road to success is not easy. The important thing is to never give up and to learn from your mistakes.

More information about Eugen Dimant and his research can be found on his research website.

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Eugen's path to becoming a professor at the University of Pennsylvania