Sebastian Olascoaga is the Evaluation and Research Lead for the City of Boston, focused on developing and implementing rigorous impact evaluations for Boston's $560 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded programs, policies, and services. His role also includes enhancing the City's capacity to conduct research that informs policy, further solidifying Boston's commitment to evidence-based governance.

Prior to his current role, Sebastian earned his Ph.D. in Urban Economics & Policy from MIT as a Presidential Fellow. His doctoral research focused on understanding the dynamic interplays between housing, public policy, and health amidst environmental and economic shocks, using field experiments and machine learning. He also holds a Master's in Economics from the Paris School of Economics and Ecole Normale Superieure, and a Bachelor's in Economics from Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas. Before his doctoral degree, Sebastian worked at the Treasury Department in Mexico as the Director of Economic Policy, at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). Sebastian's work merges theoretical insights with practical applications, aiming to enhance city resilience and economic mobility.

In his free time, Sebastian can be found at Fenway rooting for the Red Sox, rock climbing in New England, or searching for fresh waves in the Atlantic Ocean.