Varun Shriram

Identifying and valuing U.S. government assets that can be sold to finance U.S.

Federal

Debt in the Economics Department for Prof. Joe Anderson, Transfiguring untidy data, by wrangling and merging different datasets on over 20,000 U.S. government assets, and converting into spreadsheets, Calculating the market valuation of U.S. government land assets in 2024, using zip code/state average land prices.

Economics Research Assistant at MACALESTER COLLEGE (2026-06 – Present)

• Identifying and valuing U.S. government assets that can be sold to finance U.S. Federal Debt in the Economics Department for Prof. Joe Anderson,
• Transfiguring untidy data, by wrangling and merging different datasets on over 20,000 U.S. government assets, and converting into spreadsheets,
• Calculating the market valuation of U.S. government land assets in 2024, using zip code/state average land prices.

Policy Research Intern at PAPAYA (2025-06 – 2025-08)

• Determined legal liabilities for companies from potential violations of relevant privacy laws,
• Built database tracking recent statewide privacy compliance laws across 12 U.S. states to support company strategy,
• Started process of creating AI chatbot utilizing LLMs to vet privacy compliance of websites based on state,
• Worked on privacy compliance policy for Papaya, an AI startup, which recently won 4th place in the University of Chicago's Social New Venture Challenge.

Intern at CHICAGO 2024 HOST COMMITTEE (2024-05 – 2024-05)

• Researched the quantitative impact in Illinois and Chicago of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to the Host Committee Chair,
• Edited directory of 400 business partnerships across Chicago,
• Created system to inventory “Road to Convention” events, developed budget outlines for key items.

Intern at MIKVA CHALLENGE (2022-09 – 2023-08)

• Served on the Safety and Justice Council to advocate for reform on the oversight of N.B.J. Alternative High School,
• Collaborated with peers to analyze facts/data, develop ideas and specific recommendations for a report presented to members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Cashier (Part Time) at MY BURGER (2026-06 – Present)

Incoming Head of External Communications/ Networking and External Relations Team Member at MACALESTER INVESTMENT GROUP (2024-10 – Present)

• Grew student engagement by increasing awareness of club activities through on campus posters and LinkedIn, which raised membership by 20%.

National Delegate/ Chair at MACALESTER MODEL UNITED NATIONS (2024-09 – Present)

• Created and wrote the first ever team guide on Model UN for new delegates on the team,
• Chaired committees as a delegate in Model UN conferences on the selective national level team

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics; Minors: Political Science, Statistics – MACALESTER COLLEGE (2028-05)

Visiting Semester Abroad in Economics (Honors), International Relations, Modern History; Mathematical Economics – UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS (2026-09 – 2026-12)