Donna K. Ginther
- Director, Biomedical Data Sets and Services Core
- Director, Institute for Policy & Social Research
- Director, Center for Science, Technology, and Economic Policy
- Roy A. Roberts and Regents Distinguished Professor, Economics
Contact Info
Lawrence
1541 Lilac Lane
Lawrence, KS 66045
Biography —
Donna K. Ginther is the Director of the Biomedical Data Sets and Services Core of Leveraging Big Data to Improve Women's Health. In addition, Ginther is a Roy A. Roberts & Regents Distinguished Professor of Economics, Director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas, and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Prior to joining the University of Kansas faculty, she was a research economist and associate policy adviser in the regional group of the Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 2000 to 2002 and taught at Washington University from 1997 to 2000 and Southern Methodist University from 1995 to 1997. Her major fields of study are scientific labor markets, gender differences in employment outcomes, wage inequality, science policy, and investments in children.
Dr. Ginther has published in several journals, including Science, Journal of the American Statistical Association, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Demography, Psychological Science in the Public Interest, and the Papers and Proceedings of the American Economic Association. She has also received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Her research has been featured in several media outlets including the Economist, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, and the Boston Globe.
Dr. Ginther testified before the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education of the U.S. House of Representatives on the Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2008 and the Working Group on Women in the 21st Century Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Ginther has advised the National Academies of Science, the National Institutes of Health, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation on the diversity and future of the scientific workforce. She is currently Vice President of the Southern Economic Association and previously served on its Board. She is a member of the American Economic Association Committee on Equity, Diversity and Professional Conduct and previously served on the Nominations Committee and the Board of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Dr. Ginther received her doctorate in economics in 1995, a master's degree in economics in 1991, and a bachelor of arts in economics in 1987, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Education —
Teaching —
ECON 526: Introduction to Econometrics
Course Description: Introduction to Econometrics is the study of statistical methods used by economists. Topics include: economic data, statistical foundations of econometrics, translation of economic models into empirical models, bivariate and multiple regression techniques, hypothesis testing, specification testing, time series analysis, and limited dependent variable models. Prerequisites: ECON 142, ECON 144, and MATH 526 or equivalent.
ECON 770: Economics of Labor Markets
Course Description: This is a graduate level course that addresses the theoretical and empirical issues surrounding the economics of labor markets. Topics covered include: labor supply, labor demand, the human capital model, wage structure, discrimination, and unemployment. Econ 700 or equivalent and Econ 715, Econ 526 or equivalent are required.
ECON 818: Econometrics II
Course Description: This course introduces students to the data and econometric methods used in the fields of applied micro and macroeconomics. The course will focus on econometric theory, estimator choice, and applications of empirical methods. Topics covered include economic data and statistical programming, measurement error, instrumental variables, seemingly unrelated regression, simultaneous equation models, generalized method of moments, maximum likelihood, limited dependent variable models, and time series. Attention will be given to the suitability of the methods to the research question under consideration. Prerequisites: Econ 817 or permission of the instructor.
ECON 870: Applied Microeconomics
Course Description: This course introduces students to the data and empirical methods used in the fields of applied economics such as labor economics, health economics, public finance, and industrial organization. The course will focus on how to adjust for self-selection and identify causal relationships in applied microeconomic fields. Topics covered include economic data and statistical programming, instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, count data, sample selection, treatment effects, and duration models. Attention will be given to the suitability of the methods to the research question under consideration. Each topic will emphasize the proper application of the methods using the standard textbook treatment as well as assigned papers that examine the basic economic issues, the econometric techniques, and the applications to data. Prerequisites: Econ 817 and 818 or permission of the instructor.
Selected Publications —
Ginther, D. K., & Zavodny, M. (2003). Technology, Growth and the Labor Market. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic Press.
Ginther, D. K., Currie, J. M., Blau, F. D., & Croson, R. T.A. (2020). Mentoring matters for women in economics. In S. Lundberg, Women in Economics. CEPR Press. (Reviewed/Refereed)
Selected Presentations —
Ginther, D. K. (2017, December). Do State TANF Policies Affect Child Abuse and Neglect? Childhood Poverty and the Kansas Welfare Crisis, Lawrence, KS. (Invited) (State)
Ginther, D. (2016, August). Publications as Predictors of Racial and Ethnic Differences in NIH Research Awards. Keystone Lecture, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Durham, NC. (Invited)
Ginther, D. (2015, October). Publications as Predictors of Racial and Ethnic Differences in NIH Research Awards. 2015 Diversity Consortium Annual Meeting, National Harbor, MD. (Invited)
Ginther, D. (2013, December). Race, Ethnicity, and NIH Research Awards. Keynote Speaker, AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, Atlanta, Georgia. (Invited)
Ginther, D. K. (2013, February). New Results on Race, Ethnicity and NIH Research Awards: A Case Study in BD2K. Keynote Speaker, Byron T. Shutz Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. (Invited)
Ginther, D. (2013, February). Race, Ethnicity, and NIH Research Awards: A Case Study in Administrative Data to Knowledge (AD2K). Plenary Speaker, NSF Distinguished Lecture Series in Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, Arlington, VA. (Invited)
Ginther, D. (2012, May). Diversity in Academia: What Does the Future Hold. Keynote Speaker, 5th Annual Conference on Understanding Interventions that Broaden Participation in Research Careers, Baltimore, MD. (Invited)
Ginther, D. (2011, February). Diversity in Academic Biomedicine: An Evaluation of Education and Career Outcomes with Implications for Policy. Keynote Speaker, University of California, Santa Cruz. (Invited)
Awards & Honors —
Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Award, Balfour Jeffrey Award in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2023
Shulenburger Award for Innovation & Advocacy in Scholarly Communication, University of Kansas, 2018. Granted annually for exceptional efforts to advance innovations in open sharing and advocacy for positive change in the scholarly communication system.
Honor for the Outstanding Progressive Educator (H.O.P.E) Teaching Award finalist, University of Kansas, 2016
Byron T. Shutz Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Kansas, 2012
Leading Light Award, University of Kansas, 2012. For recognition of grant funding exceeding $1 million
University Scholar Award, University of Kansas, 2012. For recognition of mid-career scholars who have made significant research contributions to their fields
Women of Distinction Calendar, University of Kansas, 2010. For recognition of mentoring activities
Distinguished Teaching Assistant, Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, December 1991 - May 1992
Grants & Other Funded Activity —
Ginther, D. K. Investments in Early Career Scientists: How Do Postdoctoral Research Positions Influence Career Outcomes and Contribute to the Scientific Enterprise? G-2020-14066, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to National Bureau of Economic Research $157,809 (2020 - 2022).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal). Collaborative Research: The Effect of State Disinvestment in Higher Education on Research Quality and Returns to Scale in Science Funding. 46368, National Science Foundation $236,790 (June 1, 2019 - May 31, 2022).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal), & Johnson-Motoyama, M. (Co-Investigator). How Do State Policies Affect Access to TANF Benefits? 76984, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation $75,000 (2019 - 2020).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal). Local Conditions and Child Health. 48280, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics $19,388 (September 10, 2018 - August 31, 2020).
Ginther, D. (Co-Principal), & Johnson Motoyama, M. (Principal). Exploring the Causal Impacts of Economic and Social Safety Net Policies on Child Neglect in the U.S.: Implications for Primary Prevention. Ctrs for Disease Control and Prevention $1,841,636 (September 1, 2016 - August 31, 2020).
Ginther, D. (Principal). Evaluation of the NIH SEPA T-SCORE Project. Univ of KS Med Ctr Research Institute and National Institutes of Health $110,800 (July 1, 2016 - August 31, 2020).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal), & Kahn, S. (Co-Principal). Collaborative Research: Understanding Gender Differences in STEM Academic Careers. National Science Foundation $249,996 (September 15, 2015 - August 31, 2020).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal). Scientific Productivity Data of SDR Sample through Linkage: Expanded Manual Validation. 26056, Sri International $64,630 (December 15, 2017 - June 30, 2019).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal). Text Mining in Burning Glass Data. 28496, The W.E. Upjohn Institute For Employment Research $5,000 (March 1, 2018 - August 31, 2018).
Ginther, D. (Principal). Scientific Productivity Data of SDR Sample through Linkage: Expanded Manual Validation. SRI International and National Science Foundation $49,357, Submitted October 30, 2017 (November 15, 2017 - August 1, 2018).
Ginther, D. K., Heflin, C., Parry, M., Strom, R., & Willis, J. Kansas City Research Data Center. National Science Foundation $300,000 (2014 - 2017).
Ginther, D. (Principal). EAGER: CeMENT as a Networking Experiment. National Science Foundation $89,655 (September 1, 2016 - August 31, 2017).
Ginther, D. (Principal). The Demand for Community College Credits and Labor Market Outcomes. KS Board of Regents and US Dept of Labor $35,000, Submitted August 8, 2016 (September 1, 2016 - August 31, 2017).
Ginther, D. (Principal). EAGER: Data Infrastructure to Enhance Research on the Scientific Workforce. National Science Foundation $149,952, Submitted June 14, 2016 (August 1, 2016 - August 31, 2017).
Ginther, D. (Principal). Surgical Drape Product for L.A.D. Global Enterprises, Inc., L.A.D Global Enterprises, Inc. $4,034, Submitted January 27, 2017 (January 20, 2017 - June 1, 2017).
Ginther, D. (Principal). The Economic and Social Impacts of Expanding Options in the Kansas Retail Liquor Environment. KS Assoc for Responsible Liquor Laws $17,650 (January 16, 2017 - March 15, 2017).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal), & Oslund, P. (Co-Investigator). Examination of Educational & Wage Outcomes for Students' Participation in Workforce Training, as Compared with Peers. Kansas Board of Regents and U.S. Department of Labor $35,000 (2016).
Ginther, D. K. (Principal). An Evaluation of Sloan Awards for Faculty Career Flexibility in Medical Schools. B2011-46, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation $125,000 (2011 - 2016).
Ginther, D. (Principal). Understanding Career Outcomes of Physician Scientists in the United States. Net Esolutions Corporation $14,285, Submitted February 8, 2016 (September 1, 2015 - April 15, 2016).