Rita Schmutz

I hold a PhD in Social Sciences from the University of Lausanne. My research focuses on how education policies shape inequality across the life course, using quantitative and computational methods to identify when and why policies succeed or fail to promote equity. I combine causal inference, large-scale data analysis, and comparative approaches to uncover the mechanisms through which institutional design and policy implementation affect educational and social outcomes.

Building on this foundation, my current work expands to examine how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital media, interact with existing inequalities in access to knowledge and learning opportunities. This perspective connects long-standing questions about education and social stratification to the new realities of the digital and AI age.

Alongside my academic work, I bring extensive applied experience in policymaking. I have worked within different levels of government in Brazil and Switzerland, as well as with the United Nations, where I monitored and evaluated policies across various domains. These roles have deepened my understanding of policy implementation and its real-world implications, reinforcing my commitment to advancing social equity through evidence-based research and active engagement in policymaking.